Phil Esposito's legacy with the Rangers

[Baby Punisher]

Bruins fan and i come in peace. Even though Phil talks **** about being traded by Chicago/Boston -- and perhaps i am biased, but IMO he was far more pissed off about being traded from the Boston Bruins than he was being traded from Chicago to Boston -- and a lot of all that has to do with how well he played alongside Boston legends like Bobby Orr.

Espo finished his career with the Rangers, but i still to this day believe the salt in the wound of being traded out of Boston has effected his attitude. He never wanted to leave Boston.

As for Messier, i had a ton of respect for the man before he intentionally tried to inflict a massive head injury on Mike Modano (during the incident when the paramedics dropped Modano off of the stabilizing-stretcher).

Messier clearly had a stride on Modano and deliberately targeted his head. This impact to the head was so severe (this can be seen on YouTube) that Modano was out cold before his head even slammed onto the ice and he went gliding motionless into the boards.

Overall i like Messier, but that was one of the dirtiest hits i have ever seen in the NHL. I am not a Stars fan, but Modano did not deserve that... he was never a dirty player.

Anyhow, it's time Esposito bury old grudges.

Espo himself said he thought for a few weeks he might get traded, when his GM told him he was traded he said "ok, fine just as long as it's not too the Rangers." When he was told he had been traded to the Rangers he responded with many expletives.

Back than that Boston/NY rivalry was intense. Of course he made the best of it & wound up enjoying his time here & that only added to his success.

As far as Messier goes, everyone know's Messier had an evil streak. It came out his entire career. He was suspended a game for spearing the final 2 weeks of his last season in 2004.

I never understood why Mess went after Modano like that. As a player Modano wasn't dirty. Only thing I can come up with is that through out his career Modano had a reputation for not being the nicest person in the world off the ice. Maybe it was personal, I dunno but Messier clearly had an issue with him.