full

full
Published on:

27th Dec 2025

1994 Rangers Championship Team: Messier, Leetch & The Season That Changed NY

Neil Smith, Glenn Healy, and John Davidson reunite to relive the 1994 Rangers' legendary Stanley Cup run. From Mike Keenan's controversial hiring to the franchise-altering trade deadline, this is the untold story of how the President's Trophy champions assembled. Hear about Mark Messier's leadership transforming the culture, the Butch Goring comparisons, the expansion draft chess moves that brought Glenn Healy aboard, and Neil Smith's calculated gamble trading beloved stars Tony Amonte and Mike Gartner. This is Part 1 of a 5-episode series celebrating 30 years since Broadway's greatest parade.

IN THIS EPISODE:

[00:00] - Welcome to 1994 Forever: 5-part series on the Rangers' 54-year championship drought ending

[02:00] - Neil Smith, Glenn Healy, John Davidson: three generations of Rangers history united

[03:00] - 30 years later: erasing three generations of misery for grandfathers, fathers, and sons

[04:00] - John Davidson's playing career: 1979 Finals heartbreak against Montreal, losing 4 straight after 2-0 series lead

[06:00] - JD's broadcasting evolution: watching championship teams league-wide, telling Neil "You're the best team"

[08:00] - The tense Game 7 moment: Neil on a crate backstage, JD saying "This thing isn't done yet"

[10:00] - Steve Larmer's last face-off: pinning his man against the glass even after time expired

[11:00] - Glenn Healy's Islanders comparison: first day of Rangers camp realizing "This team is 10 times better"

[12:00] - The depth advantage: death by committee, games decided in 30 minutes, Richter making 27 saves to close

[13:00] - Mark Messier's arrival in 1991: the glue that transformed individuals into a championship team

[15:00] - The Oiler connection: purposefully acquiring Edmonton champions, "Who better to get than winners?"

[16:00] - Stanley Campbell's famous quote: "No more Oilers!" Neil's response: "What do you want, Sharks and Senators?"

[17:00] - John Davidson as sounding board: not just a broadcaster, a crucial voice without emotional investment

[18:00] - Benny Patrisse story: World War II veteran towel boy, Mark Messier ensuring he got a championship ring

[20:00] - "Everybody mattered": from the stretch guy to the color commentator, complete team culture

[21:00] - Mike Keenan's April 1993 hiring: handling elite-level players, the only available proven championship coach

[23:00] - 1993 expansion draft crisis: protecting Mike Richter over John Vanbiesbrouck, the pressure of getting nothing back

[24:00] - The Pat Quinn trade: Vanbiesbrouck to Vancouver for "future considerations" Doug Lidster with 5 minutes to deadline

[26:00] - Glenn Healy acquisition: secondary expansion draft, getting the Islanders goalie who "beats us all the time"

[28:00] - Greg Gilbert free agent signing and Paul Broten waiver loss for Mike Hudson depth addition

[29:00] - Alexander Karpovtsev trade: Pierre Pagé asking for Mike Hartman, Krister Ström's scouting gem from Quebec

[31:00] - Steve Larmer holdout: the Iron Man refusing to play for Chicago, Pulford refusing to trade to Keenan's team

[32:00] - The Hartford three-way: James Patrick and Darren Turcotte for Larmer and Nick Kypreos bonus

[33:00] - Training camp in London: French's Challenge vs Maple Leafs, complete roster bonding from day one

[34:00] - Mike Keenan's kindest act: 5 days off in London, team bonding at 100% body fat together

[35:00] - Nick Kypreos singing "Brandy": Mark Messier's reaction - "This little puke better be able to play"

[36:00] - Alexander Karpovtsev shirtless: "Did we just sign a plumber?" - Dean Martin body, championship player

[38:00] - The corporate culture shift: London trip bonding suits with players, no longer cold corporate Madison Square Garden

[39:00] - Mike Keenan disappearing act: Neil searching for him on London flight, he flew to Chicago without notice

[42:00] - Alexander Karpovtsev's 9-minute shift: Keenan punishing long shifts, Karpovtsev scoring and celebrating - "message not received"

