Upon assuming the reigns as the ninth general manager in franchise history on July 17th, 1989, one of the first player transactions Neil Smith orchestrated was to acquire rugged forward Kris King from the Detroit Red Wings. Smith, the architect of the 1994 Stanley Cup Championship squad, was quite familiar with King’s grit, toughness and pugilistic acumen from their days together in the Motor City.
Kris King, adding toughness to the Rangers roster
Smith inherited a talented, but under-achieving Ranger team that had been swept in the first round of the 1989 playoffs by Mario Lemieux and the Pittsburgh Penguins.