As a new NHL season gets going, Mark Messier is back on our screens as one of ESPN's lead studio analysts, a role he has held since 2021. Two decades after his final game, The Moose remains hockey's go-to voice on leadership.
For most fans, though, Messier means winning: six Stanley Cups, two Hart Trophies and a 1994 promise New York has never forgotten. Browse our full ice hockey collection.
Mark Messier Fact File
| Full name | Mark John Douglas Messier |
|---|---|
| Date of birth (age) | 18 January 1961 (65) |
| Place of birth | Edmonton, Alberta, Canada |
| Height | 6 ft 1 in (185 cm) |
| Position | Centre (shoots left) |
| Nationality | Canadian |
| Current team/status | Retired (last game 2004); ESPN NHL studio analyst |
| Shirt number | 11 (retired by the Oilers and the Rangers) |
| Nickname | The Moose |
Career History
| Years | Team | Games | Goals | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1978–79 | Indianapolis Racers / Cincinnati Stingers (WHA) | 52 | 1 | 11 |
| 1979–1991 | Edmonton Oilers | 851 | 392 | 1,034 |
| 1991–1997, 2000–2004 | New York Rangers | 698 | 250 | 691 |
| 1997–2000 | Vancouver Canucks | 207 | 52 | 162 |
| NHL total | Regular season | 1,756 | 694 | 1,887 |
| NHL playoffs | Edmonton & New York | 236 | 109 | 295 |
Regular-season figures (the two Rangers spells combined) unless marked as playoffs. Source: Hockey-Reference.
Early Years: A Teenage Pro
Born in Edmonton on 18 January 1961, Messier turned professional at 17, playing in the WHA in 1978–79 with Indianapolis and Cincinnati. He scored just once in 52 games, yet the Oilers took him 48th overall in the 1979 draft.
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Breakthrough: The Oilers Dynasty
Alongside Wayne Gretzky, Messier's power and speed drove one of hockey's greatest teams. In 1984 he won the Conn Smythe Trophy as the Oilers lifted their first Stanley Cup, with more following in 1985, 1987 and 1988. After Gretzky's 1988 trade to Los Angeles, Messier became captain and in 1990 led Edmonton to a fifth Cup, winning the Hart Trophy too.
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Defining Moment: The Guarantee
Traded to the Rangers in 1991, Messier won a second Hart Trophy in 1992. Then, trailing New Jersey 3–2 in the 1994 Eastern Conference Final, he guaranteed a Game 6 win and delivered a third-period hat trick. The Rangers won Game 7 in overtime and beat Vancouver for their first Cup since 1940, making Messier the first man to captain two franchises to the trophy.
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Later Career and Legacy
After three seasons captaining Vancouver, Messier returned to New York in 2000 and played his last game on 31 March 2004, aged 43. Both the Oilers and Rangers retired his No. 11, he entered the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2007 and the NHL named its Mark Messier Leadership Award after him.
Honours
Team
- Stanley Cup: 1984, 1985, 1987, 1988, 1990 (Edmonton), 1994 (New York Rangers)
- Canada Cup: 1984, 1987, 1991
- IIHF World Championship silver: 1989
Individual
- Hart Memorial Trophy: 1990, 1992
- Lester B. Pearson Award: 1990, 1992
- Conn Smythe Trophy: 1984
- NHL First All-Star Team four times, Second All-Star Team once
Recognition
- Hockey Hall of Fame: 2007
- Order of Hockey in Canada: 2013
- Officer of the Order of Canada: 2017
- No. 11 retired by Edmonton and New York
Away From the Ice
Messier has been a lead studio analyst on ESPN's NHL coverage since 2021. Through his foundation he launched a 2021 fundraising programme for professional women's hockey, and earlier he worked as a special assistant to Rangers boss Glen Sather.
FAQs
How old is Mark Messier?
Mark Messier was born on 18 January 1961, so he is 65 years old as of October 2026.
Where was Mark Messier born?
He was born in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
How tall is Mark Messier?
Messier is listed at 6 ft 1 in (185 cm).
What teams did Mark Messier play for?
In the NHL he played for the Edmonton Oilers (1979–1991), the New York Rangers (1991–1997 and 2000–2004) and the Vancouver Canucks (1997–2000).
How many Stanley Cups did Mark Messier win?
Six: five with Edmonton in 1984, 1985, 1987, 1988 and 1990, and one with the Rangers in 1994.
What was Mark Messier's guarantee?
With the Rangers 3–2 down to New Jersey in the 1994 Eastern Conference Final, Messier promised they would win Game 6. He scored a third-period hat trick to make it happen, and New York went on to win the Stanley Cup.
Shop the Mark Messier Collection
Show your love for hockey's greatest captain.
Explore more legends in our ice hockey collection, shop the Edmonton Oilers collection and New York Rangers collection, or put your own name on the back with our custom name men's hoodie.
Part of our Player Profiles series. Read next: Wayne Gretzky: The Great One and Connor McDavid: Oilers captain.
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