[VIDEO] Mark Messier, The Anti-Canuck - A 20-Minute Look At His Catastrophic Time in Vancouver

[CambieKev]

The Lost Shifts Ep. 2: Mark Messier, the Anti-Canuck - Vancouver Is Awesome



In the storied mythos of the Vancouver Canucks, Mark Messier is undoubtedly the team's greatest villain. No coach, no general manager, nor any other player remains as reviled as the notorious Messier. If one were to consult any lifelong Canucks supporter for their opinion of their team's captain from 1997 to 2000, the responses would be unanimous: he epitomizes the injustices that have maligned the team throughout their fifty-year history.

He was always known for his gritty style. He was a talented playmaker, and he also possessed an excellent wrist shot. He was intelligent with the puck and reliable defensively. However, he punished opponents with vicious elbows, body checks and a malicious, physical approach. He was the ideal two-way forward.

In Vancouver, his physicality was absent. From the very beginning, commentators noticed a complete lack of intensity from the player frequently regarded as fierce and passionate. He was passive and lethargic. His words were hypocritical. His conduct destroyed his reputation in Vancouver.

In Episode II of The Lost Shifts, we examine Messier's play in one of his earliest performances with the Canucks: a home game against the Detroit Red Wings on October 26, 1997. It became clear within only a month that this acquisition was a blunder of catastrophic proportions.

Our format today deviates from that of our Pavel Bure episode (Episode I). In order to illustrate Messier's apathetic conduct in the most effective and concise fashion, today's presentation features every piece of footage from the match in which he appears on-screen as well as a few extended shifts where his absence from the frame should be considered troublesome.

Interview audio from Dan Russell's CKNW 980 show Sportstalk, as well as the insights of numerous commentators can be heard throughout the video. Episode II concludes with a five-minute montage feature.

Read the full article detailing his story of betrayal and sabotage at Pass It To Bulis: The Lost Shifts Ep. 2: Mark Messier, the Anti-Canuck - Vancouver Is Awesome

I am @CambieKev on Twitter.

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[yukoner88]

20years later and still not over it, eh?

 

[Caboose]

That video really makes me despise Messier and Keenan even more. And also feel for Linden the way he had to leave the team. Glad he was able to get his swan song with the canucks before retiring.

 

[JoVel]

20years later and still not over it, eh?

Yeah because people never discuss hockey's history.

 

[Randy Butternubs]

15 minutes of one game and then 5 minutes of sound clips and interviews. It should've been the other way around.

 

[Dr Pepper]

I still chuckle every time I remember the league actually named an award after this goof.

For "leadership".

 

[Merrrlin]

I still chuckle every time I remember the league actually named an award after this goof.

For "leadership".

That "guarantee" and cup win with New York was the best PR a player has ever gotten.

 

[brachyrynchos]

Messier's Canucks were undefeated when they outscored their opponent, that kind of leadership has no price.

 

[McDavidCrushedLarkin]

Best player in their franchise history.

 

[MXD]

Mark Messier's performance in Vancouver was on par with what can reasonably be expected from a guy in his late thirties.

 

[Merrrlin]

I dug into Messier a bit because I didn't know much the story. Was shocked to find out this happened when he was late in his 30's.

General question: was he a lot more engaged in his 2nd stint with NYR? Statistically, it looks like he saw a small bump in year 1 back with the Rags, but other than that, his stats were similar to Vancouver.

I actually don't even remember his 2nd stint with NYR, and I watched a lot of Ranger games during those years.

 

[Apocalypse Dude]

Good video. Really an interesting situation looking back because as the commentator in the video said - Messier was getting older so his numbers weren't that surprising but you can tell in those clips he didn't really care unless he had the puck on his stick.

 

[Cup or Bust]

What kind of franchise expects a 36 year old to lead them. His play for them was pretty darn good for a 36-38 year old.

 

[CaptBrannigan]

Over the years it seems how horrible Messier was for the Canucks spirals out of control. Like I caught a 5 pound bass, then next week I tell you is was 10 pounds, then the next time we talk it was 15. It seems kinda (read: extremely) blown out of proportion.

 

[CharlestownChiefsESC]

Mark Messier's performance in Vancouver was on par with what can reasonably be expected from a guy in his late thirties.

This to a tee. The Canucks went at him because Gretzky fleeced them the season before. They were prepared to do whatever it took despite Messier being horrible in the latter half of 96-97 and during the playoffs

 

[Cursed Lemon]

Messier's Canucks were undefeated when they outscored their opponent, that kind of leadership has no price.

These kinds of fancy stats are ruining hockey.

 

[Gnashville]

Mark Messier's performance in Vancouver was on par with what can reasonably be expected from a guy in his late thirties.

162 points in 207 games for a 37-39 year old is remarkable particularly during that “dead puck” era.

 

[crazychimp]

I still can't believe he took number 11 when it was unofficially retired for Wayne Maki. That's leadership? That award is a sham.

 

[kaiser matias]

Mark Messier's performance in Vancouver was on par with what can reasonably be expected from a guy in his late thirties.

While that is true, I think a large part if the vitriol comes from his perceived attitude during this time. In particular his influence in bringing in Keenan and then seeing many popular players traded off. While the merits of those trades can be debated (and has been argued, the team was aging; it was a logical choice the ultimately led to success), the closeness of Messier to the management and ownership further spurred his perception in Vancouver. It's ultimately easier to pin the franchises downswing on one high-priced player, and it is compounded by him being the main opponent in 1994.

 

[kaiser matias]

I still can't believe he took number 11 when it was unofficially retired for Wayne Maki. That's leadership? That award is a sham.

While true, the team could have easily refused the request. They are just as guilty there, arguably more so ad they knew the significance of the number to Vancouver.

 

[Coffey]

The 2nd best thing Mark has done for the Oilers.

 

[Soundwave]

At age 36 you can't realistically expect a guy to play as physically as he did at age 29, it's just not gonna happen.

And really in hockey mileage, Messier by that point was more like a 38-40 year old, he played so much extra hockey factoring in all the playoffs, Canada Cups, etc.

 

[Zenos]

As a lifelong Oilers fan, I always get a kick out of these Messier / Vancouver threads.

Years after leaving Edmonton, he was still doing our team favours

 

[Grifter3511]

The thing is...Messier was the best thing to happen to late 90s Canucks. If he hadn't they'd have been stuck with Trevor Linden as captain until the end of time.

Messier and Keenan ushered in the end of the Linden era.
Linden is traded for Bertuzzi and McCabe......hence without Messier showing up the West Coast Express never happens.
McCabe is included as a key piece in the chicago trade which brought Chicago's draft pick to Vancouver which they then used to draft both Sedins....hence without Messier the Canucks may end up with one, but definitely not both Sedins. Does 2011 ever happen then?

Canucks have what....6 players jerseys retired? Naslund 'claims' he learned leadership from Messier. That intangible aside, would Naslund have excelled as much as he did without Bertuzzi on his wing?

Could it be legitimately argued that the Canucks most successful season in history and 50% of their jersey retirements don't happen if Messier doesn't sign in Vancouver?

 

[romba]

trollololol!

rent free guys, rent free.