Mark Messier #11 of the New York Rangers (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images)
What happened on September 12 in the history of the New York Rangers
On this date in 2005, Mark Messier announced that he was retiring. The greatest leader in New York Rangers history decided to hang up his skates after 25 years and 1,756 games. He retired with a long list of achievements. Second overall in career points. Third overall in assists. Seventh overall in career goals. Second in career shorthanded goals.
Despite missing the playoffs the last seven years of his career, he finished second overall in total playoff goals, assists and points in his career, behind only Wayne Gretzky.