Editing Mark Messier (section)

==Playing career==
===Early years and WHA===
In 1976, Messier tried out for the [[junior ice hockey|junior]] [[Spruce Grove Mets]] of the [[Alberta Junior Hockey League]] (AJHL), where his father, Doug Messier, was coaching. As Messier was only 15 (the age limit was 20), Doug did not expect him to make the team, though he was surprised and was added to the roster.<ref>{{harvnb|Klein|2003|pp=9–10}}</ref> Messier recorded 66 points in 57 games with the Mets in the 1976–77 season. The team, which relocated to St. Albert the following season and was renamed the [[St. Albert Saints]], named Messier captain for 1977–78, and he scored 74 points in 54 games.<ref>{{harvnb|Klein|2003|p=10}}</ref> After the season he joined the [[Portland Winterhawks]] of the [[major junior]] [[Western Hockey League]] (WHL) for the playoffs, appearing in 7 games and scoring 5 points.<ref>{{harvnb|Klein|2003|pp=10–11}}</ref>

Before the start of the 1978–79 season, Messier was looking for alternatives to another season with the Saints, as he felt he was too good for the AJHL.<ref>{{harvnb|Klein|2003|p=13}}</ref> He was not interested in playing in the WHL, so he initially tried out for the [[Canada men's national ice hockey team|Canadian Olympic team]], which was preparing for the [[1980 Winter Olympics]].<ref name="Klein 14">{{harvnb|Klein|2003|p=14}}</ref> At the same time, Doug contacted his former junior teammate [[Pat Stapleton (hockey)|Pat Stapleton]], who was coaching of the [[Indianapolis Racers]] of the [[World Hockey Association]] (WHA), who needed someone to replace another young player they had just traded, [[Wayne Gretzky]]. Doug called him and got Messier a contract to play hockey in Indianapolis for $30,000.<ref>{{harvnb|Willes|2004|p=236}}</ref> However Messier only took a 5-game amateur tryout, as it would allow him to return to junior hockey if need be.<ref name="Klein 14"/>

Messier played 13 games with the Saints to start the season, then joined the Racers on November 5 for his professional debut against the [[Winnipeg Jets (1972–96)|Winnipeg Jets]]. He played four games with the Racers, followed by a further two more with the Saints, before his final game with Indianapolis on November 28.<ref>{{harvnb|Klein|2003|p=15}}</ref> Offered a longer contract, Messier held off on signing it, which proved fortuitous as the team folded on December 15; his only cheque from them [[bounced cheque|bounced]]. Returning to the Saints, Messier played his final two games of junior hockey for them before he was signed by the [[Cincinnati Stingers]], also of the WHA.<ref>{{harvnb|Klein|2003|pp=15–16}}</ref> Messier signed a contract for $35,000 to play the rest of the season with the Stingers.<ref>{{harvnb|Klein|2003|p=19}}</ref> He scored his first professional goal on March 20, 1979, against [[Pat Riggin]] of the [[Birmingham Bulls (WHA)|Birmingham Bulls]].<ref>{{harvnb|Klein|2003|p=23}}</ref> Messier played 47 games for the Stingers, tallying one goal and 10 assists.

===Edmonton Oilers (1979–1991)===
The WHA folded after the conclusion of the 1978–79 season, and four of the six remaining teams [[NHL–WHA merger|were admitted into the NHL]]; both the Stingers and the Bulls were not included in the merger and instead joined the minor [[Central Professional Hockey League|Central Hockey League]]. The players were dispersed to teams that had already owned their NHL rights, or were allowed to enter the [[1979 NHL Entry Draft]]; being under 20 years old Messier was eligible for the draft, and was selected in the third round, 48th overall, by the [[Edmonton Oilers]].<ref>{{harvnb|Klein|2003|p=25}}</ref> He refused the Oilers' initial contract offers, a four-year [[two-way contract]] or one year at $20,000 plus an option for a second year, instead wanting four-years at $50,000 per year, but ultimately signed what the Oilers offered.<ref>{{harvnb|Klein|2003|pp=26–27}}</ref>

During his first year in the NHL, Messier had several discipline issues, and at the end of October, he missed a team flight and was subsequently re-assigned to their CHL affiliate, the [[Houston Apollos]], for four games.<ref>{{harvnb|Klein|2003|pp=31–32}}</ref> On returning to Edmonton, Messier moved back in with his parents, living at their St. Albert home.<ref>{{harvnb|Klein|2003|pp=25–26}}</ref>

