Wed, Mar 3, 2004 at 8:25pm

LEAFS PAY THE PRICE FOR LEETCH

The Toronto Maple Leafs acquired defenseman Brian Leetch from the New York Rangers for defenseman Maxim Kondratiev, forward Jarkko Immonen, a first-round draft pick in 2004 and second-round draft pick in 2005.

What does it give the Toronto Maple Leafs
Wow! The Leafs have been searching for that elusive No. 1 defenseman for quite some time now, so it's no wonder they paid a hefty price to land Leetch--the 1994 Conn Smythe Trophy winner. Leetch will log a ton of ice time and be used in all game situations by coach Pat Quinn. At $6.4 Million, Leetch is signed through 2004-05 so he'll likely remain in Toronto beyond this year.

What does it give the New York Rangers
In making their third deal in less than 24 hours, the Rangers came away with an impressive package for (arguably) their greatest player of all time. Kondratiev should make an impact along the blueline next season, while Immonen is an interesting scoring prospect. Throw in two draft picks, including a second-rounder in what is expected to be a deep 2005 crop, and the Rangers come away with an outstanding return for their 36-year-old defensive leader.

Fantasy impact