Leetch Storms Into Toronto

Less than twenty four hours before the start of last night’s game between the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Boston Bruins, Brian Leetch was sitting in a Boston hotel room when he received a phone call telling him he had been dealt after seventeen years of service from the New York Rangers to the Toronto Maple Leafs. As surprised and difficult as it was for him to leave the team he had felt he was going to retire with, Leetch, being the true professional that he is, realized he was being presented with one more opportunity to take a run at a Stanley Cup, a chance he has not had in seven years.

After arriving in Toronto at 2:30pm yesterday afternoon, Leetch dropped off his belongings and made his way directly to the rink to meet and greet his new team mates. He then went out and recorded three assists in his Toronto Maple Leafs debut causing most Leaf fans to virtually guarantee a Stanley Cup victory for the Maple Leafs come mid June. All in a days work for Brian Leetch.

Leetch, being a former captain, brings a Norris Trophy, a Conn Smythe Trophy and a Stanley Cup along with his numerous games of playoff experience and the knowledge of what it takes to win deep in the playoffs. This knowledge will no doubt help many of the players on the Maple Leafs who have never been as far into playoff competition as Leetch has been.

Despite his fantastic performance last night, the real key will be to see how Leetch performs over the next week once all the emotions settle down. Owen Nolan’s first game in a Leafs uniform last year saw him record two goals but then struggle down the stretch and into the playoffs. It is unlikely the Leetch’s play will tail off too much as he has been so proficient at his game for many years. Also the prospects of participating in his first playoff run in seven years will certainly inspire him to be his best.

With three games remaining in this homestand against Buffalo, Florida and Pittsburgh, it is possible for the Leafs to jump ahead and stay in first place in the conference.