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 NHL season|1981–82]], he registered his only 50-goal season. For most of his tenure with the Oilers, he played on a line with [[Glenn Anderson]].
[[File:Stanley Cup - Basil Pocklington x'es.JPG|thumb|Messier's name engraved on the [[Stanley Cup]], as a part of the 1983–84 [[Edmonton Oilers]]]]
Initially a left-winger (he was named to the NHL First All-Star Team in [[1982–83 NHL season|1982–83]] on the left wing), Messier switched to centre in the 1984 playoffs, and the results were spectacular. In Game 3 of the [[1984 Stanley Cup Finals|1984 Finals]], for example, with his Oilers trailing the four-time defending champion [[New York Islanders]] 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 the Oilers had won their first Stanley Cup and Messier had earned the [[Conn Smythe Trophy]], awarded to the most valuable player of the playoffs.

In 1984, Messier was suspended for ten games for cracking [[Jamie Macoun]]'s cheekbone with a sucker punch from behind 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.<ref name="hockeydraftcentral.com">{{cite web|url=http://www.hockeydraftcentral.com/1979/79048.html |title=1979 NHL Entry Draft – Mark Messier |publisher=Hockeydraftcentral.com |access-date=March 9, 2011}}</ref>

On September 6, 1985, Messier lost control of his [[Porsche]] and totaled it by hitting three parked cars. He was later charged with [[Hit and run (vehicular)|hit and run]] and careless driving, for which he paid a fine.<ref name="Klein 82">{{harvnb|Klein|2003|p=82}}</ref>

He won four more Cups with the Oilers, 1985, 1987, 1988, and [[1990 Stanley Cup Finals|1990]], for the last of which he captained the Oilers to a five-game victory over the [[Boston Bruins]]. Though the Oilers had been a 1980s powerhouse, the 1990 victory, which came two years after [[Wayne Gretzky]] was traded away, surprised many.  Messier also won the [[Hart Memorial Trophy]] as league MVP that season, edging out the Bruins' [[Ray Bourque]] by just two votes, the narrowest margin in the award's history.<ref name="hockeydraftcentral.com"/>

Though Messier was actually under contract to the Oilers until 1993, his agent and father Doug Messier unsuccessfully pressed Oilers President and GM [[Glen Sather]] for a new deal in the summer of 1990.<ref name="Klein 82"/><ref>{{harvnb|Klein|2003|p=130}}</ref> After the 1990–91 season, Messier was upset that the Oilers were willing to let [[Adam Graves]] 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.<ref>{{harvnb|Klein|2003|p=137}}</ref> On October 4, 1991, in one of many cost-cutting moves by Edmonton management, Messier was traded to the [[New York Rangers]] for [[Louie DeBrusk]], [[Bernie Nicholls]], and [[Steven Rice]].

===New York Rangers (1991–1997)===
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 of the playoffs by the eventual champions [[Pittsburgh Penguins]].

In 1992–93, the Rangers missed the playoffs, and was the first time in Messier's career that he did not play in the postseason. After the season, [[Mike Keenan]] 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. After easily ousting the Islanders and Capitals in the first two rounds, the Rangers' road to the Cup would get a lot harder.

