On This Day in Hockey History: The Rangers Make A Big Trade for an Oilers Superstar
On October 4th, 1991 hockey history was made, as the New York Rangers and Edmonton Oilers made a huge trade.
The Oilers would send their then Captain Mark Messier, to the New York Rangers in return for Louie DeBrusk, Bernie Nichols, and Steven Rice.
Messier, at this point, was a five-time Stanley Cup champion with the Edmonton Oilers, who had a legendary lineup of who, who in the 80s.
Messier wouldn't rest when he arrived in New York and would score 107 points that season, winning a Hart Trophy in 1991-1992.
The last time he won the Hart Trophy for being the MVP in the NHL, was during the 1989-1990 season.
Messier would lead the Rangers to win the President's Trophy in 1991-1992, and in 1993-1994 the last time the Rangers would win the Stanley Cup with Mike Keenan at the helm.
On Oct. 4, 1991, the Edmonton Oilers traded their captain Mark Messier, who had been with the team for all five of their Stanley Cup championships, to the New York Rangers. In return, the Oilers received forwards Louie DeBrusk, Bernie Nichols, and Steven Rice.
Messier scored 35 goals and 107 points in his first season with the Rangers, leading them to the President's Trophy for the most points in the NHL. He won the Hart Trophy for being voted the most valuable player in the NHL for the second time in his career. The fantastic season came to a disappointing end with a six-game loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins in the second round of the playoffs.
The former Rangers forward is third on the NHL's all-time scoring with 1,887 points behind Wayne Gretzky, and Jaromir Jagr.
Second on the all-time career lists for playoff points (295)
Third for regular season points (1887) and regular season games played (1,756)
Two-time Hart Trophy winner as the league's most valuable player (1990 and 1992)
Conn Smythe Trophy winner as the most valuable player during the playoffs (1984)
Two-time Lester B. Pearson (now named the Ted Lindsay Award) Award winner (1989-90) and 1991-92) as the most valuable player as chosen by the NHL Players' Association.
Source: The Hockey Writers
Today in Hockey History: Oct. 4
Source: The Hockey Writers
Mark Messier - NHL Legend and 6-Time Stanley Cup Winner
| POLL | ||
Was the Mark Messier trade the best trade the New York Rangers have made in team history? | ||
| Yes | 50 | 84.7 % |
| No | 9 | 15.3 % |
| List of polls | ||
