Brian Leetch Biography

Brian Joseph Leetch, born on March 3, 1968, is an American former professional ice hockey defenseman who has played 18 seasons in the National Hockey League. He has been recognized as one of the top defensemen in NHL history due to his consistent performance and impact on the game. Leetch has earned numerous individual accolades throughout his professional career in the NHL. He is one of only six defensemen in NHL history to record 100 points in a single season, achieving this feat with 102 points during the 1991–92 season. In 2017, Leetch was honored as one of the 100 Greatest NHL Players in the league's history. As a high school student, he played baseball and recorded a 90 mph fastball that contributed to his team winning a state championship. The New York Rangers selected him ninth overall in the 1986 NHL Entry Draft, making him the first player drafted that year who had not played major junior hockey.