This day in NY sports history

THIS DAY IN NY SPORTS HISTORY

Sunday, July 21, 1996

The Great One signs with Rangers

Wayne Gretzky signed a two-year contract with the Rangers, reuniting with former Oilers teammate and then Rangers captain Mark Messier. The NHL's all-time leader in goals and assists had been traded from the Los Angeles Kings to the St. Louis Blues in February but became a free agent at season's end and inked an $8-million deal with the Blueshirts. In his first season in New York, the 36-year-old totaled 97 points, including a league-high 72 assists. Messier was second on the team with 84 points. Gretzky had 10 goals and 10 assists in the playoffs to help lead the Rangers to the conference finals. He ended his career with the team in 1999.