The New York Times-20080125-Leetch Returns Home to Stay

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Leetch Returns Home to Stay

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Brian Leetch stood on a red carpet on the ice at Madison Square Garden, his 2-year-old son Sean perched on his hip, their eyes following the No. 2 banner being hoisted to the rafters. Leetch's two older children, son Jack and daughter Riley, stood next to him, their necks craned and mouths open, taking in the emotional ceremony honoring their dad.

The Rangers welcomed Leetch home, for good, Thursday night. For Leetch, that meant sharing it with his family.

It's such a personal thing with your kids, Leetch said. He was pointing at everything, at the No. 2 on the ice, at the No. 2 going up. I was so proud of my kids for getting through it and not causing a fuss.

In typically humble fashion, Leetch accepted the honor and returned the crowd's applause for being the fifth Ranger to have his number retired, joining Mike Richter, Mark Messier, Ed Giacomin and Rod Gilbert.

Leetch gave the crowd an early goose-bump moment by announcing that his longtime teammate Adam Graves would become the next Ranger to have his number retired, next season. When Leetch said he had an announcement to make, fans erupted in a One More Year chant, hoping Leetch was planning a return to the team.

Moments later, they roared for Graves, a key member of the 1994 Stanley Cup-winning team who appeared overwhelmed when Leetch walked over to hug him.

I had no idea, Graves said. The only thing I could think was how humbled I felt. The privilege of playing and the privilege of wearing that jersey, that was gift enough.

Leetch said announcing Graves's honor made him calmer. I knew I had that as my trump card, he said.

After the 51-minute ceremony, the Rangers defeated Atlanta, 2-1, in a shootout. Henrik Lundqvist stopped all three Atlanta shots. Brendan Shanahan scored the shootout goal.

Leetch, the Rangers' second-leading career scorer and the highest-scoring defenseman in team history, was hailed by Messier as the greatest Ranger ever.

Words cannot describe what Brian has meant to me, the teammates he has played with and the fans of the New York Rangers for the past 18, 19 years, Messier said. Brian is the benchmark of what it means to be a New York Ranger.

Leetch, who retired after 18 seasons in the N.H.L. (16 full seasons with the Rangers), spent most of his speech thanking his family and the many teammates and others he believed were instrumental in his success.

He was joined at center ice by a parade of former Rangers greats and some of his teammates, including his first roommate in 1988, Brian Mullen. Joining them on the red carpet were Brad Park, Harry Howell, Jeff Beukeboom, Jan Erixon, Ron Greschner and Graves, along with Messier, Richter, Giacomin and Gilbert.

His former teammates Tie Domi and Darren Langdon presented him with a new Harley-Davidson.

Joining Leetch were his wife, Mary Beth; his parents, Jack and Jan; his sister Beth and brother Eric.

Leetch stopped in the Rangers' locker room, where he was applauded by current team members. He found a locker with his jersey hanging in it, between the lockers of Shanahan and Sean Avery. When he walked out and onto the ice, the crowd stood and roared, a simple Welcome Home beaming down from the scoreboard.

It's great to be back in the Garden, Leetch said. You never know when you're going to hear those cheers again when you retire.

At one end of the ice sat the Stanley Cup and the Conn Smythe Trophy that Leetch won as the most valuable player in that Stanley Cup championship run in 1994. Also there were the Norris Trophy that Leetch won twice as the league's best defenseman and the Calder Trophy that Leetch won in 1989 as the rookie of the year.

Leetch thanked the fans for their warmth and support, particularly when he returned here as an opposing player, while playing for Boston in 2005.

That night and many times before, you made sure I knew I was home, he said.

The current Rangers watched the ceremony from their bench, and Leetch even thanked them for their patience. He congratulated them for bringing playoff hockey back to the Garden the past two seasons.

The Rangers had tried to sign Leetch last season, after he had played for Boston in 2005-6 and before he had decided to retire. Leetch said he considered it, but decided it was time to devote his attention to his family. You're either 100 percent hockey player or you're not, he said.

When he walked off the ice for the last time, still carrying Sean, Sam Rosen, the Rangers' broadcaster and the master of ceremonies, said one last thank you.

You will live in our hearts and in Madison Square Garden forever, he said.

SLAP SHOTS

Marion HossA scored for Atlanta. ... Michal Rozsival tied the score in the third. ... Rangers defenseman Marek Malik, a frequent healthy scratch, was not at Madison Square Garden. Malik had a meeting with Coach Tom Renney before the morning skate and left the team's facility. Renney said it was an internal matter.

[Illustration]PHOTOS: Brian Leetch, above, and his family as his No. 2 was retired at Madison Square Garden on Thursday. Leetch, left, with his son Sean and former Rangers whose numbers have been retired, from left, Rod Gilbert, Ed Giacomin, Mike Richter and Mark Messier.(PHOTOGRAPHS BY BARTON SILVERMAN/THE NEW YORK TIMES)(pg. D1); Brian Leetch, above with his family, is the Rangers' highest-scoring defenseman. At left, Leetch with Adam Graves, whose number will be retired next season.(PHOTOGRAPH BY BARTON SILVERMAN/THE NEW YORK TIMES)(pg. D6)