Mark Douglas Messier (ˈmɛsi.eɪ; born January 18, 1961) is a former Canadian professional
ice hockeyIce hockey, often referred to as hockey, is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use wooden or composite sticks to shoot a hard rubber puck into their opponent's net. The game is played between two teams of six players each. Five members of each team skate up and down the ice trying to take...
centreThe centre in ice hockey is a forward position of a player whose primary zone of play is the middle of the ice, away from the side boards. Centres have more flexibility in their positioning and are expected to cover more ice surface than any other player...
of the
National Hockey LeagueThe National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...
and current special assistant to the president and general manager of the
New York RangersThe New York Rangers are a professional ice hockey team based in the borough of Manhattan in New York, New York, USA. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . Playing their home games at Madison Square Garden, the Rangers are one of the...
. He spent a quarter of a century in the NHL (1979–2004) with the
Edmonton OilersThe Edmonton Oilers are a professional ice hockey team based in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. They are members of the Northwest Division in the Western Conference of the National Hockey League ....
, New York Rangers, and
Vancouver CanucksThe Vancouver Canucks are a professional ice hockey team based in Vancouver, :British Columbia, Canada. They are members of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . The Canucks play their home games at Rogers Arena, formerly known as General Motors Place,...
. He also played professionally with the
World Hockey AssociationThe World Hockey Association was a professional ice hockey league that operated in North America from 1972 to 1979. It was the first major competition for the National Hockey League since the collapse of the Western Hockey League in 1926...
(WHA)'s
Indianapolis RacersThe Indianapolis Racers were a franchise in the former World Hockey Association from 1974 to 1978. They competed in five seasons, folding 25 games into the 1978–79 season. They played at Market Square Arena...
and
Cincinnati StingersThe Cincinnati Stingers was an ice hockey team based in Cincinnati, Ohio, that played in the World Hockey Association from 1975 to 1979. Its home arena was Riverfront Coliseum and it was the only major-league hockey team ever to play in Cincinnati.-History:The Stingers franchise was awarded in...
. He was the last former
WHAThe World Hockey Association was a professional ice hockey league that operated in North America from 1972 to 1979. It was the first major competition for the National Hockey League since the collapse of the Western Hockey League in 1926...
player to be active in professional hockey, and the last active player who had played in the NHL in the 1970s.
Messier is considered one of the greatest NHL players of all time, as well as among the greatest leaders in sport history. He is second on the all-time career lists for regular season points (1887), playoff points (295) and regular season games played (1756). He won six
Stanley CupThe Stanley Cup is an ice hockey club trophy, awarded annually to the National Hockey League playoffs champion after the conclusion of the Stanley Cup Finals. It has been referred to as The Cup, Lord Stanley's Cup, The Holy Grail, or facetiously as Lord Stanley's Mug...
s, five with the Oilers and one with the Rangers, and is the only player to
captainIn ice hockey, each team can designate an official captain for each game. The player serving as captain during the game wears a "C" on his or her jersey...
two different professional teams to championships. His playoff leadership while in New York, which ended a 54-year Stanley Cup drought in
1994The 1994 Stanley Cup Final was a best-of-seven playoff series contested between the Eastern Conference champion New York Rangers and Western Conference champion Vancouver Canucks of the National Hockey League...
, earned him the nickname "The Messiah". He was also known, over the course of his career, as "The Moose" for his aggression and strength. In 2007, he was inducted into the
Hockey Hall of FameThe Hockey Hall of Fame is located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Dedicated to the history of ice hockey, it is both a museum and a hall of fame. It holds exhibits about players, teams, National Hockey League records, memorabilia and NHL trophies, including the Stanley Cup...
, in his first year of eligibility.
1978–79: Early years and WHA
Mark Messier played Tier II in the
Alberta Junior Hockey LeagueThe Alberta Junior Hockey League is an Alberta-based Junior A hockey league that belongs to the Canadian Junior Hockey League . It was formed as a five-team league in 1964. There are currently 16 teams in the league. The regular season league champions receive the Dave Duchak Trophy...
with the
St. Albert SaintsThe St. Albert Saints were a junior ice hockey franchise based in St. Albert, Alberta, for twenty-seven seasons from 1977 to 2004. Before 1977, the team played in nearby Spruce Grove as the Spruce Grove Mets, and in 2004 the team again moved to Spruce Grove where they now play as the Spruce Grove...
. In 54 games, Messier had 74 points and 194 penalty minutes. Messier also played a few games with the
Portland Winter HawksThe Portland Winterhawks are a major junior ice hockey team based in Portland, Oregon, playing in the Western Hockey League, a member league in the Canadian Hockey League. They play their home games at the Memorial Coliseum, though typically a few games each season are also played in the...
. Mark’s father Doug once played junior hockey with Pat Stapleton, the coach of the
Indianapolis RacersThe Indianapolis Racers were a franchise in the former World Hockey Association from 1974 to 1978. They competed in five seasons, folding 25 games into the 1978–79 season. They played at Market Square Arena...
. Doug called him and got Messier a contract to play hockey in Indianapolis for $30,000. Messier signed the 5-game tryout contract at the age of 17. He failed to register a point and was released just before the Racers folded.
Shortly after being released by Indianapolis, Messier was signed as a free agent by the
Cincinnati StingersThe Cincinnati Stingers was an ice hockey team based in Cincinnati, Ohio, that played in the World Hockey Association from 1975 to 1979. Its home arena was Riverfront Coliseum and it was the only major-league hockey team ever to play in Cincinnati.-History:The Stingers franchise was awarded in...
. While with the
Cincinnati StingersThe Cincinnati Stingers was an ice hockey team based in Cincinnati, Ohio, that played in the World Hockey Association from 1975 to 1979. Its home arena was Riverfront Coliseum and it was the only major-league hockey team ever to play in Cincinnati.-History:The Stingers franchise was awarded in...
, Messier was on a line with
Robbie FtorekRobert Brian Ftorek is a former NHL player and coach. He was enshrined as member of the United States Hockey Hall of Fame in 1991...
. Ftorek was one of the top scorers in the league but Messier managed to get only two goals. He would play 47 games for the Stingers tallying only one goal and ten assists. While in Cincinnati, Messier was teammates with
Mike GartnerMichael Alfred Gartner is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey right winger who played 19 seasons in the National Hockey League for the Washington Capitals, Minnesota North Stars, New York Rangers, Toronto Maple Leafs and Phoenix Coyotes...
,
Barry MelroseBarry James Melrose is a former player and head coach in the National Hockey League, as well as a current commentator and hockey analyst for ESPN.-Playing career:...
and
Paul StewartPaul Stewart is a former professional ice hockey player and referee.Stewart played in both the World Hockey Association and the National Hockey League. He played with Mark Messier for the Cincinnati Stingers...
. When he retired, Messier was the last former WHA player still active on the ice as a player.
