Retiring numbers in sports is way overdone, but it's impossible to argue with this one. Messier always will be 'the captain' in New York.

The problem with winter sports is that - follow me closely here - they generally take place in winter.

As you watch sports franchises and teams, they go in cycles, and I think we're now emerging from - I'm not going to say a down cycle - but I'm certainly going to say a cycle where we weren't at our best. I think this team has already worked very hard to pull us out of that.

I think it's just another one of those hockey things. I'm not sure anybody can find out why it happens. It just sort of grows on its own.

You can never really understand it until you've experienced it.

Being captain means more in hockey than in any sport. You wear that 'C' on your sweater, and you have an obligation to lead. Messier was all about that.