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NEW YORK -- Mark Messier is leaving the New York Rangers organization after being passed over to replace fired head coach John Tortorella. Messier, who had been a special assistant to Rangers general manager Glen Sather, announced Thursday in a statement that he is resigning in order to "expand the game of hockey in the New York area by developing the Kingsbridge National Ice Center." However, he added that the Rangers choice to hire veteran coach Alain Vigneault to be the new head coach wasnt a factor in his departure from the team. "I would like to thank the New York Rangers and particularly Glen Sather for giving me the opportunity over the last four years to work with the Rangers," said Messier, who has no NHL coaching experience. "Although some will perceive this as a reaction to the coaching decision, nothing could be further from the truth. I completely respect the decision that was made and for all the reasons it was made. I harbour no hard feelings toward Glen or the Rangers. "This is a personal choice I am making to create a program in the New York area that will give our children more choices and opportunities in the future. I wish the Rangers nothing but the best in the future." Messier, who captained the Rangers to the 1994 Stanley Cup championship, hoped to lead the team again -- this time from behind the bench -- after Tortorella was dismissed. He interviewed with Sather for the position that eventually went to Vigneault, who was let go after the season by the Vancouver Canucks. "Mark Messier will always be a part of the New York Rangers family," Sather said in a statement. "As a player and then as part of the management team, he brought incomparable passion and dedication to the organization. We wish him well in his future endeavours." Messier took his position as an assistant to Sather, who also serves as Rangers team president, in August 2009. A 16-time NHL All-Star, Messiers crowning achievement with the Rangers came in 1994 when he led the team to its first Stanley Cup title in 54 years. He set a Rangers playoff record with 12 post-season goals, including the Cup winner in Game 7 of the finals against Vancouver. Messiers No. 11 was retired by the Rangers in January 2006. The Hockey Hall of Famer ranks fifth on the teams scoring list with 691 points and seventh in goals with 250 of the 694 he scored in his career. He is second in career NHL points with 1,887 and seventh in goals. In addition to the championship with the Rangers, Messier won the Stanley Cup five times with the Edmonton Oilers, where Sather served as coach and general manager. Sather had a list of 13 potential coaching candidates that he cut down to nine. He interviewed Messier and Vigneault in person and decided to go with experience. "It was a difficult decision," Sather said last week. "Weve both grown up with each other. At this stage, A.V. was the man. Mark has got to decide what he wants to do." Aaron Jones Super Bowl Jersey . In Europe, top teams seem to be largely happy with their squads after spending nearly $1 billion in the off-season. And although English league clubs are unlikely to splash cash in January, Arsenal and Chelsea could be tempted to strengthen their squads with new strikers. Dexter Williams Super Bowl Jersey . The 27-year-old Scrivens will be joining his third NHL club since signing with the Toronto Maple Leafs as a free agent in 2010. The move also reunites with him with head coach Dallas Eakins from their time together with the American Hockey Leagues Toronto Marlies. http://www.officialgreenbaypackerspro.com/Josh-jackson-packers-jersey/ . On Tuesday, Ottawa placed forward Cory Conacher and defenceman Joe Corvo on waivers as trade rumours swirl around the Senators. Tony Brown Super Bowl Jersey . The incident occurred at 19:56 of the second period of the Kings 4-2 road win over Edmonton on Sunday. Nolan punched Oilers forward Jesse Joensuu in the jaw in front of the Kings goal during a scrum. Jamaal Williams Super Bowl Jersey . The defence is doing its part, too. Drew Brees threw a pair of touchdown passes in the first half and the guys on the other side made sure that was enough, sending the Saints to a 17-13 victory over the Atlanta Falcons on Thursday night.KANSAS CITY, Kan. -- Major League Soccer isnt content to rest once its latest franchise joins the fold in 2015. Instead, the league plans to expand to 24 teams by the 2020 season. Commissioner Don Garber announced MLSs plan to add four more clubs during halftime of its annual All-Star game Wednesday night. The location of the teams has yet to be decided, but Garber said the league has already had discussions with potential owners. The news came one day after Hunt Sports Group announced it was selling the Columbus Crew to investor Anthony Precourt, and with New York City FC beginning play in two years. "The strength, passion and vision of the MLS ownership group is the foundation behind the success of our league," Garber said in a statement. "We look forward to adding new partners with the same commitment to the sport and love of the game." Garber told The Associated Press during an interview this week that the issue of expansion would be discussed "in great detail" during a meeting of league owners on Wednesday. "As MLS enters a period of accelerated growth," Garber said, "the addition of new teams will allow us to expand our geographic coverage, grow our fan base and help us achieve our vision of being among the best leagues in the world by 2022." MLS will have added 10 new teams since the 2005 season when New York City FC begins play, and Garber said that has helped to spearhead a significant growth in the game in the United States. "These expansion clubs have contributed to the vitality of our league," he said, "bringing passionate fans, new traditions and committed owners with new ideas." One of the most intriguing ownership possibilities is former Los Angeles Galaxy star David Beckham, whose MLS contract included an option to purchase a franchise when his career ended. Beckham has been linked to businessman Marcelo Claure, who owns Bolivian team Club Bolivar. The two appear interested in putting a team in Miami, where Claures wireless company Brightstar Corp. is based. Beckham has said he plans to reveal his MLS intentions in the next few months. "The foundations are now there for this sport to continnue to grow," Beckham said last fall.dddddddddddd "Ive seen it grow in the last six years, and we all want it to continue to grow. My commitment as an owner, people will be well aware of that in the new year, and hopefully where that will be. And like I said, my commitment as an ambassador for this sport and this country wont change." It makes sense that potential owners are lining up for an MLS franchise. They can be had for a fraction of what a Major League Baseball or NBA team would cost -- it cost English club Manchester City and its partner, the New York Yankees, an expansion fee of $100 million to launch New York City FC. Yet surging attendance and modest but consistent television growth appear to indicate that the league is becoming a valuable investment. Thats certainly changed from the early days of MLS, when an ownership group could acquire a franchise for less than $10 million and the league was fighting for survival. "Weve got a lot of cities that are kind of on our list right now that are exuberant -- they have the right sort of circumstances," said Robb Heineman, the CEO of Sporting KC. "Our league is hot right now. If you dont believe in Major League Soccer, I dont know why." Miami isnt the only city to be linked to an MLS team. Officials in Atlanta, Sacramento, Orlando, Detroit and the Twin Cities have also mentioned the possibility of landing a franchise. In a statement issued by the league, Garber laid out the criteria the league will use in determining future expansion markets. Among them is location, committed and engaged ownership, a comprehensive stadium plan, demonstrated fan support for professional soccer, support of sponsors and TV partners, and a strategic business plan for launching a club. Garber said the league will provide additional details, including a more detailed timeline, for its expansion plans in the coming months. "The overall growth of the sport has been so dramatic over the last number of years by almost any measure," Garber said. "Whether its the league or the national team or the womens game, all the developments are sort of proving the fact that were a soccer nation." ' ' '