1979–91: Edmonton Oilers
Messier was drafted in the 3rd round, 48th overall, by the
Edmonton OilersThe Edmonton Oilers are a professional ice hockey team based in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. They are members of the Northwest Division in the Western Conference of the National Hockey League ....
in the
1979 NHL Entry DraftThe 1979 NHL Entry Draft took place on August 9, 1979, at the Queen Elizabeth Hotel in Montreal, Quebec. The National Hockey League teams selected 126 players eligible for entry into professional ranks, in the reverse order of the 1978–79 NHL season and playoff standings. This is the list of those...
. Messier was a fierce, tough competitor whose intense leadership in the dressing room was as important as the goals he scored on the ice. He was not initially known as a scorer, but his offensive numbers increased steadily over his first few years with the Oilers. In 1981–82, he registered his only 50-goal season. For most of his tenure with the Oilers, he played on a line with
Glenn AndersonGlenn Christopher Anderson is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey right winger in the National Hockey League who played for the Edmonton Oilers, Toronto Maple Leafs, New York Rangers, and St. Louis Blues...
.
Initially a left winger (he was named to the NHL First All-Star Team in 1982–83 on left wing), Messier switched to centre in the 1984 playoffs, and the results were spectacular. In Game 3 of the
1984 FinalsThe 1984 Stanley Cup Final was held between the Edmonton Oilers and the then-defending champion New York Islanders. Edmonton was making their second-straight Finals appearance, and New York was making their fifth-straight...
, for example, with his Oilers trailing the four-time defending champion
New York IslandersThe New York Islanders are a professional ice hockey team based in Uniondale, New York. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...
by a goal, it was Messier's goal on a brilliant end-to-end rush that sparked a comeback by the Oilers. By the end of the series, Messier had earned the
Conn Smythe TrophyThe Conn Smythe Trophy is awarded annually to the player judged most valuable to his team during the National Hockey League's Stanley Cup playoffs. The Conn Smythe Trophy has been awarded 46 times to 40 players since the 1964–65 NHL season...
, awarded to the most valuable player of the playoffs.
In 1984, Messier was suspended for 10 games for cracking
Jamie MacounJamie Neil Macoun is a retired professional ice hockey defenceman who played parts of seventeen seasons in the National Hockey League....
's cheekbone in a fight during a game against the Calgary Flames on December 26. Messier was retaliating for having been boarded by Macoun earlier in the game, but the NHL ruled that he had instigated the fight.
On September 6, 1985, Mark Messier lost control of his Porsche and totaled it by hitting three parked cars. He was later charged with
hit and runHit-and-run is the act of causing a traffic accident , and failing to stop and identify oneself afterwards...
and careless driving, for which he paid a fine.
He won four more Cups with the Oilers, 1985, 1987, 1988, and
1990In the 1990 Stanley Cup Final, the Edmonton Oilers defeated the Boston Bruins four games to one. For the Oilers, it was their fifth Cup win in seven years, and the only one without Wayne Gretzky...
, the last which he captained the Oilers to a five-game victory over the
Boston BruinsThe Boston Bruins are a professional ice hockey team based in Boston, Massachusetts, USA. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The team has been in existence since 1924, and is the league's third-oldest team and its oldest in the...
. Though the Oilers had been a 1980s powerhouse, the 1990 victory, which came two years after
Wayne GretzkyWayne Douglas Gretzky, CC is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player and former head coach. Nicknamed "The Great One", he is generally regarded as the best player in the history of the National Hockey League , and has been called "the greatest hockey player ever" by many sportswriters,...
was traded away, surprised many. Messier also won the Hart Trophy as league MVP that season, edging out the Bruins'
Ray BourqueRaymond Jean "Ray" Bourque is a former Canadian professional ice hockey player. He currently holds records for most goals, assists and points by a defenceman in the National Hockey League . Bourque has become near-synonymous with the Boston Bruins franchise, for which he played 21 seasons and...
by just two votes, the narrowest margin in the award's history.
Though Messier was actually under contract to the Oilers until 1993, his agent and father Doug Messier unsuccessfully pressed Sather for a new deal in the summer of 1990. After the 1990–91 season, Messier was upset that the Oilers were willing to let
Adam GravesAdam Graves is a former professional hockey player. He is best-known for his ten-year tenure with the New York Rangers. He also played for the Detroit Red Wings, Edmonton Oilers, and San Jose Sharks...
leave the team. Messier issued a public trade demand during the Canada Cup tournament saying that he wanted out if the Oilers were not willing to do what was necessary to keep important players. On October 4, 1991, in one of many cost-cutting moves by Edmonton management, Messier was traded to the
New York RangersThe New York Rangers are a professional ice hockey team based in the borough of Manhattan in New York, New York, USA. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . Playing their home games at Madison Square Garden, the Rangers are one of the...
for Louie DeBrusk,
Bernie NichollsBernard Irvine Nicholls is a former professional ice hockey centre. His junior career was spent with the Kingston Canadians, where he established himself as a dynamic scorer and a multi-faceted talent. He was selected by the Los Angeles Kings in the fourth round of the 1980 NHL Entry Draft, 73rd...
, and
Steven RiceSteven Rice is a Canadian former professional ice hockey right winger who played eight seasons in the National Hockey League in the 1990s.Rice was drafted 20th overall by the New York Rangers in the 1989 NHL Entry Draft...
.
1991–97: New York Rangers
In his first season with the Rangers, Messier won his second Hart Trophy and guided the Rangers to the best record in the NHL. However, they were ousted in six games in the second round by the eventual champions
Pittsburgh PenguinsThe Pittsburgh Penguins are a professional ice hockey team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The franchise was founded in 1967 as one of the first expansion teams during the league's original...
led by
Mario LemieuxMario Lemieux, OC, CQ is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player. He is acknowledged to be one of the best players of all time. He played 17 seasons as a forward for the Pittsburgh Penguins of the National Hockey League between 1984 and 2006...
.
In 1992–93, the Rangers missed the playoffs due to numerous injuries among key players, the first time in Messier's career that he did not play in the postseason. After the season,
Mike KeenanMichael Edward Keenan is a former head coach in the National Hockey League , most recently with the Calgary Flames, and former General Manager of the Florida Panthers. He is currently working as an analyst for the New York Rangers on MSG Network.Keenan was a player for the St...
was hired as head coach.
In the 1993–94 NHL season, the Rangers rebounded to once again finish first overall, and this time were expected to win the Cup.
Down 3–2 in the 1994 Eastern Conference Finals against the rival
New Jersey DevilsThe New Jersey Devils are a professional ice hockey team based in Newark, New Jersey, United States. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...
, Messier confronted the New York media and publicly guaranteed a Game 6 victory. With fans and players on both sides reading the news headline, it then became a feat comparable to
Babe Ruth's called shotBabe Ruth's called shot was the home run hit by Babe Ruth of the New York Yankees in the fifth inning of Game 3 of the 1932 World Series, held on October 1, 1932 at Wrigley Field in Chicago. During the at-bat, Ruth made a pointing gesture, which existing film confirms, but the exact nature of his...
and
Joe NamathJoseph William "Joe" Namath , nicknamed "Broadway Joe" or "Joe Willie", is a former American football quarterback. He played college football for the University of Alabama under coach Paul "Bear" Bryant and his assistant, Howard Schnellenberger, from 1962–1964, and professional football in the...
