Brian Leetch is a former 9th overall pick in the 1986 NHL Draft. The former New York Rangers star was given the honor of being he best 9th overall pick in the NHL since the expansion occurred in 1967. The former Rangers defenseman played 1,205 games in the NHL and won one cup in 1994.
Brian Leetch is a legend in New York Rangers hockey. The former defenseman is a Norris Trophy Winner (2X) and won a Stanley Cup during the 1994 NHL season.
The defenseman played 37 games in the NHL and would tally 48 points during the 1988-89 season. Soon, his career would kickstart in the NHL, and he'd never look back.
Brian Leetch's Historical Moments
Leetch would begin his Hall of Fame career in the NHL during the 1987-88 season, where he'd play 68 games in the NHL and score 71 points (23-48). He'd receive 268 votes for the Calder Trophy as the NHL's Rookie MVP that year.
His effort would help the team finish 3rd in the Patrick Division. While his sophomore season wouldn't be muted, it saw his production decline with 56 points in 72 games while playing injured.
The defenseman would prove himself to be a key piece in the Rangers' lineup after his first two years in the NHL.
His career year would come in 1993-94, where he'd score 79 points (23-56) in 84 games and would elevate his game in the playoffs.
The Rangers appeared in 23 games en route to their first Stanley Cup in 54 years, and Leetch led the playoffs in scoring with 34 points (11 goals and 23 assists). To this day, Leetch's 93-94 run is the second-best playoff campaign by a defenseman, only Paul Coffey (37 points in 18 games) was better. In recognition of his achievement, Leetch was awarded the Conn Smythe Trophy, and he became the first American-born player to hoist the trophy.
He'd win his second Norris Trophy as alternate captain 1996-97, finishing the year with 78 points in 82 games and winning 91% of the vote.
The team, however, would finish fourth in the Patrick Division and be eliminated by the Philadelphia Flyers in Game 5 of the ECF.
Leetch would make short stints during the end of his career with the Boston Bruins and Toronto Maple Leafs, 76 games split between the Leafs and Bruins (15 & 61).
In 1,205 NHL games played, Leetch scored 1,028 points (247-781) with an ATOI of 25:50.
The defenseman was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2009.
Best 9th overall pick of all time? It's definitely worth considering.
