the max 0 Report post Posted September 5, 2003 http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/news_story.asp?id=52889 9/5/2003 NEW YORK (AP) - New York Rangers forward Mark Messier has decided he will return for a 25th NHL season. "For me, I had to ask myself the hard question all summer," Messier said Thursday. "July came through and August came around and it just got down to the time that I really had to decide for the team. And I told (Rangers GM and coach Glen Sather) that I'd like to play. "So I'm going to be showing up again one more time." The Rangers had already lost one veteran this week when goalie Mike Richter announced his retirement, nearly 10 months after he'd played his last game. The 42-year-old Messier, who attended Thursday's news conference where Richter announced his retirement, stopped short of declaring the upcoming season his last. "No, I'm not saying that," he said. Messier's 1,844 career points are third best in league history, just six behind second-place Gordie Howe. He is eighth all-time with 676 career goals, and second all-time with 295 playoff points. A two-time winner of the Hart Trophy as league MVP, Messier is the only player in league history to be the captain of Stanley Cup championship teams with two different franchises _ the 1994 Rangers and the 1990 Edmonton Oilers. He won a total of five Cups in his 12 seasons in Edmonton, and was awarded the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP in 1984. Messier, who also played with the Vancouver Canucks from 1997 to 2000, will be entering his 10th year with the Rangers. His 25th season! The Rangers aren't going to win anything at all, so why stay Mark? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DerangedHermit 0 Report post Posted September 5, 2003 Ugh. Jesus Christ, Mark, retire! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
nl5xsk1 0 Report post Posted September 5, 2003 The answer to the question "Why doesn't Mess just retire?!?" is in the posted article: "Messier's 1,844 career points are third best in league history, just six behind second-place Gordie Howe." Methinks that he's staying for one more just to retire as the second all time leading scorer ... even at his age, and with the talent around him, he should be able to pick up 7 points this year. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
starvenger 0 Report post Posted September 5, 2003 Wow, I didn't realize Moose was that close to Howe. Still, how many years in a row has it been since people have been asking "Why doesn't Messier retire?" Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kkktookmybabyaway 0 Report post Posted September 5, 2003 Damn, I was two when he started playing. Most of you probably weren't born yet... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
the max 0 Report post Posted September 6, 2003 I wasn't. I missed out on the glory days. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
nl5xsk1 0 Report post Posted September 7, 2003 Damn, I was two when he started playing. Most of you probably weren't born yet... The good news: I got to watch most of his career (I was born in '74, so I was too young to appreciate the first few years). The bad news: Those years included watching him beat my beloved Bruins in TWO Stanley Cup finals. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
starvenger 0 Report post Posted September 8, 2003 The good news: I got to watch most of his career (I was born in '74, so I was too young to appreciate the first few years). Welcome to the old folks home!!! I was born in '73, so I'll be hitting the three-oh mark later this year. I even (vaguely) remember when the Islanders didn't suck, the Leafs did (literally, not just in the minds of the Leaf haters) and the people went to Expos games. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
