How 1994 Rangers GM couldn’t cash in ‘deal’ made with Knicks counterpart
The spring of 1994 was like no other in the New York sporting world. The Rangers and Knicks each captivated the city, chasing championships in their respective sports, trying to end extended title droughts.
The Rangers, of course, won their first Stanley Cup championship in 54 years, edging the Vancouver Canucks in Game 7 of the Cup Final at Madison Square Garden on June 14 that year. The next night at MSG, with Mark Messier in attendance accompanied by his good friend, Lord Stanley’s Cup, the Knicks evened their best-of-7 NBA FInals series with a 91-82 victory in Game 4.
Two days later on June 17, New York City feted the Rangers with a ticker-tape parade down the Canyon of Heroes in Manhattan and a City Hall ceremony. That evening, the Knicks took Game 5 from the Rockets 91-84 at the Garden, to move one victory away from their own championship parade.
Let’s just say it was bedlam in the Big Apple.
The Knicks, though, traveled to Houston and lost Game 6 by two points. They then lost Game 7 on the road, 90-84, with the Rangers GM in attendance. An epic dual championship in New York was scuttled, as was a side deal between Smith and Knicks president Dave Checketts.
“At the time, I actually went to Game 7 in Houston and was pulling for them,” Smith explained to Forever Blueshirts on the Rink Rap podcast.” Dave Checketts and I had a deal that if either or both of us won a championship, we’d give the other guy a ring. So, I was looking forward to having a New York Knicks championship ring. So I didn’t get that, obviously.”
When asked if there’s at least a part of him that’s happy that only the Rangers won a championship that spring, a chance to own New York sports for a time, Smith admitted that “probably now” he feels that way, if not at the time back in 1994.
“Now, years later, reflecting on things, of course to be the only Garden tenant to have won a championship in that long period of time, it’s not like you don’t want the other team to win, but it’s OK, you really stand alone.”
There’s something else that Smith remains proud of, considering he’s such a hockey and sports historian.
“The one piece we still have is that we are the only Ranger team to actually win [the Stanley Cup] at Madison Square Garden,” Smith noted, referring to their first three titles won on the road. “And we’re still the only team since 1970, when the Knicks won it at the Garden, to win a home championship at the Garden.”
That last part holds up today, since the Knicks won the decisive Game 5 of this year’s NBA Final in San Antonio, a thrilling 94-90 road victory over the Spurs.
Rangers Cup-winning GM Neil Smith states ‘New York is special in every way’
Though admittedly more focused on the Stanley Cup Final this spring, when the Carolina Hurricanes defeated the Vegas Golden Knights in six games, Smith shared that he was still plenty caught up in what the Knicks accomplished. Watching from his home in South Carolina, Smith enjoyed the teamwork, Jalen Brunson’s brilliance, the epic comebacks, and how the Knicks united the citizens of New York City during their championship run.
Does Smith see a common thread between the 1994 Rangers and 2026 Knicks?
“You’re best players have to be your best players,” he stated. “So, Brian Leetch who won the Conn Smythe Trophy (as playoff MVP) and was the leading scorer in the playoffs, and of course ‘Mess,’ and ‘Ricky’ (Mike Richter) in net, were our best players and literally played like our best players. I’m not as educated on the Knicks, but I know Jalen Brunson — even an untrained eye like mine could see how phenomenal this guy was.
“What a performance he put on, What a performance by the Knicks. And what a performance by their coach (Mike Brown). Just a fantastic effort all the way through.”
Then there’s the parade.
“As far as the parade goes, there’s nothing like it. It’s not even something you can explain,” Smith shared. “I mean, I put together all of the floats, meaning who was going to be on what float, and how we were going to do it, and I got there and got up on my float, ready for this parade, and when we went into that canyon I was overwhelmed by the amount of people and the cheering and what was going on there. And it ends within seconds. Yes, it goes on for a half hour or however long it really lasts, but it only seems like it goes on for 10 seconds and it’s over because it’s really overwhelming.
“It’s something no other place can offer. New York is special in every way.”
