November 13, 2007
Quick Hits: Messier and Stevens in Hall; Posada Returns
- Mark Messier will forever be remembered for delivering the Stanley Cup to the Rangers in 1994, his famous guarantee before Game Six of the Eastern Conference Finals that year and a tendency to cry in public. The captain had his number retired by both Edmonton and New York and is the only player ever to captain two teams to a Stanley Cup victory and he was second all-time in points scored in NHL history.
- Scott Stevens never got the press he deserved, but he ended up with three rings on his fingers and having played the most games by a defenseman in NHL history. Stevens came to New Jersey in 1991 and while he was reluctant to report he became the face of the franchise and the first Devil to have his number retired. Stevens was a terror on the ice, delivering some of the hardest hits in history, as Eric Lindros once learned.
- The Yankees have finally found someone who wants to stick around, Jorge Posada. Posada, a player who has always been taken for granted, agreed to a four-year/$52.4 million deal last night just before the free agency period opened. While the contract is too long (catchers don’t age well) the Yankees desperately needed Jorge if they want to have any chance of contending in 2008 and fans will welcome the sight of #20 behind the plate again next season. We'll see if Mariano Rivera thinks that a three-year, $45 million offer is enough to return as a Yankee.
File photo of Mark Messier scoring in game 7 of the Stanley Cup Finals against the Vancouver Canucks by AP/Ron Frehm
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Hey, Bobby "Smiles" Abreu is coming back too.
Only a fool would take Jorge for granted. He is the genuine article--the Thurman Munson of our era. Jorge, you'll always be 2 in our hearts.
Wait, I'm confused. By "Scott Stevens never got the press he deserved" you mean "the press often overlooked the fact that Scott Stevens was a headhunter who frequently escaped punishment for elbowing other players in the head," right?