's
Super Bowl IIISuper Bowl III was the third AFL-NFL Championship Game in professional American football, but the first to officially bear the name "Super Bowl". This game is regarded as one of the greatest upsets in sports history...
guarantee, and backed it up by scoring a natural hat trick in the third period on an empty net goal with
ESPNESPN National Hockey Night was ESPN's weekly television broadcasts of National Hockey League regular season games and coverage of playoff games, broadcast from 1992 to 2004...
commentator
Gary ThorneGary Thorne is a play-by-play announcer for ESPN and ABC, working Major League Baseball, College football and Frozen Four hockey contests. He is also the television play-by-play voice of the Baltimore Orioles...
boasting, "Do you believe it! Do you believe it! He said we will win game six and he has just picked up the hat trick!" It helped the Rangers erase a two-goal deficit. The Rangers went on to win the series in a thrilling seventh game double overtime nail biter.
Then, in the
Stanley Cup FinalsThe 1994 Stanley Cup Final was a best-of-seven playoff series contested between the Eastern Conference champion New York Rangers and Western Conference champion Vancouver Canucks of the National Hockey League...
, Messier scored the Cup winning goal in Game 7 at Madison Square Garden, giving the Rangers
their first Stanley Cup in 54 yearsThe Curse of 1940, also called Dutton's Curse, was a superstitious explanation for why the New York Rangers of the National Hockey League did not win the league's championship trophy, the Stanley Cup, from 1940 to 1994.-Popular theories:...
. He became the first (and to this date, the only) player to captain two different teams to the Stanley Cup, and provided two of the most memorable images of that Stanley Cup Finals. First, when the buzzer sounded he was jumping up and down with overwhelming emotion as ticker tape fell; fireworks burst and fans and teammates celebrated. The other, which would become an iconic image to the Rangers and their fans, taken by
George KalinskyGeorge Kalinsky is a world-renowned, award-winning photographer. He has been the official photographer for Madison Square Garden since 1966 and also serves as the official photographer at Radio City Music Hall. Throughout his career, Kalinsky has captured many of the greatest moments in sports and...
, photographer at
Madison Square GardenMadison Square Garden, often abbreviated as MSG and known colloquially as The Garden, is a multi-purpose indoor arena in the New York City borough of Manhattan and located at 8th Avenue, between 31st and 33rd Streets, situated on top of Pennsylvania Station.Opened on February 11, 1968, it is the...
, showing incredible emotion as he accepted the Stanley Cup from NHL Commissioner
Gary BettmanGary Bruce Bettman is the commissioner of the National Hockey League , a post he has held since February 1, 1993. Previously, Bettman was a senior vice-president and general counsel to the National Basketball Association...
. Finally, during the
ticker-tape parade celebrating the Rangers' win,
Rudy GiulianiRudolph William Louis "Rudy" Giuliani KBE is an American lawyer, businessman, and politician from New York. He served as Mayor of New York City from 1994 to 2001....
, witnessing his first New York sports team championship victory just five months after becoming mayor, dubbed Messier "Mr. June," conjuring
Reggie JacksonReginald Martinez "Reggie" Jackson , nicknamed "Mr. October" for his clutch hitting in the postseason with the New York Yankees, is a former American Major League Baseball right fielder. During a 21-year baseball career, he played from 1967-1987 for four different teams. Jackson currently serves as...
's "Mr. October" nickname.
In 1995–96, Messier came as close as he had since 1991–92 to breaking the 100-point plateau when, at the age of 35, he recorded a 99-point season. In 1996–97, former Oilers teammate
Wayne GretzkyWayne Douglas Gretzky, CC is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player and former head coach. Nicknamed "The Great One", he is generally regarded as the best player in the history of the National Hockey League , and has been called "the greatest hockey player ever" by many sportswriters,...
joined the Rangers, while Messier retained the captaincy and had a respectable 84-point regular season. The two led the team to the Eastern Conference Finals, where they were eliminated by the
Philadelphia FlyersThe Philadelphia Flyers are a professional ice hockey team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...
in five games, as the Rangers could not match the size and strength of
Eric LindrosEric Bryan Lindros is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey player. Lindros played junior hockey in the OHL for the Oshawa Generals prior to being selected first overall in the 1991 NHL Entry Draft by the Quebec Nordiques...
and his "Legion of Doom" linemates. Messier left the club at the conclusion of the season (see below), ending the brief reunion of Messier and Gretzky being together again on the same team after just one season. It would also turn out to be both players' final playoff appearances.
Messier had wanted to finish his career with the Rangers, but Dave Checketts, the president of
Madison Square GardenMadison Square Garden, often abbreviated as MSG and known colloquially as The Garden, is a multi-purpose indoor arena in the New York City borough of Manhattan and located at 8th Avenue, between 31st and 33rd Streets, situated on top of Pennsylvania Station.Opened on February 11, 1968, it is the...
, said the team did not think Messier was worth $20 million USD for the next three years, though Messier maintained that he would have signed a one-year contract extension for under $6 million a season. Although public sentiment sided with Messier, as he led the team to two first-place regular season finishes and the
Stanley CupThe Stanley Cup is an ice hockey club trophy, awarded annually to the National Hockey League playoffs champion after the conclusion of the Stanley Cup Finals. It has been referred to as The Cup, Lord Stanley's Cup, The Holy Grail, or facetiously as Lord Stanley's Mug...
, General Manager Neil Smith figured out that he had Gretzky and
Pat LaFontainePatrick Michael LaFontaine is an American former ice hockey center in the National Hockey League who spent his entire career playing for the league's New York-based teams; LaFontaine skated for the New York Islanders from 1983 until 1991, the Buffalo Sabres from 1991 until 1997, and the New York...
as top centermen, and he came close to signing
Joe SakicJoseph Steven "Joe" Sakic is a former Canadian professional ice hockey player and current hockey executive. He played his entire National Hockey League career with the Quebec Nordiques/Colorado Avalanche franchise. In his 20-year tenure, Sakic won the Stanley Cup twice, captured numerous NHL...
from the
Colorado AvalancheThe Colorado Avalanche are a professional ice hockey team based in Denver, Colorado, United States. They are members of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . The Avalanche have won the Stanley Cup twice, in 1995–96 and 2000–01. The franchise...
At 36 years old, Messier signed with the
Vancouver CanucksThe Vancouver Canucks are a professional ice hockey team based in Vancouver, :British Columbia, Canada. They are members of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . The Canucks play their home games at Rogers Arena, formerly known as General Motors Place,...
to a high-priced free agent contract, where he would be reunited with
Mike KeenanMichael Edward Keenan is a former head coach in the National Hockey League , most recently with the Calgary Flames, and former General Manager of the Florida Panthers. He is currently working as an analyst for the New York Rangers on MSG Network.Keenan was a player for the St...
