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I know its old but its something 2 wonder. In 1997 Mark Messier's last good year he left the Rangers for amount of money he didn't deserve. Most players don't get cheered when they return for that. But he did something that hasn't been done in 54 years...helping the Rangers win a Stanley Cup. He should get cheered for that. At least, he didn't pull a Johnny Damon or Benedict Wallace..go to the teams archenemy for the amount of money he didn't deserve. He should get cheers for that also.

But what if he did go to the Flyers, Islanders, or Devils in 97? Would you still cheer Messier then or would you consider him a sellout?

I'd still have cheered him, since he's my all-time favorite. The Rangers would still have been my favorite team, though. Seing him going to the Devils would have been hard, though, since I really hate that team.
Same for Mike Richter and Brian Leetch: those guys were so great for the Rangers during all of those years that I couldn't dislike them.