While the New Jersey Devils look to increase their Atlantic Division lead tonight when they host the Canadiens tonight, the New York Rangers have their own business to handle.  Tonight they will honor one of their greats, raising defenseman Brian Leetch’s No. 2 jersey to the rafters.  Leetch may not have been like former teammate Mark Messier, who made the infamous guarantee in the '94 semifinals against the Devils.  Or Mike Richter, the longtime Rangers goalie who made saves that would even make Martin Brodeur's jaw drop; Leetch was just as valuable a player as Scott Stevens to the cross rival Devils.

As a Rangers blueliner for 16 seasons, Leetch displayed an uncanny ability to compete as the best defenseman that this tri-state area has ever witnessed.  Leetch made an immediate impact upon joining the league in 1989.  He scored 71 points, including a rookie-record 23 goals and won the Calder Trophy.  Four years later, Leetch recorded 100 points and won the Norris Trophy for the league’s top defenseman.  Fellow Norris winners Niklas Lidstrom, Scott Niedermayer, Chris Pronger and Chris Chelios have never surpassed Leetch’s rookie season record goals.

And, in 1994 when the Rangers won the Stanley Cup for the first time in 54 years, it wasn't Mark Messier, Adam Graves, or even Mike Richter capturing the Conn Smythe Trophy, awarded to the team’s postseason MVP.  It was none other than Brian Leetch, who had a remarkable performance, scoring 11 goals and 23 assists in 23 playoff games.

It is sure to be an emotional ceremony.  The Rangers organization can now complete the retiring of the trio, who are arguably responsible for putting a halt to the Rangers’ 54-year Stanley Cup drought.  Before Leetch, Richter's No. 35 and Messier's No. 11 sweaters have made their way to the top of MSG.  Messier and Richter may have been household names, but Leetch played almost double the amount of games in a Rangers uniform than Messier and earned more individual honors than any living former Rangers skater.

If you would liked to be reminded of the performance that Brian Leetch had in the '94 Stanley Cup playoffs, turn away from the screen for a second if you're a Devils fan, because the brunt of it came against New Jersey.

Yesterday when Leetch was at the Rockefeller Plaza with some members of the 94 squad, Adam Graves recalled that performance.

"Thirty-four points in 23 points" can only be described as "indescribable.”

And Devils fans remember from Game 7 of that series, the moves Brian Leetch made on the ice against Martin Brodeur.

If you're a Rangers fan, cherish this moment, honor one of the greatest Rangers players to sakte on Broadway.

Don't let it go away, because whereas we Devils fans have 3 Stanley Cup Trophies with at least one more on the way) to salivate over, the Rangers only enjoyed winning 1 in a 54-year stretch.

Also, Dubi's ceremonial piece on Brian Leetch is a must-read for all NHL Fans.

So, Rangers fan, take it all in and honor one of your greats!

And, let's see if this moment can spark the Rangers to thrash Atlanta again...

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