, who was the Rangers' head coach in 1994, who would be hired as the Canucks' general manager and head coach early in the 1997–98 season.
1997–2000: Vancouver Canucks
It was an emotional and high-profile move, with Messier returning to Canada after six years with the Rangers, but the honeymoon did not last. Before the season started, popular captain
Trevor LindenTrevor John Linden, C.M., O.B.C. is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey player. He played centre and right wing with four different teams: the Vancouver Canucks , New York Islanders, Montreal Canadiens, and Washington Capitals...
willingly relinquished the "C" to Messier, a move that did not go well with Canuck supporters as Linden was a fan favorite. Shortly after Messier's acquisition, Linden was traded by Mike Keenan to the
New York IslandersThe New York Islanders are a professional ice hockey team based in Uniondale, New York. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...
, where he became their captain, replacing
Bryan McCabeBryan McCabe is a Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman who is a free agent.McCabe moved to Calgary, Alberta at a young age and spent the majority of his minor hockey career playing in the Calgary area....
, for whom Linden was traded along with
Todd BertuzziTodd Bertuzzi is a Canadian professional ice hockey winger with the Detroit Red Wings of the National Hockey League...
. Messier's demand to receive the number No. 11, which he had worn throughout his career with the Oilers and Rangers, but which the Canucks had unofficially retired after
Wayne MakiWayne Maki was a professional ice hockey player and an early star of the Vancouver Canucks club in the NHL.Maki was born in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario. He broke into professional hockey in 1964 with the St...
's unexpected death in 1974, hurt his image as well.
In Messier's first game back on Broadway,
MSGMadison Square Garden, often abbreviated as MSG and known colloquially as The Garden, is a multi-purpose indoor arena in the New York City borough of Manhattan and located at 8th Avenue, between 31st and 33rd Streets, situated on top of Pennsylvania Station.Opened on February 11, 1968, it is the...
provided a video for him which was displayed on the big screen at the Garden. It was very emotional as some fans as well as Messier himself shedding tears. He went on to score a goal in that game against his former team where he received applause after doing so even though he wore a different uniform. One fan even displayed a sign which read "You will always be our captain Mess".
Sixty points in 1997–98 was his worst mark in a full year since his first NHL season; his next two seasons were shortened by injury and finished with 158 points over three years, considered below expectations compared to other star centermen earning around $6 million US a season, like
Steve YzermanStephen Gregory "Steve" Yzerman is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey player and current general manager of the Tampa Bay Lightning of the National Hockey League...
and
Joe SakicJoseph Steven "Joe" Sakic is a former Canadian professional ice hockey player and current hockey executive. He played his entire National Hockey League career with the Quebec Nordiques/Colorado Avalanche franchise. In his 20-year tenure, Sakic won the Stanley Cup twice, captured numerous NHL...
. Messier was still expected to be named to the Canadian men's hockey team for the
1998 OlympicsIce hockey at the 1998 Winter Olympics was played at The Big Hat and Aqua Wing Arena in Nagano, Japan.-Men's tournament:The 1998 Olympic men's ice hockey tournament was the first in which professional players from the National Hockey League were allowed to participate, allowing national teams to...
, which allowed professional players for the first time, however he was surprisingly omitted by general manager
Bobby ClarkeRobert Earle Clarke, OC , better known as Bobby Clarke or, in later life, Bob Clarke, is a Canadian former professional ice hockey centre who played his entire National Hockey League career with the Philadelphia Flyers and is currently an executive with the team...
.
Keenan was fired from his post as Canucks' manager and coach midway in the 1998–99 season, as the club missed the playoffs during Messier's three years. The team made no attempt to re-sign Messier, to whom Canucks fans never warmed, and he became a free agent after the 1999–2000 season.
2000–04: Back on Broadway
After his tenure with the Canucks, he returned to New York to try to lead the Rangers back to glory. The Rangers held a press conference where they symbolically buried a hatchet, and Messier made an ill-fated "guarantee" of a playoff berth. Messier was also given back the team captaincy upon his return to the Rangers, handed over to him personally by
Brian LeetchBrian Joseph Leetch is a retired American professional ice hockey defenseman who played 18 National Hockey League seasons with the New York Rangers, Toronto Maple Leafs, and Boston Bruins. He is generally considered one of the top defensemen in NHL history, being particularly noted for his...
.
Messier's 67-point season as a 40-year old in 2000–01 was a mark better than any he established in his Vancouver years, showing that he could still be a valuable presence, but the Rangers missed the playoffs for the fourth year running. After missing half of 2001–02 due to an arm injury, Messier recorded only 23 points, and finished up next year with a 40-point campaign.
The 2003–04 season had been widely expected to be Messier's last. On November 4, 2003, against the
Dallas StarsThe Dallas Stars are a professional ice hockey team based in Dallas, Texas. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . The team was founded during the 1967 NHL expansion as the Minnesota North Stars, based in Bloomington, Minnesota. The...
, Messier scored a pair of goals to vault past
Gordie HoweGordon "Gordie" Howe, OC is a Canadian retired professional ice hockey player who played for the Detroit Red Wings and Hartford Whalers of the National Hockey League , and the Houston Aeros and New England Whalers in the World Hockey Association . Howe is often referred to as Mr...
into second on the all-time point scoring list. Eleven days later, Messier was the only active player to play in the legends game at Edmonton's
Heritage ClassicThe Heritage Classic was an outdoor ice hockey game played on November 22, 2003, in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, between the Edmonton Oilers and the Montreal Canadiens. It was the first National Hockey League game to be played outdoors as a part of regular season play...
, suiting up with the Oiler alumni and making many light-hearted comments about being Edmonton's "ringer." During his last game at
Madison Square GardenMadison Square Garden, often abbreviated as MSG and known colloquially as The Garden, is a multi-purpose indoor arena in the New York City borough of Manhattan and located at 8th Avenue, between 31st and 33rd Streets, situated on top of Pennsylvania Station.Opened on February 11, 1968, it is the...
, Messier received applause every time he touched the puck and, after the game, received a standing ovation while he skated around the Garden and bowed to every section of the stands. At the age of 43, most media outlets believed Messier had decided to quit. The NHL lockout eliminated the next season. All speculation ended on September 12, 2005, when he announced his retirement on ESPN radio.
2005 and beyond: post retirement
Messier retired eleven games behind Howe's NHL record 1,767 regular season games played. Messier holds the record for most NHL regular season and playoff season games played at 1,992. Messier is one of a handful of players to have played 25 NHL seasons, doing so over four decades.
