from Larry Brooks of the New York Post,

Cheers for the architect of the Rangers’ only Stanley Cup-winning team since 1940 washed over Neil Smith as the 1994 champions were introduced Friday night to an adoring Garden audience that 25 years later still cannot thank them enough.

This was a hearty welcome back for the general manager, who has generally been an outcast around these parts since his dismissal in March 2000. On Thursday, Garden CEO Jim Dolan and Smith had a long, warm conversation at a dinner at a Manhattan restaurant for the players, staff and their families to kick off this 25th anniversary celebration.

The freeze that had marked the relationship between Smith and the organization appears to have thawed. This weekend could represent the former GM’s port of re-entry into the family.

“I pray that it would,” Smith told The Post hours before the on-ice ceremony preceding the Rangers-Hurricanes match. “I hope that it would. I am just so happy to be here.”

continued

Below, watch the highlights of the 1994 Stanley Cup Champs reunion.