tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28367797.post115319436073371429..comments2023-04-21T01:11:17.929-07:00Comments on Edmonton Oilers Legends: Mark MessierJoe Pelletierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01906327400250923397noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28367797.post-34195230371785812962012-05-25T14:16:50.418-07:002012-05-25T14:16:50.418-07:00Stupid Canucks expected a 35 year old to carry the...Stupid Canucks expected a 35 year old to carry the team.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28367797.post-20521551949113905642012-02-01T08:21:22.194-08:002012-02-01T08:21:22.194-08:00Messier Rules Gretzky Does Too Go OilersMessier Rules Gretzky Does Too Go OilersAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28367797.post-89910476326065762592010-02-26T17:30:13.967-08:002010-02-26T17:30:13.967-08:00Frankly, I'm pleasantly surprised to find an a...Frankly, I'm pleasantly surprised to find an almost unbiasedly neutral article on Mark Messier, by a Canuck fan. Messier was feared and respected league-wide for his achievement, but in Vancouver, he's been almost forever vilified in Vancouver for stealing the Stanley Cup in 1994, and then Trevor Linden's captaincy in 1997.<br /><br />Messier was one of the great leaders of sports, yes. He was probably the most complete players of all time, but I wouldn't put him above Gretzky or Beliveau, as the greatest captain of all time. Maybe, it's because I'm biased, being a Canuck fan myself (and an avid Messier-hater). But Gretzky and Beliveau knew how to unite their team, inspire them, and really get them involved. They motivated their teammates to be the best they could be.<br /><br />Messier drove his teammates hard, and helped them conquer new territory. It worked in New York, but it really backfired in Vancouver. So that should be a pretty heavy strike against him on the leadership note (call me biased, but he's certainly by far the worst captain on the Canucks in franchise history). I say Gretzky is the sport's greatest leader.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com