Leetch to have number retired by Rangers
Brian Leetch spent more than 16 seasons in New York.
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New York, NY -
The New York Rangers announced Thursday that former long-time NHL defenseman Brian Leetch will have his jersey retired by the club this season.
Leetch, who wore No. 2 with the Rangers, will see his jersey raised to the rafters prior to the Blueshirts' game at Madison Square Garden against the Atlanta Thrashers on January 24.
He will join Ed Giacomin (1), Rod Gilbert (7), Mark Messier (11), and Mike Richter (35) as one of five former New York greats to be so honored.
"I appreciate that the New York Rangers have extended the honor of raising my jersey to the Madison Square Garden rafters," Leetch said. "This night will be a very special one for me and my family and I look forward to returning to Madison Square Garden and being able to call it home."
The two-time Norris Trophy winner spent more than 16 seasons in New York, ranking as the Rangers' all-time leader among defensemen in goals, assists and points. He ended his career with 247 goals, 781 assists, and 1,028 points in 1,205 games.
Leetch was a key member of the Rangers' Stanley Cup championship club in 1994. He registered 11 goals and 23 assists in 23 games en route to being awarded the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP.
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Youth movement has teams on the rebound
By Dan Di Sciullo, NHL Editor
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Philadelphia, PA -
One needs only to look at Sidney Crosby's trophy rack to see that hockey is quickly becoming a young man's game, and that trend has a few teams in the Western Conference excited about the future.
Just to refresh your memory, Crosby, who turned 20 on August 7, exceeded expectations last season by winning the league's scoring title, and picking up both MVP trophies in earning the Lester B. Pearson Award and the Hart Trophy. Only Wayne Gretzky won the Hart Trophy at an earlier age, but Crosby became the youngest player to achieve the rest.
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