Mark Messier: Leader, Champion, Legend

Mark Messier and his road to ultimate success and his journey to the Hockey Hall of Fame and all his achievements and records broken along the way. To now being one of the best hockey players of all time. This includes interviews with hockey greats such as Paul Coffey, John Davidson and Kevin Lowe.

[@scottAlexander-u8s]

Thanks for all the great memories Mark, a True Champion. 😎

[@rustykuntz94]

He came through in 94 for the Rangers when no one else did before or since in last 85 years. For that I'll always love him.

[@dzanier]

Absolutely.

[@Borodin410]

He was a rat who rode the coattails of talented players around him. The leadership myth that he and his friends tried to cultivate was dispelled when he was exposed in Vancouver as lacking any integrity.

[@dzanier]

That is the only black mark of his career, but it’s a big one.

[@Borodin410]

The dude has a million black marks, delivering career-ending elbows like a rat. Always getting suspended for reckless playing, hardly a good leader. @@dzanier

[@qcoe115]

My #1! I love Messier!

[@joshjoseph7628]

I am not a ranger fan or oilers fan but mark messier is one of my favorites

[@askittsutube]

I had this vhs as a child

[@merc340sr]

Those 80's Oilers teams were the best I've ever seen! So much speed!

[@dzanier]

No team in the history of hockey, maybe any sport, had more pressure on them to win one game than the 1993-94 Rangers. Game 7 was grueling. I only enjoyed it once it was over.

[@rustykuntz94]

If your a Ranger fan (as I am) both the Devils & Vancouver series was beyond grueling. I was 17 at time and thought I was gonna legit have a heart attack a few times. Pressure packed hockey for sure

[@dzanier]

@@rustykuntz94 I was afraid I was going to reach that point of anxiety.

[@ziggymorris8760]

They had half the oilers dynasty on that team, 26 Stanley cup rings, that is why they were able to win it.

[@Toxic_Male_Minimalist]

You forgot the part where he demanded a dead man’a jersey number.

[@edwardbliss8931]

He looks like Mick Jagger in the KZbin picture

[@dzanier]

Coincidence or not, from the time he scored that brilliant goal till the end of the series, it was an Edmonton avalanche.

[@JoeAnton-rl4ds]

Has a bastard child at 27 he mostly ignored and then decides to have kids when he's 43. A real genius.

[@Brent21]

His best years were in Edmonton

[@WarioSaysSo]

Mark Messier's legacy is truly divided like a two-sided mirror! Arguably no player have made himself so divided among fans. One side reflects his merits and leader qualities that goes beyond many of the best ever in NHL. Captained 2 teams to Stanley Cup championships in both Conferences and became like an iron-man to play year-after-year to age 44! BUT.... The other side reflects an uggly portray of a dirty player who was as individual overrated = was only good when he was with those strong teams he won with. How greedy and money grabbing Messier gradually became, demanding insane salery + bonuses + benefits + salery insurences at advanced age of 38 AND to wear retired number 11# - And somehow, for no sane reason a team (Vancouver Canucks) AGREED and SIGNED ON the demands (?). That he soon also aquired the captain role from a fan-loved icon Trevor Linden) and then that same player gets humiliated and oppressed. How despite the insane amounts of tallents on the team, and Messier manafrs not only to not score impressive numbers on the ice, but also avt silent and uninterested in leading his team. Then is part of a rather seen "mutiny" in the franchise by getting the team gutted from its tallents to bring in players not needed and the team plunhes into 4 years of darkness. And when Messier leaves the team, he years afterwards demand $millions despite never lived up to anything of all he was given - and gets those money in court. So if you are a Oiler or Rangers fan, you love him - If you are a Canuck fan, you despise him! If you are neutral, you have a tough balance of the edge that is constantly wobbles as you look on all perspectives.

[@14daze]

WarioSaysSo -- best comment in the thread ! - thx for weighing in !

[@WarioSaysSo]

@@14daze Thank you so much!

[@gvftrucks1529]

Just saw a compilation of his numerous cheapshot elbows and stickwork. his legacy is tainted by his many dirty cheapshots

[@14daze]

@gvftrucks1529 ...you add a quite important if inconvenient comment. When I was a boy, Ranger Rod Gilbert was my idol. Back in the '72 finals, when it came down to winning it all and claiming one's eternal place in the pantheon, or merely coming up second, increasingly forgotten over the decades, Boston's Derek Sanderson repeatedly did Rod Gilbert dirty in the corners, keeping my idol out of the play and the puck out of the Bruins' net. Derek was later quoted as saying that as he was repeatedly fouled, Rod complained to Derek that is "not how the game is played...." ...but you see, like Bobby Clarke or Mark Messier, Derek Sanderson was a winner at all costs and would do whatever necessary to win, noble or not. Sanderson is remembered as a two time cup winner, and sportsfans old enough to have children of their own today have never even heard of Rod Gilbert. Decades later, at a card shop, having an old book signed by the immortal Johnny Bower for my neices, (both who went on to get title 9 hockey scholarships as goalies), I spoke briefly with Mr. Sanderson about the late Fred Cusik, but then stood in a somewhat awkward silence as I waited my turn to meet Mr. Bower, unsure about a life's lesson, by then taught to me over and over again, but first taught to me by "bad boy" Derek Sanderson. So, you bring up an interesting and respected point, and Rod Gilbert, God rest his soul, remains my idol.