On January 12, 2006, during a very emotional ceremony that featured most of the
1994 Stanley CupThe 1994 Stanley Cup Final was a best-of-seven playoff series contested between the Eastern Conference champion New York Rangers and Western Conference champion Vancouver Canucks of the National Hockey League...
team and the Stanley Cup itself, the New York Rangers retired his number 11 in a game against the Edmonton Oilers. Fans unable to attend the game put their tickets back on the market, with front row seats being resold up to the price of $30,000. During the game, the Rangers defeated the Oilers. His is the 4th number retired by the Rangers. His number was retired by the
Edmonton OilersThe Edmonton Oilers are a professional ice hockey team based in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. They are members of the Northwest Division in the Western Conference of the National Hockey League ....
on February 27, 2007, against the
Phoenix CoyotesThe Phoenix Coyotes are a professional ice hockey team based in Glendale, Arizona. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . They play their home games at Jobing.com Arena....
, coached by former teammate
Wayne GretzkyWayne Douglas Gretzky, CC is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player and former head coach. Nicknamed "The Great One", he is generally regarded as the best player in the history of the National Hockey League , and has been called "the greatest hockey player ever" by many sportswriters,...
.
In February 2007, Messier publicly expressed interest in returning to the NHL as General Manager for the Rangers; however, current GM
Glen SatherGlen Cameron "Slats" Sather is the President and general manager of the New York Rangers of the National Hockey League . He has also served as the head coach of the Rangers, as well as General Manager and coach of the Edmonton Oilers of the World Hockey Association and later NHL...
responded by saying he has no plans of stepping down from his position. With the departure of Assistant GM
Don MaloneyDonald Michael "Slip" Maloney is a former NHL player, and is currently the general manager of the Phoenix Coyotes. He played for the New York Rangers for parts of eleven seasons. His best season came in the 1982–83 season, in which he tallied 29 goals and 69 points in 78 games...
from the Rangers organization in May 2007, Messier's name had been attached to possible replacements; however, in July 2007,
Jim SchoenfeldJames Grant Schoenfeld is a retired professional ice hockey player. He is currently the assistant general manager with the New York Rangers, as well as an interim assistant coach...
was announced as Maloney's replacement. Eventually, Messier would return to the NHL and to the Rangers, Sather named him special assistant to president and general manager on August 16, 2009.
In late 2010 Messier coached Team Canada, during two European tournaments, the
Deutschland CupThe Deutschland Cup is an in-season international ice hockey tournament hosted by the German Ice Hockey Federation which has been contested in most years since 1987.- Early Years :...
and the
Spengler CupThe Spengler Cup is an annual ice hockey tournament held in Davos, Switzerland. First held in 1923, the Spengler Cup is often cited as the oldest invitational ice hockey tournament in the world. The event is hosted by the Swiss team HC Davos and played each year in Davos, Switzerland, between...
.
Off the ice
Messier attended St. Francis Xavier high school in Edmonton as he played junior hockey where his father Doug was his coach and mentor for his early years, where he played with the Spruce Grove Mets. Mark's brother
Paul MessierPaul Edmond Messier is a retired ice hockey player. He and his family moved to Canada when he was young and he grew up playing hockey in the Edmonton minor system. He is the older brother of NHL legend Mark Messier. He played briefly in the NHL for the Colorado Rockies...
was drafted by the
Colorado RockiesThe Colorado Rockies were an American professional ice hockey team in the National Hockey League that played in Denver, Colorado, from 1976 to 1982. They were a relocation of the Kansas City Scouts, a 1974 expansion team. The franchise moved to East Rutherford, New Jersey, in 1982 and was...
41st overall in the 1978 NHL Amateur Draft, but he only played nine games with the club in 1978–79 before embarking on a long career in the German Bundesliga. His cousins
MitchMitch Ronald Messier is a professional ice hockey player who played 20 games in the National Hockey League. He played with the Minnesota North Stars.- References :...
and
JobyMarcus "Joby" Messier is a professional ice hockey player who played 25 games in the National Hockey League. He played with the New York Rangers.- References :...
also skated for NHL clubs. Joby was even briefly Mark's teammate on the Rangers. One of his cousins, Brian, is keeping up the family hockey tradition in Texas, playing with the Ice Hawks.
Messier's son Lyon, who was born on August 16, 1987, is a former defenseman who spent part of two seasons with the
South Carolina StingraysThe South Carolina Stingrays are a professional minor league ice hockey team based in North Charleston, South Carolina. The Stingrays play in the South Division of the ECHL's Eastern Conference. They play their home games at the North Charleston Coliseum. The Carolina Ice Palace, also located in...
of the
ECHLThe ECHL is a mid-level professional ice hockey league based in Princeton, New Jersey with teams scattered across the United States...
. Lyon also split time with the Charlotte Checkers of the ECHL and the
New Mexico ScorpionsThe New Mexico Scorpions were a Central Hockey League team located in Rio Rancho, New Mexico. The team was established in 1953 as a part of the Western Professional Hockey League . In 2001, the WPHL merged with the CHL...
of the
CHLThe Central Hockey League is a mid-level professional hockey league, owned by Global Entertainment Corporation. Its current champions are the Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs, which defeated the Colorado Eagles four games to three in the 2011 playoffs....
during the 2008–09 season. Lyon's mother is former model Lesley Young. His current girlfriend and soon to-be wife, Kim Clark, gave birth to Mark's second son, Douglas Paul, on July 15, 2003, and daughter Jacqueline Jean in August 2005. Messier and his family reside in
Hilton Head Island, South CarolinaHilton Head Island or Hilton Head is a resort town in Beaufort County, South Carolina, United States. It is north of Savannah, Georgia, and south of Charleston. The island gets its name from Captain William Hilton...
.
After his retirement, Messier appeared in a
VersusVersus is a sports-oriented cable television channel in the United States. It was previously known as Outdoor Life Network and was launched on July 1, 1995, focusing on fishing, hunting, and other outdoor sports...
television special in the United States highlighting his "Mark Messier Leadership Camp", which allowed New Yorkers to mix seminars in leadership and working with others with hockey games against former Rangers, including a scrimmage on the Garden ice.
Messier was featured in a Lay's chips campaign that aired in Canada in the late 1990s and early 2000s. The commercials originally featured Messier being challenged to a bet by a local hockey fan, who bets that Messier cannot eat just one potato chip, in reference to the Lay's slogan "bet you can't eat just one." Messier loses the bet, and ends up playing in a local 'beer league' hockey game, which he easily dominates. Later variations would have Messier himself making the same bet. He was also featured in Lay's ads in America where he asked neighbors to borrow ice, sugar or a hairdryer (playing on his bald head) to get chips.
Almost thirty years after having played with the Saints, Messier is a legend in the Edmonton suburb of
St. Albert, AlbertaSt. Albert is a suburban city in Alberta, located northwest of Edmonton, on the Sturgeon River. It was originally settled as a Métis community, and is now the second largest city in the Edmonton area. St...
. One of the rinks in the local Campbell Arena bears Messier's name.
