| Tuesday, October 24
By George Johnson
Special to ESPN.com |
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Mark Messier scoring to propel the New York Rangers to a historic Stanley Cup victory in 1994.
It is, for a generation of sports fans, one of those caught-in-a-time-warp
images. In its context, very nearly on par with Muhammad Ali's snakelike jab or
Michael Jordan's rolling tongue as he soars above the rim (and, seemingly, the Earth)
or the Bear-glare of Jack Nicklaus as he prowled the 18th fairway in a major.
The way your dad reverently recalls Jackie Robinson bob-bob-bobbing off
third, driving the pitcher absolutely batty, before using a late delivery to
the plate to bolt for a steal of home, or your great-grandad was wont to
reminisce about those tiny, mincing steps the Babe used to round the bases on
one of those 714 trips.
|  | | Messier's stay in Vancouver hasn't been smooth, but things are getting better. |
Churning down his off-shooting wing, balancing on his right leg, his left
skate kicking up behind him, the puck snapping off his stick blade like a
rock propelled out of a slingshot.
Red light flashing. Arms thrust to the sky in celebration.
That's the image we hold of Mark Messier.
An image clouded these last couple of years as the Vancouver Canucks tripped
in the dark and tumbled head over heels down a limitless flight of stairs
into the NHL's cellar.
"No one had to explain the expectations to me when I got to Vancouver," says
the captain. "When you lose, you're going to be criticized. That's part of
the package.
"It's been a tough couple of years. I've taken it personally. Changes were
made. Bad feelings. It was the end of an era here. A lot of guys who'd been
here a while left, and not always on good terms.
"A winning environment is not for everybody. It takes a lot of work, a lot of sacrifice.
But I think we're starting to turn a corner."
What had seemed too possible July 28, 1997 -- the day Messier signed his $6
million-a-year deal as an unrestricted free agent -- deteriorated
into an unholy mess in just a year and a half.
Back-to-back nonplayoff seasons, the trading of Pavel Bure, three coaches,
the Mike Keenan-Brian Burke power struggle, a lamentable 58 points in '98-99
... just an out-and-out horror show.
Messier struggled mightily last year. He played hurt, which meant to a lot of
people checking his birth date, that he was just playing old. The Canucks were
on the fast track to nowhere and Messier, the legendary leader, was leading
them there. His buddy, Keenan, was summarily sacked as coach, leading to
unfounded speculation that Messier wanted out.
Grim, grim days.
"I wouldn't say Mark was dispirited when I got here," says Marc Crawford,
named Canuck coach on Jan. 24. "He knew the right things to do, obviously.
But he was hurt a lot. And I think that took a toll on him.
"If you check, we played well when he was in the lineup. I think going into
the final game against Calgary, we needed to win to finish .500 with him -- we
ended up losing the game two seconds from the end."
Still, the perception was that because the Canucks had failed miserably, so
had Messier. Such is the burden of fame and leadership.
It got so we'd find ourselves talking about him in the past tense. As if that
No. 11 out there with the stylized whale on his belly bore little or no
resemblance to the Mark Messier we'd known: That angry, reckless force of
nature of the Oiler days, a real, live Streetcar Named Desire, or the
head-shaven captain/catalyst largely responsible for ending decades of misery
in Manhattan.
No one seemed to mention the concussion suffered in a collision with a
crossbar in Calgary near Christmas or a strained MCL that cost him 18 games.
No one brought up the fact that his supporting cast left more than something
to be desired.
There was infinitely more interest in the $2 million payout the Canucks would
have to fork over to divest themselves of his services at the start of the
2000-2001 season rather than whether they'd pick up the option on two
more years of Mess.
"You can't listen when people keep telling you you're old or you're finished
or you can't do what you used to," Messier said recently. "That doesn't
motivate me.
|
“ |
I
like to play. I like to compete. And I like to win.
