The New York Rangers drafted Brian Leetch with the 9th overall pick in the 1986 NHL Entry Level Draft. The American born defensemen spent 16 seasons with the Rangers. He is arguably the best defensemen to put on a Rangers sweater.
Brian Leetch had a tremendous career in the National Hockey League. He played in just over 1,200 regular season games and collected over 1,000 points during his 18 season career. Some would argue that Leetch has been the best defenseman that the New York Rangers had in decades.
Leetch is the first American born player to win the Conn Smythe Trophy. He won the Conn Smythe Trophy at the end of the New York Rangers run to winning the Stanley Cup in 1994. Defensemen have come and gone in New York since Leetch last laced up the skates for the Rangers.
Let’s take a look at the top five defensemen that have played for the New York Rangers since Brian Leetch’s departure on March 3, , 004 in no particular order…