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Wednesday, October 11, 2000
Messier's return: 'It's a real celebration'
Associated Press
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NEW YORK -- There's more work in store for Mark Messier's
No. 11 New York Rangers sweater before it rises to the Madison
Square Garden rafters.
|  | | Mark Messier receives a standing ovation after being introduced before Wednesday's game. |
Messier played at home with the Rangers on Wednesday night for
the first time since he left for the Vancouver Canucks three years
ago. Messier, who led the Rangers to the 1994 Stanley Cup title,
re-signed with the team in the offseason.
The Captain will have to wait a little longer to dress in the
traditional home white as the Rangers wore road blues. However, the
wait was short for his first goal of the season.
Messier gave the Rangers a 2-0 lead by banking in a shot off
Montreal defenseman Eric Weinrich, while New York was on an early
third-period power play. The Rangers won 3-1.
The return against the Montreal Canadiens -- the team Messier
made his first Rangers debut against in 1991 -- was combined with
New York's celebration of 75 years in the National Hockey League.
"It's kind of special for the players for this year's edition
of the Rangers to kind of get a sense of what it means to be a
Ranger," Messier said. "For myself it's obviously a special night
to be able to come back and be a Ranger again."
Messier, who started at center, certainly enjoyed the pregame
ceremony in which he was introduced last, cloaked in shadow and
smoke. Fans showered him with a four-minute ovation that brought a
broad smile to Messier's face as he skated with his arms and stick
raised.
And yet, the excitement and anticipation did not bother the man,
who did not play any preseason games this summer in New York,
Tuesday night.
"I slept like a baby," said Messier, who had an assist in the
Rangers' opening-night victory Saturday night in Atlanta.
The deep relationship that developed between Messier and Rangers
fans is one that is rivaled only by those forged in Montreal with
Maurice Richard, Boston with Bobby Orr, Detroit and Gordie Howe and
Edmonton with Wayne Gretzky.
"I think Wayne's connected to Edmonton and Mark's connected to
New York," new general manager Glen Sather said. "It's terrific
to see it, especially for me because I haven't seen Mark in these
conditions for so long."
What made Messier's return possible was the hiring of Sather,
the former Edmonton coach and general manager who won five Cups
with the star center.
When Messier left the Rangers for Vancouver three years ago, the
chance that he would ever play again for the Rangers was remote.
The only hope for No. 11 to return in Rangers white would be when
Messier was honored by having the number retired.
The Rangers even showed a video tribute when Messier came back
to the Garden for the first time in an enemy uniform. Messier was
left covering his face as tears flowed freely.
"The emotions then involved my disappointment at having moved
on," Messier said. "I never wanted to leave New York and it was a
reminder at how good a time it was here."
Messier felt his return would not involve tears this time as the
Rangers' anniversary took center stage -- honoring alumni and other
former captains.
"It's a real celebration," Messier said.
Sather said he hoped Messier wouldn't show the tears that also
were shed when he took back the captain's "C" from Brian Leetch --
his close friend, who took over the title when Messier departed.
"I hope he saves them until he gets the Stanley Cup presented
to him," Sather said. "I'm sure it's going to be a great night
and a pretty emotional moment for him.
"He's so sincere with the feelings he expressed when he came
back and accepted the 'C' from Leetch. There aren't many people
that can go through something as naturally as that and not try to
mask it. He's honest, that's the way he is. That's what makes him
so valuable and so acceptable in people's eyes."
Messier's departure from New York came amid a rift with then-GM
Neil Smith and Garden president Dave Checketts. Smith's firing late
last season and Sather's arrival made Messier's return a reality.
When Vancouver couldn't meet his price, Messier seemed ticketed for
New York.
"It's not a surprise," Messier said. "All things put aside, it
was the best decision to come back to New York. It was a tough
decision to make, and I would have loved to stayed in Vancouver and
see it through because I know what would have happened."
What didn't happen in the last three years for Messier or the
Rangers were playoff games. Something Messier, who signed a
two-year deal with the Rangers, guaranteed would change.
Although the colors, the fans and the arena are the same,
Messier is quick to point out the differences from his first stint
in New York.
"I'm 39, I have less hair and am hopefully a little smarter,"
Messier joked. "It's completely different, it was a complete
overhaul change."
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