Mark Messier Tops List of 2007 Hockey Hall of Fame Inductees

On Thursday, the NHL announced the four players to be inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame later this summer: Mark Messier, Scott Stevens, Al MacInnis, and Ron Francis.

Messier's nomination was a no-brainer. He won the Stanley Cup five times with the Edmonton Oilers and once with the New York Rangers, retiring in 2005 as the NHL's second-leading scorer behind Wayne Gretzky.

In 1,756 regular-season games, Messier had 694 goals and 1,193 assists for 1,887 points. He ranks seventh in career goals and third in assists.

Messier was also the second-greatest scorer in NHL postseason history, behind only Gretzky (of course). He totaled 109 goals and 186 assists in 236 playoff games.

Stevens, a star defenseman for the New Jersey Devils, won three Stanley Cups. His career numbers: 196 goals and 712 assists for 908 points in 1,635 regular-season games, plus 26 goals and 92 assists in 233 playoff games.

Stevens was runner-up to Raymond Bourque for the Norris Trophy in 1988 and 1994.

MacInnis was a legendary defensemen with a fearsome slapshot. He won the Stanley Cup with the Calgary Flames in 1989.

MacInnis totaled 340 goals and 934 assists for 1,274 points in 1,416 regular-season games, with 39 goals and 121 assists in the playoffs.

Among NHL defensemen, only Bourque and Paul Coffey scored more goals.

Francis, finally, was a three-time Lady Byng Trophy winner. He retired as the fourth-leading scorer in league history with 1,798 points.

Francis was second only to Gretzky with 1,249 assists and third with 1,731 regular-season games played. His 549 goals ranks him fifth. He had 46 goals and 97 assists for 143 points in 171 playoff games.