Leetch was awarded the Calder Trophy as the NHL's top rookie for the 1988-89 season. (Doug MacLellan/HHOF)

When the 1988 Calgary Olympics ended, Leetch did enter the big leagues with New York. His arrival there was much anticipated by the team's front office. Jack Ferreira, the Rangers' director of player development, was one of the New York officials who could not wait to get the youngster into a red, blue, and white uniform of the Broadway Blueshirts.

In addition to the Stanley Cup in 1994, Leetch received the Conn Smythe Trophy as the most valuable player in the playoffs. (Doug MacLellan/HHOF)

He went through a bit of a sophomore slump the next year, and a fractured ankle at the end of that second season didn't help matters much either, forcing him out of playoff action. Two years later, in 1991-92, Leetch had his best single season, scoring 102 points and netting 22 goals (his 80 assists were a team record, as well) to capture the Norris trophy as the NHL's best defenceman. The Rangers again missed the playoffs that year, however.

Leetch captained the triumphant American squad at the 1996 World Cup of Hockey. (Doug MacLellan/HHOF)

In 1997 the New York Rangers named Brian Leetch their captain upon the departure of Mark Messier, putting him on centre stage in the high-pressure media capital of the world.

On the attack. Leetch was the epitome of a smooth-skating, rushing defenseman. (Dave Sandford/HHOF)

Leetch was a key player on the US silver medal winning team at the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City and with the Rangers struggling in 2003-04, Leetch was dealt to the Toronto Maple Leafs in the latter stages of the season, thus ending his 17-year career on Broadway.

A longtime Ranger, Leetch was named captain in 1997.

Among other accomplishments on the international stage, Leetch has represented his country three times at the World Junior Championships in 1985, 1986 and 1987 where he was named to the First All-Star Team. A member of the U.S. World Championship team in 1989, Canada Cup team in 1991 and winning World Cup team in 1996 and participant in 2004, Leetch was one of 12 players voted to the All-Time USA Hockey Team in 1997.