More recently, Messier has found time to do some work as a hockey analyst. He's occasionally seen on
NHL on VersusThe NHL on Versus was the former branding used for National Hockey League games broadcast on Versus. Versus became the NHL's cable partner in the United States beginning in the 2005-06 season from previous partner ESPN, providing coverage of regular season games, playoff games, and select games...
as a studio analyst, was an in-game analyst for The NHL All-Star Game on Versus, and has been a guest commentator on NHL on NBC.
In Edmonton, a section of St. Albert Trail between St. Albert and the City of Edmonton, has been renamed to Mark Messier Trail as of February 26, 2007.
On November 12, 2007, Messier was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in the players category.
Messier is an advocate for preventative healthcare and spokesperson for
Cold-fXCold-fX is a product derived from the roots of North American ginseng that is manufactured by Afexa Life Sciences Inc. , headquartered in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada...
. He is also involved in many philanthropic causes, most recently The
New York Police and Fire Widows' and Children's Benefit FundThe New York Police and Fire Widows' and Children's Benefit Fund was created in 1985 by former New York Mets player Rusty Staub and Paddy Burns, who was then the Vice President of the New York Patrolmen's Benevolent Association...
, for which he serves on the Board.
Messier has also become a hotelier, owning the small, yet popular, Runaway Hill Club on the famous pink sand beach on Harbour Island in the Bahamas. He also regularly fishes for marlin on his boat 'Wani Kanati'.
Messier ran in the
New York City MarathonThe New York City Marathon is a major annual marathon that courses through the five boroughs of New York City. It is one of the largest marathons in the world, with 45,103 finishers in 2010...
on November 6, 2011.
Awards and achievements
- 1983–84 – Stanley Cup
The Stanley Cup is an ice hockey club trophy, awarded annually to the National Hockey League playoffs champion after the conclusion of the Stanley Cup Finals. It has been referred to as The Cup, Lord Stanley's Cup, The Holy Grail, or facetiously as Lord Stanley's Mug...
Champion – Edmonton Oilers
- 1984–85 – Stanley Cup Champion – Edmonton Oilers
- 1986–87 – Stanley Cup Champion – Edmonton Oilers
- 1987–88 – Stanley Cup Champion – Edmonton Oilers
- 1989–90 – Stanley Cup Champion – Edmonton Oilers
- 1993–94 – Stanley Cup Champion – New York Rangers
- 1989–90 – Hart Memorial Trophy
The Hart Memorial Trophy, originally known as the Hart Trophy, the "oldest and most prestigious individual award in hockey", is awarded annually to the "player adjudged most valuable to his team" in the National Hockey League . The Hart Memorial Trophy has been awarded 86 times to 53 different...
Winner
- 1991–92 – Hart Memorial Trophy Winner
- 1983–84 – Conn Smythe Trophy
The Conn Smythe Trophy is awarded annually to the player judged most valuable to his team during the National Hockey League's Stanley Cup playoffs. The Conn Smythe Trophy has been awarded 46 times to 40 players since the 1964–65 NHL season...
Winner
- 1989–90 – Lester B. Pearson Award
The Ted Lindsay Award, formerly known as the Lester B. Pearson Award, is awarded annually to the National Hockey League's most outstanding player in the regular season as judged by the members of the NHL Players Association. It has been awarded 40 times to 23 different players since its beginnings...
Winner
- 1991–92 – Lester B. Pearson Award Winner
- 1981–82 – First Team All-Star
The NHL All-Star Teams were first named at the end of the 1930–31 NHL season, to honor the best performers over the season at each position.Representatives of the Professional Hockey Writers' Association vote for the All-Star Team at the end of the regular season.The career leaders in citations are...
Left Wing
- 1982–83 – First Team All-Star Left Wing
- 1989–90 – First Team All-Star Center
- 1991–92 – First Team All-Star Center
- 1983–84 – Second Team All-Star
The NHL All-Star Teams were first named at the end of the 1930–31 NHL season, to honor the best performers over the season at each position.Representatives of the Professional Hockey Writers' Association vote for the All-Star Team at the end of the regular season.The career leaders in citations are...
Left Wing
- Played in fifteen NHL All-Star Games in 1982
The 34th NHL All-Star Game was held in Capital Centre in Landover, Maryland, home to the Washington Capitals, on February 9, 1982.- Wales Conference All-Stars :* Coach: Al Arbour | valign=top width=50% align=left |...
, 1983, 1984, 1986, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1994, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2000 and 2004
- Played for Canada in the 1984
The 1984 Canada Cup was a professional international ice hockey tournament played during the first three weeks of September 1984. The best-of-three final took place between Canada and Sweden, with Canada winning two games to nil...
, 1987The 1987 Canada Cup was a professional international ice hockey tournament held from August 28 to September 15, 1987. The finals took place in Montreal on September 11 and Hamilton, Ontario, on September 13 and September 15, and were won by Team Canada....
, and 1991 Canada CupThe 1991 Canada Cup was a professional international ice hockey tournament played in September 1991. The finals took place in Montreal on September 14 and Hamilton, Ontario on September 16, and were won by Canada. The Canadians defeated the USA in a two game sweep, to win the fifth and final Canada...
s, the 1989 IIHF World Championship-Final Round:-Consolation Round:Poland was relegated to Group B.-World Championship Group B :Played in Oslo and Lillehammer March 30th to April 9th. The April 5th game between Norway and Austria was officially adjusted to 8-0 for Norway because of Siegfried Haberl's positive drug test...
, and the 1996 World Cup of HockeyThe first World Cup of Hockey , or 1996 World Cup of Hockey, replaced the Canada Cup as one of the premier championships for professional ice hockey ....
- Played for the NHL All-Stars in Rendez-Vous '87
Rendez-vous '87 was an international ice hockey series of games between the Soviet national ice hockey team and a team of All-Stars from the National Hockey League, held in Quebec City. It replaced the NHL's All-Star festivities for the 1986–87 NHL season...
- Played for the Edmonton Oilers Heritage Classic
The Heritage Classic was an outdoor ice hockey game played on November 22, 2003, in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, between the Edmonton Oilers and the Montreal Canadiens. It was the first National Hockey League game to be played outdoors as a part of regular season play...
alumni team while a member of the New York Rangers.
- The only professional athlete to have captained two different championship teams, the Edmonton Oilers
The Edmonton Oilers are a professional ice hockey team based in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. They are members of the Northwest Division in the Western Conference of the National Hockey League ....
and New York RangersThe New York Rangers are a professional ice hockey team based in the borough of Manhattan in New York, New York, USA. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . Playing their home games at Madison Square Garden, the Rangers are one of the...
.
- Was a presenter at the 1994 MTV Video Music Awards, presenting "Best Direction in a Video" with Daisy Fuentes
Daisy Fuentes is a Cuban-American television host, model, and comedian. Daisy Fuentes broke barriers as MTV's first Latina VJ , and as Revlon's first Latina spokesperson to be signed to a worldwide contract.-Early life:Fuentes was born in Havana, Cuba to a Cuban father and Spanish mother...
.