[44:00] - Sluggish 4-4 start: culture shock with new coach, group figuring out Keenan's torture together

[46:00] - Once the wheels got going: steamrolling the NHL with complete depth at every position

[47:00] - Adam Graves' 50th goal: Mark Messier predicting "He's gonna get it early" - second shift at Edmonton

[48:00] - Adam Graves falling asleep on beach: sunburn panic - "Please don't show me on TV, my father will kill me"

[50:00] - From enemy to family: Graves sticking Healy, threatening to kill him, then moving Glenn into his house

[51:00] - Esa Tikkanen character moment: driving on wheel rims after Cup celebration, no tires left

[52:00] - Nassau Coliseum return: Keenan refusing to start Healy against his former team despite beating Rangers 16 straight

[54:00] - The profanity-laced tirade: cameras catching everything, team bonding through Healy standing up to Keenan

[55:00] - Neil's romantic gestures: Messier's "C" reveal, Larmer's Chicago return, making moments special

[57:00] - Mike Gartner post-Cup class: ensuring Mike Hartman and Eddie Olczyk got names on Stanley Cup

[59:00] - Trade deadline approaching: President's Trophy team, what could possibly need changing?

[01:00:00] - Taking away excuses: Neil removing all reasons Keenan could cite for not winning championship

[01:01:00] - Tony Amonte for Stefan Matteau and Brian Noonan: trading potential star for third-line depth

[01:03:00] - Craig MacTavish acquisition: the shutdown centerman, face-off specialist, penalty killer filling the gap

[01:04:00] - Todd Marchant to Edmonton: trading speed for MacT's leadership and defensive responsibility

[01:05:00] - Mike Gartner to Toronto for Glenn Anderson: quality gentleman traded, Oiler depth piece arrives

[01:06:00] - Keenan telling Gartner directly: robbing Neil of the chance to handle the trade properly

[01:07:00] - Four players in, two players out: depth mathematics making the Rangers demonstrably better

[01:09:00] - Mike Gartner's legacy: Hartman and Olczyk's names added to Cup bottom because of his CBA negotiation

[01:10:00] - Center ice solidified: MacTavish taking draws when Messier doesn't, size and depth for playoff war

[01:11:00] - MacTavish's sacrifice: Oilers captain playing 5 minutes, accepting role, winning final face-off clean

[01:12:00] - Todd Marchant's 7-second shift: "Mr. Olympian, you've done squat tonight" - never playing again that game

[01:13:00] - Empty Calgary bus: optional skate after massive trades, looking around wondering "Did they like our team?"

[01:15:00] - President's Trophy engraver already called: eerie morning at the Corral, faith in the process

[01:17:00] - The Corral boards: 16 feet high, pulling Mark Pavelich over, one-row bench stacked vertically

[01:19:00] - Luck and skill combined: Karpovtsev, Lidster, Healy, Larmer all falling into place at right time

[01:21:00] - Conference Final preparation: Healy's Islanders experience, seeing what semi-final team requires

[01:22:00] - Marty Brodeur pulled 5 times by Rangers in regular season: October struggles, Game 7 brilliance

[01:23:00] - Devils' "0-5" trap system: no forechecking, standing at center, "Rover Rover, Rangers over"

[01:24:00] - Mike Richter's Game 6 masterpiece: 2-0 deficit, keeping Rangers alive with impossible saves

[01:26:00] - Brotherhood forever: love fest reunions, gift of seeing teammates again after championships

[01:28:00] - Setting the record straight: JD defending the tight-knit group against social media nonsense

[01:29:00] - Miracle Mets video: Day 1 of camp watching ticker tape parade, Game 7 watching it again

[01:30:00] - Parade perfection: Over 1 million people on Canyon of Heroes, not one arrest celebrating Rangers

[01:31:00] - Neil crying in Rudy Giuliani's office: "I just wanted to make New Yorkers happy"

[01:32:00] - Al Trautwig's deli story: Family talking to deceased father through pipe at graveyard - "Dad, we finally got it"

X: https://twitter.com/NHLWraparound

Neil Smith: https://twitter.com/NYCNeil

Vic Morren: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vic-morren-7038737/

