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Neil Smith is one of North Americas premiere sports executives. As President and General Manager of the New York Rangers, he worked closely with the teams four different owners-Paramount, Viacom, ITT and Cablevision-to rejuvenate the storied franchise both on and off the ice. Smith ultimately led the Rangers to their first Stanley Cup Championship in 54 years and positioned the team as one of the most successful and profitable brands in the NHL. He is currently the owner of the minor league hockey team the Johnstown Chiefs, serves as a scout to the Anaheim Ducks and is a leading analyst on Versus Network, the NHL Network and countless other electronic media outlets.
Smith joined the New York Rangers in 1989 as the youngest GM in Rangers history. He was given a mandate to rebuild a team that had not won a championship since 1940 and to turn the Rangers into a modern brand that attracted a young and diverse fan base. On the ice, Smith quickly assembled a group of seasoned veterans and emerging superstars, bringing some of the most talented players in the world to Madison Square Garden. He initiated the blockbuster trade for the legendary Mark Messier, who became the teams captain and a New York sports icon. Under Smiths leadership, the Rangers became an elite team and twice won the Presidents' Trophy emblematic of placing first in the entire league. In the 1993-1994 season, the team famously won the Stanely Cup and Smith was selected Executive of the Year by The Sporting News.
While rebuilding the team, Smith also spearheaded a campaign to improve the teams business performance and increase its fan base. He built and developed the teams profitable minor league franchise, implemented a variety of branding initiatives including the unveiling of a new logo and completely re-organized MSGs ticket prices and put in the highly lucrative rink side seats.
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