- In 1998, he was ranked number 12 on The Hockey News
The Hockey News, commonly abbreviated to THN, is a North American ice hockey magazine published by Transcontinental. The Hockey News was founded in 1947 by Ken McKenzie and Bill Côté, and has since been the most recognized hockey publication in North America...
list of the 100 Greatest Hockey Players.
- On November 13, 2006, the National Hockey League
The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...
created the Mark Messier Leadership AwardThe Mark Messier Leadership Award is a National Hockey League award that recognizes an individual as a superior leader within their sport, and as a contributing member of society...
, given to an individual in the sport who leads by example on the ice, motivates his teammates and is dedicated to community activities and charitable causes.
- His 1,887 points in the regular season are second all-time to Wayne Gretzky
Wayne Douglas Gretzky, CC is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player and former head coach. Nicknamed "The Great One", he is generally regarded as the best player in the history of the National Hockey League , and has been called "the greatest hockey player ever" by many sportswriters,...
's 2857 (alongside whom he played for 11 seasons). Despite this feat, Messier never won a scoring titleThe Art Ross Trophy is awarded to the National Hockey League player who leads the league in scoring points at the end of the regular season. It was presented to the NHL by former player, general manager, and head coach Art Ross. The trophy has been awarded 61 times to 25 players since its inception...
, as his best finish was runner-up in 1989–90. His career-high for regular season goals was 50 which he accomplished just once in 1981–82.
- His 1,756 regular-season NHL games played are second all time to Gordie Howe
Gordon "Gordie" Howe, OC is a Canadian retired professional ice hockey player who played for the Detroit Red Wings and Hartford Whalers of the National Hockey League , and the Houston Aeros and New England Whalers in the World Hockey Association . Howe is often referred to as Mr...
, who played in 1,767 regular-season NHL games.
- He was the last active player that had played in the 1970s.
- He was the last active player who played in the World Hockey Association.
- His six Stanley Cups gave him the most of any active player at the conclusion of the 1993–94 season, shared with Kevin Lowe
Kevin Hugh Lowe is a retired defenceman and coach in the National Hockey League and the current President of Hockey Operations for the Edmonton Oilers. As a defenceman, he played for the Edmonton Oilers and the New York Rangers....
and Glenn AndersonGlenn Christopher Anderson is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey right winger in the National Hockey League who played for the Edmonton Oilers, Toronto Maple Leafs, New York Rangers, and St. Louis Blues...
(all of whom were teammates for the five Oilers and one Rangers Cup wins) and Bryan TrottierBryan John Trottier is a retired Canadian-American professional ice hockey centre who played 18 seasons in the National Hockey League for the New York Islanders and Pittsburgh Penguins. He won four Stanley Cups with the Islanders, two with the Penguins and one as an assistant coach with the...
(who retired at the end of that season). These men have the second most Cup wins as players who were not members of the Montreal Canadiens, after Red KellyLeonard Patrick "Red" Kelly, CM is a retired Canadian ice hockey player in the NHL. He played on more Stanley Cup winning teams than any player who never played for the Montreal Canadiens, and is the only player to be part of two of the nine dynasties recognized by the NHL in its history...
.
- He was selected as an inductee to the Hockey Hall of Fame in June 2007, in his first year of eligibility, with the ceremony taking place in November 2007.
- He was ranked No. 4 on the all-time list of New York Rangers in the book 100 Ranger Greats (John Wiley & Sons
John Wiley & Sons, Inc., also referred to as Wiley, is a global publishing company that specializes in academic publishing and markets its products to professionals and consumers, students and instructors in higher education, and researchers and practitioners in scientific, technical, medical, and...
, 2009).
Transactions
- August 9, 1979– Edmonton Oilers
The Edmonton Oilers are a professional ice hockey team based in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. They are members of the Northwest Division in the Western Conference of the National Hockey League ....
' third round choice, 48th overall in the 1979 NHL Entry Draft
- October 4, 1991– Traded by the Edmonton Oilers, along with future considerations, to the New York Rangers in exchange for Bernie Nicholls
Bernard Irvine Nicholls is a former professional ice hockey centre. His junior career was spent with the Kingston Canadians, where he established himself as a dynamic scorer and a multi-faceted talent. He was selected by the Los Angeles Kings in the fourth round of the 1980 NHL Entry Draft, 73rd...
, Steven RiceSteven Rice is a Canadian former professional ice hockey right winger who played eight seasons in the National Hockey League in the 1990s.Rice was drafted 20th overall by the New York Rangers in the 1989 NHL Entry Draft...
and Louie DeBruskDennis Louis DeBrusk is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player. DeBrusk played 401 NHL games with the Edmonton Oilers, Tampa Bay Lightning, Phoenix Coyotes and Chicago Blackhawks after being drafted from the London Knights. DeBrusk was renowned for his fighting skills and racked up 1161...
.
- July 28, 1997– Signed as a free agent with the Vancouver Canucks
The Vancouver Canucks are a professional ice hockey team based in Vancouver, :British Columbia, Canada. They are members of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . The Canucks play their home games at Rogers Arena, formerly known as General Motors Place,...
.
- July 13, 2000– Signed as a free agent with the New York Rangers.
- September 5, 2003– Signed as a free agent with the New York Rangers.
- September 12, 2005– Officially announced retirement.
Career statistics
|
|
Regular season |
|
Playoffs |
| Season In an organized sports league, a season is the portion of one year in which regulated games of the sport are in session. For example, in Major League Baseball, one season lasts approximately from April 1 through October 1; in Association football, it is generally from August until May In an...
|
Team |
League |
GP |
G In ice hockey, a goal is scored when the puck completely crosses the goal line between the two goal posts and below the goal crossbar. A goal awards one point to the team attacking the goal scored upon, regardless of which team the player who actually deflected the puck into the goal belongs to...
|
A In ice hockey, an assist is attributed to up to two players of the scoring team who shot, passed or deflected the puck towards the scoring teammate, or touched it in any other way which enabled the goal, meaning that they were "assisting" in the goal. There can be a maximum of two assists per goal...
|
Pts Point in ice hockey has three official meanings:* A point is awarded to a player for each goal scored or assist earned. The total number of goals plus assists equals total points. In some European leagues, a goal counts as two points, and an assist counts as one...
|
+/- |
PIMA penalty in ice hockey is a punishment for inappropriate behavior. Most penalties are enforced by detaining the offending player within a penalty box for a set number of minutes, during which, the player can not participate in play. The offending team usually may not replace the player on the ice,...
|
GP |
G |
A |
Pts |
+/- |
PIM |
| 1975–76 |
Sherwood Spears |
AMHL |
44 |
82 |
76 |
158 |
— |
38 |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
| 1976–77 |
Spruce Grove Mets |
AJHLThe Alberta Junior Hockey League is an Alberta-based Junior A hockey league that belongs to the Canadian Junior Hockey League . It was formed as a five-team league in 1964. There are currently 16 teams in the league. The regular season league champions receive the Dave Duchak Trophy...