NHL Wraparound Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nhlwraparound/

#NHLWraparound #NYRangers #NewYorkRangers #1994StanleyCup #NeilSmith #GlennHealy #JohnDavidson #MarkMessier #BrianLeetch #MikeRichter #MikeKeenan #AdamGraves #SteveLarmer #CraigMacTavish #StefanMatteau #BrianNoonan #GlennAnderson #MikeGartner #TonyAmonte #AlexanderKarpovtsev #DougLidster #NickKypreos #EsaTikkanen #SergeiZubov #KevinLowe #JeffBeukeboom #PresidentsTrophy #TradeDeadline #MadisonSquareGarden #54YearDrought #CanyonOfHeroes #1994Forever #RangersHistory #BroadwayBlueshirts

Next Episode All Episodes Previous Episode

Listen for free

Show artwork for NHL Wraparound Podcast

About the Podcast

NHL Wraparound Podcast
Neil Smith & Vic Morren
Breadth and depth.
Contemporary and historical.
Straight-forward and experienced.
The NHL Wraparound podcast features Neil Smith, President-General Manager of the 1994 Stanley Cup Champion New York Rangers and longtime ESPN/NHL veteran Vic Morren sharing no-nonsense opinions on news and issues around the National Hockey League.

Bringing decades of experience from their respective fields, Smith and Morren create a unique partnership that examines the NHL from multiple perspectives. Additionally, as hockey historians, the pair can delve into any topic in today’s game and enlighten the audience with connections to events from previous years. To truly appreciate where hockey stands today, one needs to understand its past.

With 2024 marking the 30th anniversary of the Rangers last championship season, a special five-part series is planned to commemorate that magical run. Expect fascinating behind-the-scenes stories and special guests with particular focus on the GM who pushed all of his chips into the middle of the table amidst the most pressurized environments – and came out on top.

Whether you’re new to the game or a seasoned fan, each episode of NHL Wraparound will leave you entertained and informed.


Bio’s
Neil S. Smith, highly regarded NHL executive, served as the President and General Manager of the 1994 Stanley Cup Champion New York Rangers. During his eleven years with the team, they achieved significant success, including three division titles, two Presidents’ Trophies, one Eastern Conference Championship, and a historic Stanley Cup victory—the franchise’s first in 54 years.

Known for his expertise in professional sports franchise economics, Smith played a pivotal role in management decisions under four different Rangers owners.. His tenure saw iconic trades and acquisitions, including Hall of Famers Mark Messier and Wayne Gretzky, as well as successful drafts and free-agent signings.

Starting as a pro scout, Smith's career highlights include the impactful 1989 draft for the Detroit Red Wings and bold trades that shaped NHL history. He briefly served as GM for the New York Islanders in 2006, later working as a consultant for the Dallas Stars, Pittsburgh Penguins, and the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim.

A Toronto native, Smith's hockey journey began in junior leagues before a distinguished college career at Western Michigan University. He has received numerous awards and distinctions, including induction into the University's Sports Hall of Fame in 1991.

Vic Morren: Born in New York City close to the Old Madison Square Garden, Vic Morren has had hockey in his blood his entire life as a fan, player and television production manager.

A graduate of William Paterson University, Morren skated for three seasons with the Pioneers hockey club and became the first statistical analyst to apply his craft to telecasts working New York Islanders and New Jersey Devils games from 1984-87. He co-authored two NHL-based statistics books within that span before moving to ESPN in 1987 and working the final season of the original deal the network had with the NHL.
After departing in 1990, Morren worked as a studio producer for SportsChannel America’s NHL coverage and the 1992 Barcelona Olympics before returning to ESPN that fall where he worked all 12 seasons on the second ESPN/NHL deal and the first season of the most recent contract in 2021-22. Morren has also earned a Sports Emmy for his work on Sunday Night Football coverage in 2003.

His relationship with Neil Smith dates back 33 years through their mutual friendship with the late ESPN/ABC commentator John Saunders. Morren looks forward to NHL Wraparound and collaborating with Smith with the goal to provide an experience of contemporary viewpoints, historical spin and an overall enriching podcast experience.