Brian Leetch vs. Ray Bourque: Who do you want for a run at the cup?

[Kaapo Kakko]

Bourque on paper had the better career, but when both defensemen were in their prime, who would you rather have for a run at the cup? Maybe this is Ranger bias, but for one year I would take Leetch. He proved he could dominate in the playoffs the way no other defenseman ever has before, aside from Bobby Orr. Bourque had the longevity, but had to piggyback a cup by begging for a trade at the end of his career. Leetch carried the Rangers to the cup, along with Messier and Richter (and other key players) in 1994.

I would take Leetch for a cup run, but perhaps I'm being biased. What do you think?

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[Miamipuck]

Why not have both?

 

[Thirty One]

Both are too old. We should be focusing on younger targets.

 

[Miamipuck]

Both are too old. We should be focusing on younger targets.

Well then Scott Niedermayer and Chris Pronger it is.

 

[darko]

Bourque.

Then trade him at the deadline for a young player and couple 1st rounders.

 

[kovazub94]

Bourque.

Then trade him at the deadline for a young player and couple 1st rounders.

Lindstrom?

 

[Machinehead]

Bourque.

Then trade him at the deadline for a young player and couple 1st rounders.

Many posters here would do that with prime Bourque.

 

[Kocur Dill]

Bourque AINEC

Sorry. Brian was a NYR Legend. Bourque was top 10 D all time. Not just points but his defense was better than Brian's as well.

 

[darko]

Bourque AINEC

Sorry. Brian was a NYR Legend. Bourque was top 10 D all time. Not just points but his defense was better than Brian's as well.

Bourque is either #2 or #3.

 

[ReggieDunlop68]

Many posters here would do that with prime Bourque.

I sincerely doubt this.

See Ray Bourque had almost 1600 points in his career including over 400 goals.

Now I don't know what his expected points / 60 were, but he actually scored alot.

Also, I don't remember a lot of people calling for trading Leetch [basically no one; and I never met a single person saying it] in his prime even though those mouth breathers all wanted #tuffnez

 

[KirkAlbuquerque]

Bourque AINEC

Sorry. Brian was a NYR Legend. Bourque was top 10 D all time. Not just points but his defense was better than Brian's as well.

Bourque never had 100 points, never won a Conn Smythe, wasn't American. Leetch > Bork AINEC

 

[ReggieDunlop68]

Bourque never had 100 points, never won a Conn Smythe, wasn't American. Leetch > Bork AINEC

lol

 

[Whiplash27]

If you're taking Brian Leetch in 1994, then he'd be pretty hard to pass up. Probably one of the greatest performances by defenseman in the playoffs in NHL history. Bourque never had a playoff campaign like Leetch did that year.

 

[chosen]

Leetch is the 2nd best Rangers defenseman I ever saw. Bourque is the 2nd best Bruin's defenseman I ever saw.

 

[ReggieDunlop68]

Leetch is the 2nd best Rangers defenseman I ever saw. Bourque is the 2nd best Bruin's defenseman I ever saw.

Poti and Orr I assume?

 

[One Winged Angel]

Poti and Orr I assume?

"POTI YOU f***ING NERD!"

 

[chosen]

Poti and Orr I assume?

Purinton and Doak.

 

[chosen]

If you're taking Brian Leetch in 1994, then he'd be pretty hard to pass up. Probably one of the greatest performances by defenseman in the playoffs in NHL history. Bourque never had a playoff campaign like Leetch did that year.

Bourque had two playoff runs as good as Leetch.

 

[Siddi]

We could have both in their prime and AV would still manage to "lose" them on the bench.

 

[ReggieDunlop68]

We could have both in their prime and AV would still manage to "lose" them on the bench.

Doubt it.

Leetch and Bourque score in the playoffs.

 

[haohmaru]

Bourque had two playoff runs as good as Leetch.

Uh... not quite. Good. But not nearly as good.

 

[Crease]

You can argue their peaks were similar but prime and career goes to Bourque by a long shot. This is sort of like the old Richter vs. Brodeur debate.

 

[ReggieDunlop68]

You can argue their peaks were similar but prime and career goes to Bourque by a long shot. This is sort of like the old Richter vs. Brodeur debate.

Even the current Richter vs Lundqvist debate.

“Yo Lundqvist is good n shit but Richter haz da cup, so...”

 

[chosen]

Uh... not quite. Good. But not nearly as good.

We disagree.

 

[haohmaru]

We disagree.

The numbers disagree as well.