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Mark Messier with Team Canada in the 1987 Canada Cup. Source: https://customthrowbackjerseys.com (May be subject to copyright) |
His fans will swear by him but his opponents will swear at him. Many hated him but loved having him on their team.
Over time, he evolved into the very definition of leadership. He was the ultimate captain.
Such is the complex career of Mark Messier.
I saw him doing commentary a few days ago, and I went through all those emotions again, from disliking him, to respecting him and, ultimately, to liking him.
In the beginning
Mark Messier began his professional career with the Indianapolis Racers of the World Hockey Association for a short stint in the 1978-1979 season. After some time with the St. Albert Saints of the Alberta Junior Hockey League, he finished the 1978-1979 season playing 47 games with the Cincinnati Stingers of the WHA.
Mark Messier began his professional career with the Indianapolis Racers of the World Hockey Association for a short stint in the 1978-1979 season. After some time with the St. Albert Saints of the Alberta Junior Hockey League, he finished the 1978-1979 season playing 47 games with the Cincinnati Stingers of the WHA.
The WHA merged with the NHL after the season. The players of the teams not joining the NHL either went to the teams who owned their rights or, if they were young enough, into the NHL Entry Draft.
Messier was 18, so he went into the draft, and was taken by the Edmonton Oilers in the third round, 48th overall.
The rest would be history.
NHL debut
Messier’s first season in the NHL, 1979-1980, was also Edmonton’s first year in the NHL. He played in 75 games with the Oilers, scoring 12 goals and adding 21 assists for 33 points, and taking 120 minutes in penalties. The Oilers finished fourth in the Smythe Division and 16th overall. That year the top 16 teams made the playoffs in a format where number one play number 16, two played 15 and so on. The Oilers drew Philadelphia and were swept in three straight by the Flyers. Messier had one goal and two assists for three points in the playoffs.
Messier’s first season in the NHL, 1979-1980, was also Edmonton’s first year in the NHL. He played in 75 games with the Oilers, scoring 12 goals and adding 21 assists for 33 points, and taking 120 minutes in penalties. The Oilers finished fourth in the Smythe Division and 16th overall. That year the top 16 teams made the playoffs in a format where number one play number 16, two played 15 and so on. The Oilers drew Philadelphia and were swept in three straight by the Flyers. Messier had one goal and two assists for three points in the playoffs.
Interestingly, a good chunk of hockey fans in Alberta were Oiler fans. I recall watching Edmonton on “Hockey Night in Canada” and cheering for them.
I also recall one game they were talking about Messier and how, after he had a good game, they talked to his dad who was so proud, exclaiming, “That’s my boy!”
All of that would change the next year when the Atlanta Flames moved north and became the Calgary Flames.
A blood feud was born.
Playoff upset
Messier and the Oilers got better in the 1980-1981 season. He played in 72 games, scoring 23 goals and 40 assists for 63 points, as well as 102 minutes in penalties. The Oilers finished fourth in the Smythe Division again, and 14th overall. They drew Montreal, who finished third overall, in the first round of the playoffs. The Oilers shocked the hockey world, sweeping the Canadiens in three straight. This was just two years after Montreal had won the last of four straight Stanley Cups. The Oilers moved on to play New York. The Islanders beat the Oilers in six games, on their way to their second of four straight Stanley Cups. Messier had two goals and five assists in nine playoff games.
Messier and the Oilers got better in the 1980-1981 season. He played in 72 games, scoring 23 goals and 40 assists for 63 points, as well as 102 minutes in penalties. The Oilers finished fourth in the Smythe Division again, and 14th overall. They drew Montreal, who finished third overall, in the first round of the playoffs. The Oilers shocked the hockey world, sweeping the Canadiens in three straight. This was just two years after Montreal had won the last of four straight Stanley Cups. The Oilers moved on to play New York. The Islanders beat the Oilers in six games, on their way to their second of four straight Stanley Cups. Messier had two goals and five assists in nine playoff games.
The Oilers were on the rise and so was their budding young star.
Breakout
The 1981-1982 season would be a breakout year for Mark Messier, but disappointing for the Oilers. They would finish first in the Smythe Division. They drew the fourth place Los Angeles Kings, who staged a miraculous comeback to oust the Oilers in five games. It was the last first-round exit for the Oilers until the end of the decade.
The 1981-1982 season would be a breakout year for Mark Messier, but disappointing for the Oilers. They would finish first in the Smythe Division. They drew the fourth place Los Angeles Kings, who staged a miraculous comeback to oust the Oilers in five games. It was the last first-round exit for the Oilers until the end of the decade.
Messier had a breakout season, scoring 50 goals for the only time in his career, and adding 38 assists for 88 points, to go with 119 penalty minutes. He was named to the NHL First All-Star Team and played in the all-star game. He also had one goal and two assists for three points in five playoff games.
One step closer
The Edmonton Oilers took another step closer to the Stanley Cup in the 1982-1983 season. They finished first in the Smythe Division and defeated Winnipeg, Calgary and Chicago to get to the Stanley Cup final where they were swept by the defending champion New York Islanders. Messier finished the playoffs with 15 goals and six assists for 21 points in 15 playoff games.
The Edmonton Oilers took another step closer to the Stanley Cup in the 1982-1983 season. They finished first in the Smythe Division and defeated Winnipeg, Calgary and Chicago to get to the Stanley Cup final where they were swept by the defending champion New York Islanders. Messier finished the playoffs with 15 goals and six assists for 21 points in 15 playoff games.
Messier cracked the 100-point mark for the first time in his career, recording 48 goals and 58 assists for 106 points in 77 games, and racked up 72 minutes in penalties. He was named to the NHL First All-Star Team for the second straight year and played in his second straight all-star game.
Over the hump
The 1983-1984 season would be an historic one for the Edmonton Oilers and the National Hockey League. The Oilers finished first in the Smythe Division again and drew the Winnipeg Jets in the first round of the playoffs. After sweeping the Jets, they outlasted Calgary who came back from a 3-1 series deficit before falling in seven games. The Oilers then swept Minnesota in the conference final in four straight games. Awaiting Edmonton were the New York Islanders on their “Drive for Five” Stanley Cups. The Oilers would put a stop to that, beating the Islanders in five. Edmonton made history by winning their first Stanley Cup, and being the first team from the NHL-WHA merger to win the Stanley Cup. Messier won the Conn Smythe Trophy as the outstanding player in the playoffs where he had eight goals and 18 assists for 26 points in 19 games.
The 1983-1984 season would be an historic one for the Edmonton Oilers and the National Hockey League. The Oilers finished first in the Smythe Division again and drew the Winnipeg Jets in the first round of the playoffs. After sweeping the Jets, they outlasted Calgary who came back from a 3-1 series deficit before falling in seven games. The Oilers then swept Minnesota in the conference final in four straight games. Awaiting Edmonton were the New York Islanders on their “Drive for Five” Stanley Cups. The Oilers would put a stop to that, beating the Islanders in five. Edmonton made history by winning their first Stanley Cup, and being the first team from the NHL-WHA merger to win the Stanley Cup. Messier won the Conn Smythe Trophy as the outstanding player in the playoffs where he had eight goals and 18 assists for 26 points in 19 games.
Messier had another stellar season, scoring 37 goals and 64 assists for 101 points, to go with 165 penalty minutes, a career high. He was named to the NHL Second All-Star Team for the first and only time in his career and played in his third straight all-star game.
Repeat champions
The Oilers would repeat as Stanley Cup champions during the 1984-1985 playoffs. They again finished first in the Smythe Division, then swept Los Angeles in the first round of the playoffs, swept Winnipeg in the second round and beat Chicago in six games in the conference final. They then beat Philadelphia in five games for their second straight Stanley Cup. Messier finished the playoffs with 12 goals and 13 assists for 25 points in 18 games.
The Oilers would repeat as Stanley Cup champions during the 1984-1985 playoffs. They again finished first in the Smythe Division, then swept Los Angeles in the first round of the playoffs, swept Winnipeg in the second round and beat Chicago in six games in the conference final. They then beat Philadelphia in five games for their second straight Stanley Cup. Messier finished the playoffs with 12 goals and 13 assists for 25 points in 18 games.
Messier finished the season with 23 goals and 31 assists for 54 points and 57 penalty minutes in just 55 games. I am pretty sure he was injured for parts of that season.
Shocked
Everything was going as planned in the 1985-1986 season – until it wasn’t. The Oilers finished first in the Smythe Division yet again, and swept Vancouver in the first round of the playoffs. They met a determined Calgary Flames team in the second round, and were ousted from the playoffs by their arch-nemesis in an entertaining seven-game series. Messier finished his team’s abbreviated playoff run with four goals and six assists for 10 points in 10 games.
Everything was going as planned in the 1985-1986 season – until it wasn’t. The Oilers finished first in the Smythe Division yet again, and swept Vancouver in the first round of the playoffs. They met a determined Calgary Flames team in the second round, and were ousted from the playoffs by their arch-nemesis in an entertaining seven-game series. Messier finished his team’s abbreviated playoff run with four goals and six assists for 10 points in 10 games.
Messier missed another 17 games that season, but still scored 35 goals and 49 assists for 84 points, and 70 penalty minutes. He also played in his fourth all-star game.
Redemption
The Oilers were not to be denied in the 1986-1987 season, and won their third Stanley Cup in four years. After finishing first in the Smythe Division, they beat Los Angeles in five games in the first round of the playoffs. Winnipeg did the Oilers a favour and eliminated Calgary in six games. Edmonton then swept Winnipeg, beat Detroit in the conference final in five games, and outlasted the Flyers in seven games to win their third Stanley Cup. Messier finished the playoffs with 12 goals and 16 assists for 28 points in 21 games.
The Oilers were not to be denied in the 1986-1987 season, and won their third Stanley Cup in four years. After finishing first in the Smythe Division, they beat Los Angeles in five games in the first round of the playoffs. Winnipeg did the Oilers a favour and eliminated Calgary in six games. Edmonton then swept Winnipeg, beat Detroit in the conference final in five games, and outlasted the Flyers in seven games to win their third Stanley Cup. Messier finished the playoffs with 12 goals and 16 assists for 28 points in 21 games.
Messier had his third 100-plus point season with 107 points on 37 goals and 70 assists in 71 games, and spent 73 minutes in the penalty box.
Four of a kind
Edmonton repeated as Stanley Cup champions in the 1987-1988 season. They took first in the Smythe Division and defeated Winnipeg in five games in the first round of the playoffs. They faced Calgary in the second round, for the first time since their humiliating defeat in 1986. Edmonton was a team possessed sweeping the Flames, then beating Detroit in five games in the conference final then sweeping my beloved Boston Bruins in five games to win their fourth Stanley Cup in five years. I say swept in five because a power outage occurred during one game and, with the teams tied, they replayed the game. Messier had his best ever playoff, scoring 11 goals and 23 assists for 34 points in 19 playoff games.
Edmonton repeated as Stanley Cup champions in the 1987-1988 season. They took first in the Smythe Division and defeated Winnipeg in five games in the first round of the playoffs. They faced Calgary in the second round, for the first time since their humiliating defeat in 1986. Edmonton was a team possessed sweeping the Flames, then beating Detroit in five games in the conference final then sweeping my beloved Boston Bruins in five games to win their fourth Stanley Cup in five years. I say swept in five because a power outage occurred during one game and, with the teams tied, they replayed the game. Messier had his best ever playoff, scoring 11 goals and 23 assists for 34 points in 19 playoff games.
He had his best point total to date in the regular season too, scoring 37 goals and adding 74 assists for 111 points in 70 games, to go with 103 penalty minutes. He also played in his fifth all-star game.
Titanic shift
The NHL saw a titanic shift before the 1988-1989 season as Wayne Gretzky, the greatest player on Earth, was traded by the Oilers to the Los Angeles Kings.
The NHL saw a titanic shift before the 1988-1989 season as Wayne Gretzky, the greatest player on Earth, was traded by the Oilers to the Los Angeles Kings.
Interestingly, in the news conference announcing the trade, Gretzky started to cry and said, “I told Mess I wouldn’t do this.” Obviously he was referring to his dear friend Mark Messier.
The trade made the Kings an instant contender, and left the hockey world wondering how would the Oilers respond in the post-Gretzky world?
A lot of attention was focused on Jimmy Carson, who was the biggest name coming to Edmonton, and he did respond with a 100-point season.
However, the mantle of leadership really fell to Mark Messier. Up to that point, to a lot of watchers including myself, he had been a physical player who could intimidate his opponents while scoring goals.
From then on, he became a leader, arguably one of the best in history.
Showdown
The Gretzky trade paid dividends immediately in the 1988-1989 season. The Kings finished second in the Smythe Division behind the first-place and eventual Stanley Cup champion Calgary Flames, while the defending champion Oilers fell to third place. That set up a first-round playoff showdown between the Oilers and the Kings. The series went the distance before the Kings triumphed in Game 7. The Kings went on to lose to Calgary, while the Oilers were done for the season, and wondering if they were done for good as a Stanley Cup contender. Messier had one goal and 11 assists for 12 points in those seven playoff games.
The Gretzky trade paid dividends immediately in the 1988-1989 season. The Kings finished second in the Smythe Division behind the first-place and eventual Stanley Cup champion Calgary Flames, while the defending champion Oilers fell to third place. That set up a first-round playoff showdown between the Oilers and the Kings. The series went the distance before the Kings triumphed in Game 7. The Kings went on to lose to Calgary, while the Oilers were done for the season, and wondering if they were done for good as a Stanley Cup contender. Messier had one goal and 11 assists for 12 points in those seven playoff games.
In the regular season, Messier scored 33 goals and 61 assists for 94 points, along with 130 penalty minutes in 72 games. He also played in his sixth all-star game.
Return to glory
The 1989-1990 season would be another one to remember as the Oilers, against the odds, returned to glory. They finished second in the Smythe Division behind the defending champion Flames and faced Winnipeg in the first round. It was an epic series, as the Oilers came back from down 3-1 to win the series in seven games.
The 1989-1990 season would be another one to remember as the Oilers, against the odds, returned to glory. They finished second in the Smythe Division behind the defending champion Flames and faced Winnipeg in the first round. It was an epic series, as the Oilers came back from down 3-1 to win the series in seven games.
Meanwhile, the Kings did the trick for the second straight season of eliminating the defending Stanley Cup champions from the playoffs. The Kings left everything on the ice to beat the Flames, because the Oilers swept them in four games, then beat Chicago in six games in the conference final to advance to their sixth Stanley Cup final in eight years.\
They faced my beloved Boston Bruins in a rematch of the 1988 Stanley Cup final. I believe the entire series was swayed in the Oilers favour right in Game 1 when Petr Klima scored in the third overtime period for the win. It just seemed to take the wind out of Boston’s sails as they went down in five games to the Oilers. Edmonton had won their fifth Stanley Cup in seven years.
Messier finished the playoffs with nine goals and 22 assists for 31 points in 22 games.
That season he won the Hart Memorial Trophy as the league’s most valuable player, was named to the NHL First All-Star Team at centre and played in his seventh all-star game. His previous all-star selections were at left wing. He finished the season with 45 goals and 84 assists for 129 points, a career high, and added 79 penalty minutes in 79 games.
Team Canada
Mark Messier was a member of three Canada Cup championship teams in 1984, 1987, and 1991. It is the 1987 Canada Cup, I believe the best international tournament ever, where Messier was really impressive.
Mark Messier was a member of three Canada Cup championship teams in 1984, 1987, and 1991. It is the 1987 Canada Cup, I believe the best international tournament ever, where Messier was really impressive.
The team had formed and been training. Although Canada was the defending champion, everyone still feared the Soviets, their high-flying style and explosive offence. Messier did not initially go to camp.
I was at university in res in September of 1987 when I saw the front page of the "Edmonton Journal" announcing Messier had joined Team Canada. It was like a lightning bolt. He did not fear the Russians. Conversely, I think they feared him, and for good reason. He was tough, played on the edge, and flirted with the line of what was dirty and what wasn’t.
Ultimately, he would check the Soviets’ best line, and forward Vladimir Krutov in particular, helping Canada win the championship 2-1 in a tight three-game championship series.
On the edge
As I said, Messier flirted with the line of what was dirty and what was not. His nickname was “The Moose” because he bulled people over and dominated them physically. What I didn’t like were some of his cheap shots. He hit Perry Berezan of the Calgary Flames in the face with an elbow so hard he broke his nose and splattered blood everywhere. A few years later he hit Calgary defenceman Ric Nattress so hard he tried to skate to the bench, fell down, got up and collapsed on the ice. He was out.
As I said, Messier flirted with the line of what was dirty and what was not. His nickname was “The Moose” because he bulled people over and dominated them physically. What I didn’t like were some of his cheap shots. He hit Perry Berezan of the Calgary Flames in the face with an elbow so hard he broke his nose and splattered blood everywhere. A few years later he hit Calgary defenceman Ric Nattress so hard he tried to skate to the bench, fell down, got up and collapsed on the ice. He was out.
It gave rise to jokes like one of my favourites. That same year in res in 1987-1988, we were watching “Clan of the Cave Bear”. The characters were all grunting to each other, not forming real words.
That’s when my floormate Mak Paranjape said “Mark Messier would be great in this movie.”
The years after
Mark Messier wouldn’t win any more Stanley Cups in Edmonton, and was traded to the New York Rangers part way through the 1991-1992 season.
Mark Messier wouldn’t win any more Stanley Cups in Edmonton, and was traded to the New York Rangers part way through the 1991-1992 season.
That is where he really gained his reputation as a leader. He led the Rangers to their first Stanley Cup in 54 years in the 1993-1994 season. He famously guaranteed a win against the New Jersey Devils in a crucial semi-final and backed it up by scoring the tying and winning goals. He went on to win his second Hart Memorial Trophy with the Rangers in 1992. He was named to the NHL First All-Star Team at centre in 1992, and played in the NHL all-star game in 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2000 and 2004. He also played with Vancouver then returned to the Rangers, where he retired at the end of the 2003-2004 season.
His career statistics were 694 goals and 1,193 assists for 1,887 points in 1,756 games.
In 2017 he was named an Officer of the Order of Canada, and that same year was named one of he 100 Greatest NHL Players in history.
Mark Messier was elected to the Hockey Hall Of Fame in his first year of eligibility in 2007.
Parting thoughts
At the outset of his career, I really liked Mark Messier. He played with Wayne Gretzky, and was a great scorer. However, over time, he just seemed to get cockier and dirtier, and that just turned me off.
At the outset of his career, I really liked Mark Messier. He played with Wayne Gretzky, and was a great scorer. However, over time, he just seemed to get cockier and dirtier, and that just turned me off.
That view changed slightly with his effort playing for his country in the Canada Cup. I still remember his huge smile as he hoists the Canada Cup trophy with the newspaper headline “We Won” over the photo.
Then he was back to his old ways, especially when the Oilers tangled with the Calgary Flames.
My opinion changed for good after the Gretzky trade. Messier was older, more mature and had grown into a leader. He cemented that reputation when he led the Rangers to the Stanley Cup.
In 2006, the NHL created the Mark Messier Leadership Award to go to the player who leads by example on the ice, motivates his teammates, and is dedicated to community activities and charitable causes.
That sums up where he ended up in his career.
He was the consummate leader.
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