[@devilsadvocacy]

For better or worse, like it or not, that stuff is part of hockey. You can't win without guys who are willing to mix it up, at least not in the NHL with its awful officiating (it was even worse back when he played)

[@bb-gc2tx]

14:20 literally an inch off sutters stick if he even just tipped that puck hockey history is changed

[@seveglider8406]

WAKE UP & GET REAL! Even if that goal was never scored, Edmonton still would have blown out the Islanders!

[@williamcavanagh8982]

My comments may not be in line with what I have read below. Hockey is probably the 4th sport in the North American market. Basketball, baseball and NFL football are larger markets and fan base. Also, I've noticed the fan base and interest for a Messier doc is of very little interest as it has been exposed to KZbin For close to 1yr and has a minimal amount of viewing interest with a total of just over 4 thousand looks and 29 weak comments. He really was not that popular except perhaps where he played ...NY & Edmonton which if you asked the average American they could not tell where it is or even what country it's in...

[@RaineriHakkarainen]

No-one watches NHL! USA tv ratings olympics in 1980 34 million and 34 million over-time in 2010! Canada tv ratings 18 million in 2010 olympic final Canada vs USA! Russia had 50 million tv watchers in worlds championship final in 2014! Finland had 2,4 million watchers all the world championships finals! Sweden 2,3 million tv watchers in 2018 world championships final! These people do not care Stanley Cup finals as they should!

[@longhornduck]

Chip?

[@ziggymorris8760]

He looks like a caveman in the thumbnail

[@thecoolguynamedal]

Messier > Wayne maki

[@bb-gc2tx]

oilers never won more than two cups in a row not a dynasty sorry and 1:03:44 damn right they were the greatest team in hockey history

[@SexySpork]

Yeah Beer League Hockey Queens, none of them today execpt maybe bossy potvin and trotttier could make the NHL.

[@bb-gc2tx]

@@SexySpork yeah ok 🤣🤣🤣

[@SexySpork]

@@bb-gc2tx John Tonelli weas so slow he couldn't be skate a guard today.

[@stinkfinger630]

Dirtiest, cheapest, more unsportsmanlike ‘leader’ ever. I’m not a big fan. Doesn’t help that he signed with my Canucks and shat the bed every game! Was the worst decision ever made by the. Yes, worse than trading Neely!😊

[@dzanier]

He wasn’t quite as impeccable as Gretzky, but there was far more good than bad.

[@kevintieu5198]

I think Messier has one of the top 3 hockey careers of all time. He has been the winningest player since he came into the league, had a lot of individual success, and is considered a legend in the game. Only a handful of players are in the best career conversation, and that includes Mess, Gretz, Lemieux, Sid, Howe, and Orr.

[@devilsadvocacy]

Third all-time in points, six Cups including two without Gretz, the complete package on the ice, and a well-deserved reputation for leadership and coming through in critical situations. He was as good, if not better, than anyone

[@kevintieu5198]

@@devilsadvocacy Exactly. As much as he's been in the spotlight throughout his career, I feel people don't realize how great of a complete player he really was.

[@Michael-v3z1s]

A true caption. Thanks Mark.

[@jayjayson9613]

...except in Vancouver where he is hated and seen as the worst captain in franchise history

[@stinkfinger630]

Hated every second of Messier in Vancouver! He came here, demanded Linden drop his captaincy, and wreaked havoc on the team. He worked in unison with management to get Keenan in and bring in a bunch of washed up ex-Rangers to replace beloved Canucks! Truly the least effective captain in Canuck history.

[@drayiii980]

Coming from a neutral perspective (Red Wings fan) I’ve NEVER seen any comment online from a Rangers or Oilers fan who will address what happened in Vancouver…..

[@stinkfinger630]

@@drayiii980 Yeah, it’s strange how silent people are about this period of his career. In his autobiography he barely mentions being in Vancouver.

[@drayiii980]

@@stinkfinger630 Oh Jesus Christ how many times were the words “leader” and “leadership” used in his book to stroke his narcissism?

[@stinkfinger630]

@@drayiii980 Yeah, he’s an ego maniac. Ruined the Canucks pretty much single handed!

[@timw4369]

he might have been a leader but after the oilers he was a piece of garbage.

[@SeanAveryBroadway]

An MVP, a Stanley Cup, arguably the most famous hat trick in Stanley Cup Playoff history, along with cementing himself as the 2nd leading scorer in NHL history (at the time) prove this point to be factually incorrect.

[@joebreslov]

Very funny that they played Handel's "Messiah" when he came on the ice for his first game back after being a Canuck.

[@drayiii980]

Elbows