Brian Leetch

Almost to the day....17 years later, Brian Leetch has played his last game as a NY Ranger. Forget that a year or two from now he could be re-acquired. Really, forget it.

Aside from Messier and Richter and of course.... Adam Graves, few other players in recent Ranger history have meant so much to the team and it's fans. With speed and flare, Brian spin-o-rama-ed his way into our hearts. I am fully confident that at some point #2 will hang in the rafters at MSG. Part of it is the Cup win in '94 where Brian scored that amazing goal and his Conn Smythe Trophy. Part of it are his two Norris Trophies and his Rookie of the year award. But the biggest part is that for a lot of you, Brian has always been a New York Ranger.....always.

That's what makes his trade so tough to swallow. I suggest to you however that the best thing that could have happened here is exactly what went down. Brian was not going to be playing any more playoff games in NY. The last six years he's played golf instead of play hockey in the spring. He deserved better than that and so with the rebuilding that has begun, an opportunity came up to repay Brian for his 17 years of wonderful service. He's now going to the playoffs....and yes, he may get a shot at another cup. Glen Sather should be applauded for giving Brian what he deserves.

Now, there are some points we should spit out......but by no means am I demonizing Mr. Leetch. I still wonder about his days as captain. Instead of taking up the charge, Brian pouted on the loss of his buddy Mark Messier and the downward spiral that has been our last six plus years did begin under his captaincy. And let's not forget that he's missed a bunch of games due to injury in recent years. That said....the Leafs just added one whale of a hockey player. Tough as nails.....and can take over a game and win it on his own even at 36yrs old.

Yesterday was Brian's birthday. What a hell of a gift eh ? There are some so attached and so upset that they are thinking about ending their relationship with the Rangers over this. While I understand...as Larry Brooks correctly points out, this had to be done, for Brian and for the team.

Team USA

Now I'd like to share with you a moment of what Brian means to me. On June 14th, 1994 I shed tears of joy as the NY Rangers had just won the Stanley Cup. The following day at work I looked up Brian Leetch's invoice (he had purchased his mattress at my company at the time). I put pen to paper and sent him a note on how great it was.....and how grateful I was for his efforts in that greatest of all hockey seasons (which now seems like decades ago). Included in the note was a Brian Leetch hockey card. I asked if Brian would be kind enough to sign it and send it back. Keep in mind, I had committed a major faux paux in extracting his home address from my database. I apologized for my indiscression and hoped he would understand that a Stanley Cup, the first in 54 years was a good excuse for some minor illegal database mining.

Imagine my surprise when several days later Brian not only returned the card with his signature but also composed a brief note expressing thanks for the support through the Cup run and his gratitude towards all the NY Ranger fans. This note was hand written. To this day I am touched that Mr. Leetch would take the time to do that. He was not just a great hockey player to me any more....he was a great guy too.

And that my friends is why I'll be rooting for the Toronto Maple Leafs to win the Stanley Cup.

Go Leafs Go !

Don't worry....it's just temporary. I'm a "rent a fan" dealt by Sather in the Leetch deal for a case of Molson XXX and a few hand rolled cubans. I can and will resign with the Rangers come next season, whenever that may be as I am a UFA. (Slats wouldn't give me a no-trade clause)

Whether it was his play for the Rangers during '94 and other great seasons or his '96 play for Team USA, Brian Leetch has become one of the all-time great hockey players in the NY area.

For your outstanding play, all your achievemnents and being a true New York Ranger, I salute you Brian Leetch. You are part of why I am proud to say, I'm a NY Ranger fan.

----}- Bird

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