Rangers GM Neil Smith on the ‘94 Cup, Keenan Acrimony, Messier’s Departure

In more than 80 years of Rangers hockey, only one man built a Stanley Cup champion. That’s GM Neil Smith. He took over the team in ‘89 and describes how far from a contender they were. He goes through the early acquisitions of Adam Graves and Mark Messier, then the constant tug of war with coach Mike Keenan. He oversaw the most dramatic trade deadline in franchise history and the risks he took in trading away valuable pieces against his better judgment. What it’s like to end the drought, what it’s like to then have your coach leave weeks after. For the first time, Smith also tells the story of trying to make amends for Messier’s controversial departure many years later. This is a can’t-miss conversation for hockey fans.  To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policyLearn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices