Bruins Lose Knee Injured Brian Leetch

UNIONDALE, N.Y. -- Brian Leetch injured his right knee in the second period of the Boston Bruins' 4-3 overtime loss to the New York Islanders on Tuesday night and didn't return.
Leetch limped out of Nassau Coliseum without the use of crutches, but said he was sore and was wearing a brace. The 37-year-old defenseman, in his first season with the Bruins, has never had a knee injury since entering the NHL with the New York Rangers in 1988.
His first occurred with about three minutes left in the middle period when he collided with Islanders forward Shawn Bates as both went for the puck along the side wall.
"I didn't see the puck in the dasher, I thought it was going down the boards," Leetch said in a dejected tone. "All of a sudden it was in front of me. So I went for it, and he dove and crashed into my knee.
"It was either his helmet or his shoulder that hit my knee."
Bates scored the winning goal with only 28.2 seconds left in overtime.
Leetch, who signed a one-year, $4 million contract with the Bruins this summer, expected to go for tests and to see doctors on Wednesday. Because he felt pain on the inside of his knee, the two-time Norris Trophy winner speculated that he injured his medial collateral ligament.
"Eighteen years ago, my left knee I hurt. I've never had a knee injury in the pros," Leetch said.
When asked if a week off the ice might be the best-case scenario, Leetch was able to smile and crack a joke.
"Best case, I'll be better tomorrow," he said.
Boston coach Mike Sullivan didn't have details about Leetch's injury immediately after the game, and no doctors examined the defenseman. Sullivan was already figuring that Leetch wouldn't play Thursday when the Bruins return home to face Florida.

Red Sox GM Walks Away From Dream Job

Three years ago, Theo Epstein became the youngest man ever appointed general manager of a Major League club.
Monday evening, he became the youngest man to ever walk away from an MLB dream job.
Strange days, indeed, when matches that appeared made in heaven wind up on the rocks.
In the spinning-out-of-control soap opera that is Red Sox Nation, this is one of the oddest, most heart-wrenching twists yet.
This is the job Epstein had fantasized about while growing up in Brookline, Mass. This is the job he was given when he was 28, barely off the Yale University campus. This is the job he performed historically.
And it's the job he just walked away from.
Why? Right now, we're too busy trying to raise our slacked jaws to even imagine. But, for certain, we will soon know, because nothing seems to remain behind the curtain too long in Beantown.
In the simplest sense, Epstein was motivated to flee by the same forces which make Manny Ramirez a habitual trade-seeker and which have also prompted David Wells to seek a way out.
Wells has pitched, and gotten in enough trouble, in New York City. But even he found the Boston fishbowl both invasive and manipulative.
Lack of any privacy had Epstein, by nature a reserved and introspective guy, on the edge. He was pushed over by published details of his intricate relationship with club president Larry Lucchino.
That weekend report couldn't sway the ongoing negotiations between Epstein and the club; the parties had essentially already reached a verbal accord -- for the annual $1.5 million Epstein had sought.
In fact, multiple news outlets had reported the deal as done. And maybe this was something else which Epstein resented - he didn't want to be predictable, refused to let others call his shots.
Most critically, Epstein felt the reports set an unfavorable mood for three more years on Yawkey Way. So he decided his peace of mind wasn't for sale, not even at the price he had set.
And how about the conflicting developments, in a matter of days, for Billy Beane's "Moneyball" stable? On Saturday, the Los Angeles Dodgers pull the rug out from underneath one disciple of the Oakland GM, Paul DePodesta. Now another, Epstein, takes his rug home with him.
Interestingly, DePodesta will be paid $2.2 million over the next three years to not general manager. Epstein was offered "only" double that to work -- but finances had nothing to do with this split (a raise of more than 400 percent over his old salary of $350,000 thrilled Epstein).
In the end, turning his back on his met demands only heightened the satisfaction Epstein must've felt in telling the Red Sox he was leaving. Isn't that the ultimate last word?
There are no heroes or villains in this episode. The principals can both step into either role with ease.
Epstein did a sensational job, ached for an appreciative pat on the back that never came, and finally flipped out ... Epstein is a conceited yuppie, the Red Sox needed him more than he needed them, leaves convinced other clubs will now fight over him.
Or ...
Lucchino identified Epstein's talents, took a chance on the kid, put him in a position where he could make a difference ... Lucchino meddled behind the scenes, was too quick to address Epstein dismissively in meetings, was too smug to assume Epstein would not walk.
That walk was made infinitely easier by Epstein's track record. Face it, engineering the Red Sox's first World Series championship in 86 years is gonna look good on the resume. As does the fact the Red Sox appeared in the postseason in each of his three seasons -- the first threepeat in club history.
And there is no argument against Epstein's role in this peak. He took risks, made the unpopular move, repeatedly went against convention -- and was right an inordinate share of the time.
He inherited a talented team -- the 2002 Red Sox had won 93 games. They also had gone home after the 162nd game for the third straight season, so Epstein buttoned down his white collars and got busy.
Only six of those 2002 Red Sox remained by 2005: Jason Varitek, Manny Ramirez, Johnny Damon, Trot Nixon, Doug Mirabelli and Tim Wakefield.
The rest of the team was remade on guile (David Ortiz), guts (Nomar Garciaparra) and guesswork (Bill Mueller, Mark Bellhorn and/or Tony Graffanino).
In the process, Epstein healed the image of a Boston front office which for years had been viewed by the rest of baseball as borderline dysfunctional.
While Beane's view may have been a bit biased, his assessment of the Epstein-run Red Sox is still worth noting.
"The scary thing is that Boston is now a very, very well-run team," Oakland's GM had said. "Before, we felt we had an advantage because we felt we were well-run. But with the resources they have, they're a formidable opponent. Theo's one of the best in the business already.''
Theo liked hearing that. Who wouldn't? He may have liked to hear it a little more in the corridors of the Red Sox offices.
That may not seem like a deal-breaker to most of you. But unless you've walked in a man's shoes, you can't pass judgment on his motivation.
And as the youngest general manager of a World Series champion, Epstein's glass shoes have never been worn by anyone else.
Tom Singer is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

Varitek Disappointed in Departure of Red Sox GM

BOSTON -- Between the white lines -- in the dugout and in the clubhouse -- catcher Jason Varitek is the leader of his team, and he even has the captain's title to prove it. As for the goings-on in the front office, Varitek knows he has no say over that.
However, he is disappointed that Theo Epstein is no longer the general manager of the Red Sox. During Epstein's three years, Varitek always had a great sense of security over what was going on in the front office. He knew the organization was headed in the right direction, and even has a championship ring to prove it.
Now Varitek admits that he's concerned about where things are going with Epstein and assistant general manager Josh Byrnes (hired as the GM of the Diamondbacks last week) gone. Varitek was also dismayed to learn that assistant trainer Chris Correnti, who worked extensively with the pitchers for the last several years, has been dismissed.
"It's frustrating as players," said Varitek, who won his first Gold Glove Award on Tuesday. "We're seeing a lot of turnover and a lot of things changing. We've lost our GM, our assistant GM, so we've got to find a way to right the ship. It's got to start from the top down.
"It seems like we've had a lot of changes in this organization for a team that has just come off a world championship and was able to work its way back into the playoffs. Obviously, it starts from the top down. They had a huge part in getting the right people here. Yes, it was a shock. I was really surprised that [Epstein] is not coming back. Hopefully, for him, it's the best decision for himself."
Varitek challenged upper management to act quickly in finding a successor for Epstein, in that this is a critical offseason for the Red Sox. Center fielder Johnny Damon is a free agent; Manny Ramirez and David Wells, according to reports, want to be traded. Second baseman Tony Graffanino, third baseman Bill Mueller, and the first base duo of Kevin Millar and John Olerud are also free agents.
"Given all the people whose contracts are up, we've got to get somebody in there," Varitek said. "I'm very upset that we're losing a guy like [Epstein]. [Byrnes] was also a very good baseball man. ... [Epstein's] done such a good job with trying to make this organization better. It's going to be very tough to see a guy like him go, especially at a time like this. I'm sure [Epstein and Byrnes] had things and plans ready to roll to deal with this team at hand."
At one point on Monday, Varitek was so sure Epstein was returning that he sent him an electronic form of congratulations.
"I was surprised. I was so surprised that I even sent him a text message congratulating him, because I read it across the screen on the TV," said Varitek. "A little while later, I found that to be wrong. That was pretty embarrassing for myself."
He later left Epstein a voice-mail after learning that his information was wrong.
Varitek hadn't talked to Epstein as of Tuesday evening, so he wasn't exactly sure what led to his departure.
The veteran just hopes that he is the captain of a stable ship when the Red Sox report to Fort Myers, Fla., for the start of Spring Training in mid-February.
"We need to find a way, organizationally, to get something done and figuring out what this team is doing," he said. "That's not our job as players. Our job is to play. But there's a lot of important people, like Johnny Damon, for instance, and Graffanino and Millar and Bill Mueller, that are there and have to be dealt with right now, and hopefully, they are."
Varitek has seen transition with the Red Sox be successful before, be it a switch in managers (Grady Little to Terry Francona) or the transfer to the current ownership, under which the Red Sox won their first World Series since 1918.
"Obviously, they've had great minds and have done this before," Varitek said of the brass. "They have a plan. Hopefully, the plan is to put out the best team and keep this organization and this team winning."
Ian Browne is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.