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imported_Matt · 10-22-2004, 07:20 PM

... but not necessarily with the Rangers. This blurb is almost a month old, but I was unaware of the comments till now...

Quote:

Messier, 42, hasn't ruled out returning

One thing this NHL lockout has done is delay the plans of many veterans close to retirement.

Instead of announcing the end of their careers, older players are putting off the decision, in hopes that a half-season can be salvaged, and with that, one last run for a Stanley Cup and a paycheck. Mark Messier, the Hall of Fame-bound captain of the New York Rangers, is certainly among that group.

Messier, 42, hasn’t ruled out returning for a 26th NHL season if the lockout ends soon.

“It’s never a problem for me, I think, physically,” Messier told the New York Daily News. “It’s more mentally and emotionally whether I want to play. It’s just whether I still feel like playing again. That’s as simple as it gets. That’s really the truth, though.”

Messier hasn’t spoken to Rangers General Manager Glen Sather about Messier’s future with the team. There is a possibility that the Rangers wouldn’t want Messier back, as they are about to begin a massive rebuilding project after trading away the majority of their high-priced veterans last season.

That possibility hasn’t seemed to cross Messier’s mind.

“I don’t really think that has any bearing on it,” Messier said. “I know I had a lot of offers last year to go to a lot of different cities. So I know there’s a place to play.

“I haven’t really thought about whether I’m welcome in New York or anything else about that. I haven’t talked to Glen.”

Sather, who has a close relationship with Messier going back to their Edmonton Oilers glory years, would likely bring Messier back. But the fact that the Rangers are far from a Stanley Cup could influence Messier.

“Those are all things to be considered,” Messier said. “It would certainly be one of them — the direction the team has gone. Those are all things that you would take into account.”

scorpionn · 10-22-2004, 08:23 PM

I wonder if he wants to beat Gordie's record... though IMO he should have retired a couple seasons ago.

imported_Matt · 10-22-2004, 08:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by scorpionn

I wonder if he wants to beat Gordie's record... though IMO he should have retired a couple seasons ago.

I think so too. As much as I'll never forget him raising the Cup for New York City, I think it would be mutually beneficial for he and the Rangers to part ways if he stays in the league at this point.

CanucksUnderground · 10-22-2004, 11:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Matt

Quote:

Originally Posted by scorpionn

I wonder if he wants to beat Gordie's record... though IMO he should have retired a couple seasons ago.

I think so too. As much as I'll never forget him raising the Cup for New York City, I think it would be mutually beneficial for he and the Rangers to part ways if he stays in the league at this point.

I was just wondering how much does NY pay messier per year?

toddzilla44 · 10-23-2004, 12:20 AM

Oh maybe he should come back to the Canucks now! :roll:

imported_Matt · 10-23-2004, 10:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CanucksUnderground

I was just wondering how much does NY pay messier per year?

Like in the 3 - 4 mill range I think.

When the Rangers won the cup in 94 Mess was rewarded with a 3 year 18 million contract making him one of the highest paid players in the game at that time. When the contract was up the Rangers apparently felt like Mess had earned his reward and didn't want to keep paying him on that level, so he split for the west coast to Vancouver. (he could have went more or less anywhere he wanted, but stated that he didn't feel like playing against his buddies Leetch, Graves and Richter on a regular basis)

That was when the Rangers took the "Messier money" and tacked on an extra million to go after Joe Sakic, with an (unheard of at the time) 3 year 21 million offer sheet. Some ignorant sports columnists claim that offer ruined hockey, but that's another story.

There was good reason to go after Sakic so agressively... it was damage control as much as anything else. The city was in an uproar over the Messier "divorce". The fans were pissed. His teammates were pissed and were making anonymous quotes in the papers railing against Garden management.

So it goes without saying they weren't just looking for a guy who could score a lot... they were looking for a new heart and soul of the Rangers, a guy they could build their team around. Some huge shoes to fill and they needed a Sakic type player. A guy who could turn the ill will around and give the fans a new hero. A leader and captain. Not to mention Sakic was a lot younger.

Needless to say Colorado matched and sent a boquet of flowers to Madison Square Garden, thanking them for the $21 million bill. And as for the Rangers they haven't been back to the playoffs since, seemingly reviving the curse even stronger, even with Messier's return 3 years later.

So in summation (if you're still reading this don't mind me... I just love to flap on and on about the Rangers - hey this forum is usually dead

) I think it's time for a clean break. Messier should not return as a Ranger. The team mercifully purged itself last spring even doing the most unthinkable of all... sending Brian Leetch away. It's time to move on from the past.

imported_Matt · 10-23-2004, 11:02 AM

<snip>
Mods I moved this post to it's own thread in the "rumors" forum, as I felt it was appropriate there and would be lost in here. Hope you don't mind.