Down 3–2 and 2–0 in game 6 of the 1994 Eastern Conference Finals against the [[Devils–Rangers rivalry|rival]] [[New Jersey Devils]], 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 shot]] and [[Joe Namath]]'s [[Super Bowl III]] guarantee, and he backed it up by scoring a [[natural hat trick]] in the third period on an empty net goal with [[ESPN National Hockey Night|ESPN]] play-by-play commentator [[Gary Thorne]] 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!"<ref>{{Cite news |last=Dodd |first=Rustin |title=The Comeback, No. 27: Mark Messier guarantees a Rangers win in Game 6 |work=The New York Times |url=https://theathletic.com/1972394/2020/08/13/the-comeback-no-27-mark-messier-guarantees-a-rangers-win-in-game-6/ |access-date=2024-03-25 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Borden |first=Sam |date=May 24, 2012 |title=The Magic of Messier, Embodied by a Third-Period Hat Trick |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/25/sports/hockey/flashing-back-to-mark-messiers-magical-game-6.html |access-date=March 25, 2024 |website=[[New York Times]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Jr |first=Tom Urtz |title=22 of the Most Memorable Calls in Hockey History |url=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/1333824-22-of-the-most-memorable-calls-in-hockey-history |access-date=2024-03-25 |website=Bleacher Report |language=en}}</ref> It helped the Rangers erase a 2–0 deficit to win 4–2. The Rangers went on to win the series in a thrilling seventh game double overtime nailbiter.<ref name="1994Game7">{{cite news |last=LaPointe |first=Joe |date=May 28, 1994 |title=2 Overtimes Later, It's a Final and It's the Rangers |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1994/05/28/sports/hockey-2-overtimes-later-it-s-a-final-and-it-s-the-rangers.html?pagewanted=print&src=pm |access-date=June 5, 2011 |newspaper=New York Times |page=27}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=McGourty |first=John |date=June 11, 2009 |title=Keenan knows Game 7 pressure |url=http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=425396 |accessdate=October 22, 2010 |website=NHL.com |publisher=NHL Enterprises, L. P.}}</ref>

In the [[1994 Stanley Cup Finals|Stanley Cup Finals]], Messier scored the Stanley Cup-winning goal in Game 7 at Madison Square Garden, giving the Rangers [[Curse of 1940|their first Stanley Cup in 54 years]]. He became the first (and to this date, the only) player to captain two teams to the Stanley Cup, something his former teammate Wayne Gretzky could not do [[1993 Stanley Cup Finals|the year before]], 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 Kalinsky]], photographer at [[Madison Square Garden]], showing incredible emotion as he accepted the Stanley Cup from NHL Commissioner [[Gary Bettman]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.msg50.com/moment.jsp?moment_id=61|title=The Rangers win The Cup – 06/14/1994|publisher=MSG Media|access-date=July 21, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090131100914/http://msg50.com/moment.jsp?moment_id=61|archive-date=January 31, 2009|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.georgekalinsky.com/images/team/index5.html|title=GeorgeKalinsky.com::Images::Team Sports|publisher=GeorgeKalinsky.com|access-date=July 21, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090429035534/http://www.georgekalinsky.com/images/team/index5.html|archive-date=April 29, 2009|url-status=dead|df=mdy-all}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last=Kalinsky|first=George|title=Garden of Dreams|year=2004|publisher=Stewart, Tabori, & Chang|location=New York|isbn=1-58479-343-0|author-link=George Kalinsky|url-access=registration|url=https://archive.org/details/gardenofdreamsma0000unse}}</ref> Finally, during the [[List of ticker-tape parades in New York City|ticker-tape parade]] celebrating the Rangers' win, [[Rudy Giuliani]], witnessing his first New York sports team championship victory just five months after becoming mayor, dubbed Messier "Mr. June," conjuring [[Reggie Jackson]]'s "Mr. October" nickname.<ref>{{cite news|last=Barron|first=James|title=New Yorkers Bury the Rangers' Curse in a Sea of Confetti|work=The New York Times|date=June 18, 1994|page=28|author-link=James Barron (journalist)|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1994/06/18/nyregion/new-yorkers-bury-the-rangers-curse-in-a-sea-of-confetti.html?pagewanted=1&pagewanted=print|quote=Mr. Giuliani went on to call Mark Messier 'Mr. June,' echoing Reggie Jackson's 'Mr. October' nickname after he blasted three home runs to win the World Series for the Yankees in 1977.}}</ref>

In [[1995–96 NHL season|1995–96]], Messier came as close as he had since 1991–92 to break the 100-point plateau when, at the age of 35, he recorded a 99-point season. In [[1996–97 NHL season|1996–97]], former Oilers teammate [[Wayne Gretzky]] 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 Flyers]] in five games, as the Rangers could not match the size and strength of [[Eric Lindros]] and his "Legion of Doom" linemates. Messier left the club after 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 Garden, said the team did not think Messier was worth $20&nbsp;million USD for the next three years, though Messier maintained that he would have signed a one-year contract extension for under $6&nbsp;million per season. Although public sentiment sided with Messier, as he led the team to two [[Presidents' Trophy|first-place regular season finishes]] and the [[Stanley Cup]], General Manager [[Neil Smith (ice hockey)|Neil Smith]] was content having Gretzky and [[Pat LaFontaine]] as top centremen, and he came close to landing [[Joe Sakic]] from the [[Colorado Avalanche]]<ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/hockey/nhl/news/2001/02/10/sayitaintso_rangers/ |title=CNNSI.com – NHL Hockey – Say It Ain't So: New York Rangers – Saturday March 3, 2001 10:30&nbsp;am |magazine=Sports Illustrated |access-date=March 9, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121025160731/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/hockey/nhl/news/2001/02/10/sayitaintso_rangers/ |archive-date=October 25, 2012 }}</ref> when he signed him to an offer sheet in the summer of 1997. (The Avalanche matched the offer and Sakic remained in Colorado for the remainder of his career.)

