Toggle sidebar

Leetch vs Bourque in their prime

  • Xenforo Cloud will be upgrading us to version 2.3.5 on March 3rd at 12 AM GMT. This version has increased stability and fixes several bugs. We expect downtime for the duration of the update. The admin team will continue to work on existing issues, templates and upgrade all necessary available addons to minimize impact of this new version. Click Here for Updates

Bryce Newman

Registered User
Jan 4, 2021
260
204
Tim Sweeney was recently asked which NHL Defenseman would he take in his prime: Leetch or Bourque?



I saw this on the main forum and thought I'd pose the question here for older Ranger fans. Notice the question is "in their prime" and not who had the better career.

For me, I'll take Leetch. His prime years of 1992-1997 were a notch higher than Bourque at his best.

Undoubtedly Bourque had the better overall career (in large part, sadly, because of the Rangers "dark years" after Messier left) but we all saw what prime Leetch did in the regular season of 92 (102 points) and playoffs of 94 (34 points and Conn Smythe).

What do you think? Would love to hear older Rangers fans opinions on this.
Click to read more...
 
  • Like
Reactions: KOVALEV022473
Machinehead said:
Bourque is the only defenseman of that era I comfortably put ahead of Leetch.

That includes Stevens, Chelios, and Pronger.
Click to expand...

Definitely for career Bourque was the best overall of the entire era, but for prime I have Leetch slightly ahead.

Leetch definitely better than Chelios, Stevens and Pronger though in all areas.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
The only person who would pick Leetch over Bourque would be the Boston equipment trainer.

Ray Bourque would wear multiple gloves a game, change jerseys between periods, take showers in the intermission, and change skate laces EVERY period.

Points to Leetch, as Ray Bourque would get a DUI after his playing career, the only negative thing you can write about Brian Leetch is him 'slipping on ice' when exiting a cab.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Baby Punisher
Leetch and it’s not even close. Leetch is twice the player Bobby Orr was and six times the player Raymond wishes he was. It’s Leetch and nobody can’t tell me otherwise. LEETCH!
 
As a huge Leetch fan I love this question. I think Ray was the second best Dman of my lifetime but in their primes it is a little closer. It is still Ray as the winner though. He was so great offensively and defensively. He had a cannon from the point and one of the most accurate snap shots ever but don't sleep on Brian. In their primes it is not a blow out. Ray was great on defense. Strong as a bull. Both guys were great skaters. Brian used his wrist shot more. Ray was more a snap shot and slap shot guy. The time I really realized how great Mario was was after watching him toy with Ray. Back then it was Coffey was the best offensive Dman but Ray was the best overall Dman. People sometimes forget Ray is one of the few Dman to ever score of 30 goals in a season. As I said in the previous thread. Ray is top 2 but Brian is top 10.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Baby Punisher and Pidto Files
Bourque and it’s not even close / Dennis Potvin was better than both of them - so was Larry Robinson.
Leetch isn’t as good as Larry Murphy or Paul Coffey - or Doug Wilson or Scott Stevens or Chris Chelios to name few .
 
  • Like
  • Wow
Reactions: gabevh3 and CasusBelli
I've rarely seen Bourque ranked outside the top 5 defensemen of all time.

Leetch is usually top 20, but never top 5.
 
  • Like
Reactions: CasusBelli
People forget how big Ray Bourque was he was built like a mail truck… Strong powerful trunk… And he was tremendous defensively… And could hurt people with his checks ….

People also forget the last five years of Brian Leetch’s NYR career he was the worst defensemen in the NHL on the penalty kill…

He was on ice for more goals against than any other defenseman in that span.

Obviously not all his fault but the end of each his career was awful very similar to Messier.
 
Kocur26 said:
People forget how big Ray Bourque was he was built like a mail truck… Strong powerful trunk… And he was tremendous defensively… And could hurt people with his checks ….

People also forget the last five years of Brian Leetch’s NYR career he was the worst defensemen in the NHL on the penalty kill…

He was on ice for more goals against than any other defenseman in that span.

Obviously not all his fault but the end of each his career was awful very similar to Messier.
Click to expand...

Funny how Leetch instantly became good again defensively when he went to Toronto. Ever consider the fact that Leetch played with beer leaguers the last few years of his career on the Rangers and maybe that's why his numbers dropped off?

You don't go from being a well rounded dman (which Leetch was his entire prime) to a defensive bum overnight.

And by the way, read the original post again. IN THEIR PRIME. Stop talking about Leetch when he was old and playing on garbage teams.
 
Kocur26 said:
Bourque and it’s not even close / Dennis Potvin was better than both of them - so was Larry Robinson.
Leetch isn’t as good as Larry Murphy or Paul Coffey - or Doug Wilson or Scott Stevens or Chris Chelios to name few .
Click to expand...
I’d take Lidstrom and Pronger before taking Leetch. Could even make a case for Blake.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Latest posts

Ad

Upcoming events

Ad

Top Bottom