The legendary Mark Messier announced his retirement from the NHL 15 years ago today.

Messier had a historic 25 year NHL career winning six Stanley Cups and landing second on the all-time scoring list.

Drafted by the Edmonton Oilers in the third round of the 1979 NHL draft, the Edmonton Native slid into the Oilers lineup and scored 33 points in 75 games. He built off that with an 88 point sophomore season and for the next decade, Messier was a point+ per game player on some of the best teams in NHL history.

Messier won one Conn Smythe trophy, two Hart trophies and two Lester B. Pearson trophies throughout his career mixed in with five all-star game appearances.

He played with the Oilers until 1991 when Edmonton traded him to the New York Rangers for Bernie Nicholls, Steven Rice and Louie DeBrusk. He spent a total of 10 years with the Rangers and another three with the Vancouver Canucks.

Upon his retirement, Messier totalled 694 goals, 1193 assists and 1887 points in 1756 games.

What’s your favourite memory of Mark Messier?

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