At 36 years old, Messier signed with the [[Vancouver Canucks]] to a high-priced free-agent contract. Smith’s decision to keep Gretzky and LaFontaine backfired, as LaFontaine would suffer a career-ending concussion during the 1997–98 season and Gretzky would retire after the following season.

=== Vancouver Canucks (1997–2000) ===
Messier's return to Canada after six years with the Rangers was an emotional and high-profile event, but the bliss was brief. Before the season started, captain [[Trevor Linden]] relinquished the captaincy to Messier, a move that did not go over well with Canucks supporters. Amidst a turbulent season, in which president and general manager [[Pat Quinn (ice hockey)|Pat Quinn]] and head coach [[Tom Renney]] were fired, Linden was eventually traded by new coach and acting general manager Mike Keenan to the [[New York Islanders]], where he became their captain, replacing [[Bryan McCabe]], for whom Linden was traded along with [[Todd Bertuzzi]]. Messier's demand to receive the number No.&nbsp;11, which he had worn throughout his career with the Oilers and Rangers, but which the Canucks had unofficially retired after [[Wayne Maki]]'s unexpected death in 1974, hurt his image as well.<ref name="Maki">{{cite web|url=http://www.vancourier.com/issues03/123203/sports.html |title=The 12 sports books of Christmas |access-date=August 26, 2006 |publisher=Vancouver Courier |year=2004 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060510210004/http://www.vancourier.com/issues03/123203/sports.html |archive-date=May 10, 2006 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Messier has been said to be "undoubtedly the most hated player in the history of the Canucks".<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.vancouverisawesome.com/canucks-hockey/the-canucks-left-mark-messier-off-quinn-hughes-captaincy-announcement-7531631 | title=The Canucks left Mark Messier off Quinn Hughes' captaincy announcement | date=September 11, 2023 }}</ref>

In Messier's first game back on Broadway, MSG 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 shed 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 displayed a sign that read, "You will always be our captain Mess."

Sixty points in [[1997–98 NHL season|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 centremen earning around $6&nbsp;million US a season,<ref>{{cite web |author=Vancouver Sun staff|url=https://vancouversun.com/sports/hockey/vancouver-canucks/Canucks+little+faster+younger+dangerous/5597314/story.html?tab=PHOT |title=Worst Canucks ever: Most disappointing players to wear a Vancouver jersey |publisher=Vancouversun.com |date=2011-10-25 |access-date=2011-11-03 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111026162928/http://www.vancouversun.com/sports/hockey/vancouver-canucks/Canucks+little+faster+younger+dangerous/5597314/story.html?tab=PHOT |archive-date=October 26, 2011 |url-status=dead |df=mdy-all }}</ref> like [[Steve Yzerman]] and [[Joe Sakic]]. Messier was still expected to be named to the Canadian men's hockey team for the [[Ice hockey at the 1998 Winter Olympics|1998 Olympics]], in which the NHL allowed its best players to participate for the first time; however, he was surprisingly omitted by General Manager [[Bobby Clarke]].<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.nytimes.com/1997/11/30/sports/hockey-gretzky-in-messier-out-as-canada-picks-team.html | work=The New York Times | title=HOCKEY; Gretzky In, Messier Out As Canada Picks Team | first=Ed | last=Willes | date=November 30, 1997 | access-date=May 5, 2010}}</ref>

Keenan was fired from his post as Canucks' coach midway in the [[1998–99 NHL season|1998–99 season]], as the club missed the playoffs during Messier's three years. The team did not attempt to re-sign Messier and he became a free agent after the [[1999–2000 NHL season|1999–2000 season]].

