[Jlg-28]

Source: TSN.com

The Toronto Maple Leafs announced Wednesday evening that the hockey club has acquired defenceman Brian Leetch and a conditional draft choice from the New York Rangers in exchange for defenceman Max Kondratiev, forward Jarkko Immonen, Toronto's first-round pick in the 2004 Entry Draft and the team's second-round pick in 2005.

"Brian has been a premier defenceman in this league since first coming into the league," said GM John Ferguson. "We look forward to having a player with his great credentials joining our group."

Leetch, 36, has played 57 games for the New York Rangers this season collecting 36 points (13 goals, 23 assists) with 24 penalty minutes. He ranks fifth in the NHL in average ice time (26:14) and 10th among NHL defencemen in points. Leetch leads the team in powerplay points (19) and average ice time as well as leading all team defencemen in goals, assists, points and shots (165).

The native of Corpus Christi, Texas has captured the James Norris Memorial Trophy on two occasions (1992, 1997), the Calder Memorial Trophy in 1989 and the Conn Smythe Trophy in 1994. He has been named to the NHL First All-Star Team twice (1992, 1997) and to the NHL Second All-Star Team three times (1991, 1994, 1996). Leetch was named to the NHL All-Rookie Team in 1989 and has played in nine NHL All-Star Games (1990, 1991, 1992, 1994, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2001, 2002). He won the Stanley Cup with the New York Rangers in 1994.

[Drew]

WOAH.....he's a Flyer killer. Hope we don't see the Laffs in the playoffs.

[Andy]

Originally posted by Drew
WOAH.....he's a Flyer killer. Hope we don't see the Laffs in the playoffs.

Couldn't be said any better man.

[PhillyFan2578]

Morganti said with this trade, "the Leafs are now the best team in the Eastern Conference." PAHHHHLEASEEE!!

[flyersphan]

I also read on sportsnet.ca that this now makes the leafs the team to beat in the East!! Seems a lot of NHL writers say this. The sportsnet article is even written by a Montreal fan!! And they hate the Leafs even more than we do!!!

This puts pressure back on Clarke. He needs to make a move to sure up our blue line. We don't have a Number 1 d-man like Leetch or Gonchar or Niedermayer. Plus our goaltending is worse than all of those teams (NJ,TOR,BOS). How can we expect to compete with them in the playoffs???