|
57 |
27 |
39 |
66 |
— |
91 |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
| 1977–78 |
St. Albert SaintsThe St. Albert Saints were a junior ice hockey franchise based in St. Albert, Alberta, for twenty-seven seasons from 1977 to 2004. Before 1977, the team played in nearby Spruce Grove as the Spruce Grove Mets, and in 2004 the team again moved to Spruce Grove where they now play as the Spruce Grove...
|
AJHL |
54 |
25 |
49 |
74 |
— |
194 |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
|
| 1977–78 |
Portland Winter Hawks The Portland Winterhawks are a major junior ice hockey team based in Portland, Oregon, playing in the Western Hockey League, a member league in the Canadian Hockey League. They play their home games at the Memorial Coliseum, though typically a few games each season are also played in the...
|
WCHLThe Western Hockey League is a major junior ice hockey league based in Western Canada and the Northwestern United States. The WHL is one of three leagues that constitute the Canadian Hockey League as the highest level of junior hockey in Canada...
|
10 |
11 |
4 |
15 |
— |
6 |
7 |
4 |
1 |
5 |
— |
2 |
| 1978–79 |
St. Albert Saints |
AJHL |
17 |
15 |
18 |
33 |
— |
64 |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
|
| 1978–79 |
Indianapolis Racers The Indianapolis Racers were a franchise in the former World Hockey Association from 1974 to 1978. They competed in five seasons, folding 25 games into the 1978–79 season. They played at Market Square Arena...
|
WHAThe World Hockey Association was a professional ice hockey league that operated in North America from 1972 to 1979. It was the first major competition for the National Hockey League since the collapse of the Western Hockey League in 1926...
|
5 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
— |
0 |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
| 1978–79 |
Cincinnati Stingers The Cincinnati Stingers was an ice hockey team based in Cincinnati, Ohio, that played in the World Hockey Association from 1975 to 1979. Its home arena was Riverfront Coliseum and it was the only major-league hockey team ever to play in Cincinnati.-History:The Stingers franchise was awarded in...
|
WHA |
47 |
1 |
10 |
11 |
— |
58 |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
| 1979–80 |
Houston Apollos The Houston Apollos were a minor professional ice hockey team based in Houston, Texas. They played in the Central Hockey League from 1965 to 1969, and then from 1979 to 1981....
|
CHL |
4 |
0 |
3 |
3 |
— |
4 |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
| 1979–80 |
Edmonton OilersThe Edmonton Oilers are a professional ice hockey team based in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. They are members of the Northwest Division in the Western Conference of the National Hockey League ....
|
NHLThe National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...
|
75 |
12 |
21 |
33 |
−10 |
120 |
3 |
1 |
2 |
3 |
2
2 |
| 1980–81 |
Edmonton Oilers |
NHL |
72 |
23 |
40 |
63 |
−12 |
102 |
9 |
2 |
5 |
7 |
1
13 |
| 1981–82 |
Edmonton Oilers |
NHL |
78 |
50 |
38 |
88 |
21
119 |
5 |
1 |
2 |
3 |
−4 |
8 |
| 1982–83 |
Edmonton Oilers |
NHL |
77 |
48 |
58 |
106 |
19
72 |
15 |
15 |
6 |
21 |
10
14 |
| 1983–84 |
Edmonton Oilers |
NHL |
73 |
37 |
64 |
101 |
40
165 |
19 |
8 |
18 |
26 |
9
19 |
| 1984–85 |
Edmonton Oilers |
NHL |
55 |
23 |
31 |
54 |
8
57 |
18 |
12 |
13 |
25 |
13
12 |
| 1985–86 |
Edmonton Oilers |
NHL |
63 |
35 |
49 |
84 |
36
68 |
10 |
4 |
6 |
10 |
0 |
18 |
| 1986–87 |
Edmonton Oilers |
NHL |
71 |
37 |
70 |
107 |
21
73 |
21 |
12 |
16 |
28 |
13
16 |
| 1987–88 |
Edmonton Oilers |
NHL |
70 |
37 |
74 |
111 |
21
103 |
19 |
11 |
23 |
34 |
9
29 |
| 1988–89 |
Edmonton Oilers |
NHL |
72 |
33 |
61 |
94 |
−5 |
130 |
7 |
1 |
11 |
12 |
−1 |
8 |
| 1989–90 |
Edmonton Oilers |
NHL |
79 |
45 |
84 |
129 |
19
79 |
22 |
9 |
22 |
31 |
5
20 |
| 1990–91 |
Edmonton Oilers |
NHL |
53 |
12 |
52 |
64 |
15
34 |
18 |
4 |
11 |
15 |
2
16 |
| 1991–92 |
New York RangersThe New York Rangers are a professional ice hockey team based in the borough of Manhattan in New York, New York, USA. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . Playing their home games at Madison Square Garden, the Rangers are one of the...
|
NHL |
79 |
35 |
72 |
107 |
31
76 |
11 |
7 |
7 |
14 |
−4 |
6 |
| 1992–93 |
New York Rangers |
NHL |
75 |
25 |
66 |
91 |
−6 |
72 |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
| 1993–94 |
New York Rangers |
NHL |
76 |
26 |
58 |
84 |
25
76 |
23 |
12 |
18 |
30 |
14
33 |
| 1994–95 |
New York Rangers |
NHL |
46 |
14 |
39 |
53 |
8
40 |
10 |
3 |
10 |
13 |
−11 |
8 |
| 1995–96 |
New York Rangers |
NHL |
74 |
47 |
52 |
99 |
29
122 |
11 |
4 |
7 |
11 |
−10 |
16 |
| 1996–97 |
New York Rangers |
NHL |
71 |
36 |
48 |
84 |
12
88 |
15 |
3 |
9 |
12 |
2
6 |
| 1997–98 |
Vancouver CanucksThe Vancouver Canucks are a professional ice hockey team based in Vancouver, :British Columbia, Canada. They are members of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . The Canucks play their home games at Rogers Arena, formerly known as General Motors Place,...
|
NHL |
82 |
22 |
38 |
60 |
−10 |
58 |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
| 1998–99 |
Vancouver Canucks |
NHL |
59 |
13 |
35 |
48 |
−12 |
33 |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
| 1999–00 |
Vancouver Canucks |
NHL |
66 |
17 |
37 |
54 |
−15 |
30 |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
| 2000–01 |
New York Rangers |
NHL |
82 |
24 |
43 |
67 |
−25 |
89 |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
| 2001–02 |
New York Rangers |
NHL |
41 |
7 |
16 |
23 |
−1 |
32 |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
| 2002–03 |
New York Rangers |
NHL |
78 |
18 |
22 |
40 |
−2 |
30 |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
| 2003–04 |
New York Rangers |
NHL |
76 |
18 |
25 |
43 |
3
42 |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
| NHL totals |
1756 | 694 | 1193 | 1887 | +210 | 1910 |
236 | 109 | 186 | 295 | +50 | 244 |
See also
External links