Brian Leetch Is Toronto Bound

In a deal announced minutes ago, pending the approval of the NHL, the Maple Leafs have acquired Brian Leetch and a conditional draft pick from the New York Rangers in return for Jarkko Immonen, Maxim Kondratiev, a first round draft choice in 2004 and a second round draft choice in 2005.

After loosing out on the Sergei Gonchar deal, the Maple Leafs jumped at their second option, which in many peoples’ opinion, should have been their first choice all along. Leetch, who has numerous games of playoff experience, has good offensive skills but is far more defensively conscious in his own end than Sergei Gonchar. With the acquisition of Leetch along with Kaberle, Klee and McCabe, the Leafs have four solid, dependable defensemen. Marchment is still capable of playing a very physical game and will be used accordingly down the stretch. There is also Karel Pilar, Aki Berg, Drake Berehowsky and Wade Belak which really gives the Leafs a solid defense corps with excellent depth.