Q1: What’s your favorite city to play in for an away game?

NEW YORK AND EDMONTON BECAUSE OF THE SUCCESS WE HAD IN THOSE BUILDINGS.  I ALSO REALLY ENJOYED ALL OF THE OLD ORIGINAL SIX BUILDINGS.  QUEBEC WAS ALSO A FAVORITE.

Q2: What 3 players do you expect to step up for Team Canada in the 2010
Olympics?

WHEN I READ OF THE POTENIAL LINE OF CROSBY, NASH, AND IGINLA, THAT WOULD HAVE TO BE CONSIDERED A GO TO LINE.  ALL THREE PLAYERS IN THE PEAK OF THEIR CAREERS.

Q3: Who do you think will be chosen to captain Team Canada and Team USA and
why?

THE TEAM HAS A GREAT MIX OF VETERANS AND YOUNG PLAYERS THIS YEAR, AND MANY OF THEM HAVE POTENIAL TO BE NAMED CAPTAIN.  I WOULDN’T BE SURPRISED TO SEE ONE OF OUR YOUNG STARS NAMED CAPTAIN THIS YEAR, NAMELY SIDNEY CROSBY.

Thanks for the great questions and your support.  I look forward to chatting more.- Mess

Q:How do you feel about joining the Rangers front office?  Do you think you can bring passion and a will to win back into the organization?

A:  I am really excited to get back into the game.  It is hard to believe it has been 5 years since I retired.  Getting the opportunity to work with the Rangers means a lot to me.  Hopefully I can contribute in a positive way.  I believe I have a good understanding of the challenges of playing in New York, and what the players need to do to be effective, confident, contributing team players.  If I can be of assistance in any way, that will be great.

Q: What is the typical NHL player doing during the month of August?
Vacationing or training intensively for camp?

A:  At the professional level, hockey has become a 12 month sport.  The competition for jobs is so strong, nobody can afford to take too much time off.  The training techniques have come so far in the last 10 years, not to mention how much we have learned as organizations to help prepare our players for the grueling schedule.  So I believe and hope our players are hard at work in the month of August.

Q: NHL.com Poll: What team has a better chance of returning to the Stanley Cup Finals?  Detroit or Pittsburgh?

A:  I would say that is a toss up.  Both teams have lost important players from their lineups.  I thought it was amazing both teams made it back again this year, which is a testimony to both organizations.

Thanks for the great questions and your support.  I look forward to chatting more.- Mess

Q:  Who do you think your toughest opponent was in terms of players that you have played against over the course of your career?

A:  THE TERM TOUGHEST SUGGESTS MANY DIFFERENT ATTRIBUTES THAT PLAYERS POSSESS.  JARI KURRI WAS ONE OF THE TOUGHEST PLAYERS I HAVE EVER PLAYED WITH FOR HIS WILLINGNESS TO TAKE A POUNDING TO SCORE A GOAL.  DAVE SEMENKO WAS ONE OF THE TOUGHEST FIGHTERS.  BRIAN LEETCH WAS ONE OF THE TOUGHEST COMPETITORS.  OVERALL COMBINATION OF EVERYTHING, I WOULD SAY SCOTT STEVENS WAS TOUGH IN EVERY WAY.  YOU HAD TO KNOW WHERE HE WAS ON THE ICE AT ALL TIMES BECAUSE HE COULD AND WOULD HURT YOU.

Q:  What attributes do you think are important for taking on the captaincy for a team?

A:  I THINK SINGLE THE MOST IMPORTANT ATTRIBUTE THAT A CAPTAIN HAS TO HAVE, IS THE TRUST AND RESPECT OF HIS TEAMMATES.  FROM THERE A STRONG FOUNDATION CAN BE BUILT TO EXPLORE ALL OF THE WAYS TO HELP EACH PLAYER REACH THEIR POTENIAL.

Q:  What off-season move do you think will have the biggest impact, why?

A:  CHRIS PRONGER GOING TO PHILLY WILL HAVE A MAJOR IMPACT IN THE EASTERN CONFEREN. KHABIBULIN GOING TO EDMONTON SHOULD REALLY PUT THEM IN POSITION TO GET BACK IN THE PLAYOFFS.

Thanks to everyone who participated this week by submitting questions and topics.  Check back next week for more!

-Mess