===Return to New York (2000–2004)===
Meanwhile, back in New York, the Rangers had fired Neil Smith as general manager following three consecutive non-playoff seasons. His successor was Messier’s former coach in Edmonton, Glen Sather, who began negotiating with the veteran former team captain and Messier agreed to terms to return to Madison Square Garden for the 2000–01 season. To mark Messier’s return to the Rangers, a press conference was called to announce the signing; during the gathering, Messier’s successor as captain, [[Brian Leetch]], ceded his position to his returning teammate and, in a conciliatory gesture, a hatchet was buried in the dirt. Messier also went one step further and guaranteed that the Rangers would return to the playoffs.<ref name="playoffs">{{cite news|url=https://www.cbc.ca/sports/hockey/messier-stands-by-playoff-guarantee-1.289887|title=Messier stands by playoff guarantee|access-date=October 17, 2007|publisher=CBC |location=Canada | date=January 11, 2001}}</ref>

Messier's 67-point season as a 40-year-old in [[2000–01 NHL season|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 NHL season|2001–02]] due to an arm injury, Messier recorded only 23 points and finished up next year with a 40-point season.

On June 30, 2003, Mark Messier's rights were traded to the [[San Jose Sharks]] for a fourth-round draft pick. This draft pick ended up being used to select [[Rochester, New York]] native and future Rangers captain [[Ryan Callahan]]. The Sharks held his rights for just a few hours as he would eventually go on to re-sign with the Rangers as a free agent.
[[File:Mark Messier Retirement players1.jpg|left|275px|thumb|Messier (left foreground) during his number retirement ceremony with the [[New York Rangers]]. The ceremony was held in January 2006, several months after he retired.]]
On November 4, 2003, against the [[Dallas Stars]], Messier scored a pair of goals to vault past [[Gordie Howe]] into second on the all-time point scoring list with 1,851 points, second-most in League history trailing only Wayne Gretzky.<ref name="1,851 points">{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2003/11/05/sports/hockey-messier-passes-howe-on-points-list.html|title=HOCKEY; Messier Passes Howe on Points List.|access-date=November 5, 2003|work=The New York Times|first=Jason|last=Diamos|date=November 5, 2003}}</ref> Eleven days later, Messier was the only active player to play in the Legends Game at Edmonton's [[NHL Heritage Classic|Heritage Classic]], suiting up with the Oiler alumni.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.thebostonchannel.com/nhl/2654365/detail.html |title=Messier Allowed To Play In Exhibition Game |work=SportsNetwork |publisher=WCVB Boston |date=2003-11-21 |access-date=2011-01-01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120320074644/http://www.thebostonchannel.com/nhl/2654365/detail.html |archive-date=2012-03-20 |url-status=dead }}</ref> During his last game at Madison Square Garden (a 4–3 loss to the [[Buffalo Sabres]] on March 31, 2004), 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.<ref name="lastgame">{{cite web|url=http://newyorkrangers.com/pressbox/pressreleases.asp?id=1184 |title=messier scores in possible msg finale |access-date=October 17, 2007 |publisher=nyrangers.com |year=2004 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061126045037/http://www.newyorkrangers.com/pressbox/pressreleases.asp?id=1184 |archive-date=November 26, 2006 }}</ref> At the age of 43, most media outlets believed Messier had decided to quit. The [[2004–05 NHL lockout|NHL lockout]] eliminated the next season. All speculation ended on September 12, 2005, when he announced his retirement on ESPN radio.<ref name="Retire">{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/nhl/news/story?id=2159316|title=Mark Messier retires after 25 seasons.|access-date=August 26, 2006|publisher=ESPN |year=2006}}</ref>

Messier retired eleven games behind Howe's then-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.

===International career===
Messier only played with [[Canada men's national ice hockey team|Canada]] once outside North America, winning the silver medal at the [[1989 World Ice Hockey Championships]] in Sweden. He also won three consecutive [[Canada Cup (ice hockey)|Canada Cup]]s and won silver at the  [[1996 World Cup of Hockey]], four tournaments which he described as "my real opportunity to play international hockey."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/mark-messier-team-canada-olympic-snub-disappointment-sochi-nagano-nhl-gretzky/|title=Messier recalls being denied his Olympic dream|author=Fox, Luke|date=January 10, 2014|publisher=Sportsnet|access-date=5 May 2015}}</ref>