That's what motivates me. If you let that other
stuff creep into your mindset you might start
believing it. I can't tell you whether I want to play
one more year or two or whatever. Because I
honestly haven't given it any thought. What I am
concerned about is this team and making it
better. ” |
|
|
— Canucks forward Mark Messier |
"I like to play. I like to compete. And I like to win. That's what motivates
me. If you let that other stuff creep into your mindset you might start
believing it. I can't tell you whether I want to play one more year or two or whatever.
Because I honestly haven't given it any thought. What I am concerned about is
this team and making it better."
He's certainly played October obviously dead-set on sticking around a while longer.
"I've always said there are only two things in this game -- winning, and
misery."
Yes, Mess is back on a mission.
When he scored his 613th career goal, he passed Bobby Hull, the Golden Jet,
on the all-time list. After that empty netter the other night in Philly, now
Super Mario's in his rear-view mirror, and Messier owns sixth spot all-time.
"I've never really thought of myself as a goal scorer or a point getter," he
contends. "So in that way I guess it kind of surprises me. I've been
fortunate to play on great teams with great players. It's nice, an honor, but
I've never really equated personal statistics with success. Wins and Cups are
the true measuring stick."
So instead of being history, the man is back making it.
"If I have half the energy at 40 that he does, I'll be doing all right,"
marvels teammate Bill Muckalt.
The Canucks are off to a 6-3-2-1 start, and while nobody's idea of Cup
contenders just yet, they've confounded quite a few pundits who had them
penciled in for the bottom of the barrel once again.
Much credit is due Messier.
"Exceptional, quite exceptional," is how Crawford describes his captain thus
far. "I wouldn't say he's 'revitalized' exactly -- Mark always plays with
passion and purpose -- but there's a spring in his step this year. He's buying
into everything we're trying to do, which is such a help for a coach."
Crawford points to a much-improved second line, centered by free-agent pickup
Andrew Cassels and featuring the rejuvenated Alex Mogilny and rookie Steve
Kariya, for taking a goodly amount of heat off Messier.
Credit must go to the coach as well, for managing Messier's time more
prudently. While Keenan seemed determined to play his star until he dropped,
Crawford has whittled Messier down five or so minutes a night which, at 38,
will keep him fresher and stronger through the grueling 82-game schedule.
And, dare we dream, playoffs?!
And for the first time since he arrived on the coast, there is a plan, a
sense of stability. The clowns have vanished, the big top taken down, and the
circus moved on for a least the time being.
"There's not as much turmoil now," says Crawford. "Everyone knows who the
coach is; everyone knows who the GM is. I think that's something all our
players can benefit from. And since Mark is unquestionably our leader, it's
going to benefit him as much, if not more, than any individual on our team."
Ironically, however, a comeback year for Messier will leave the Canucks in a
bit of quandary. Another nonplayoff season would've made it easy for the team
to buy him out. But if the Canucks somehow show up
unannounced at the postseason party, sparked by a big Messier performance,
it'd be awfully tough to say goodbye.
Considering Andrew Cassels, Todd Bertuzzi and rookie Artem Chubarov are
already in at center and that Henrik Sedin is arriving in the fall and taking
Messier's age into consideration, there could be a problem.
And Messier isn't likely to accept a pay cut to assume a reduced role just
for the privilege of remaining in the colors. Either way, Messier is back, and we're all
having a fine time watching.
Rest of the West
That Anaheim is under .500 so far this month should be of no surprise. The
Ducklings historically have been far from mighty in October, sporting a
cumulative 14-32-11 record (prior to this season) during the month.
The pressure is beginning to build in Calgary, where the "Young Guns" are off to
a dismal 2-7-2 start, including losses to Tampa and the expansion Thrashers.
"It is a painful thing to keep saying, but it is about sticking to our plan,"
pleads GM Al Coates. "It is going to work."
In that assessment, he appears to be in an overwhelming minority.
Anaheim defenseman Kevin Haller is having
difficulty bouncing back from offseason arthroscopic knee surgery, even
suffering the slight of being scratched in a recent game against Chicago.
George Johnson covers the NHL for the Calgary Sun. His Western Conference column appears every week during the season on ESPN.com.
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