NOTES

Economics, not emotion, will be the determining factor in the New York Rangers’ decision to bring Mark Messier back for another season, General Manager Neil Smith said.

Smith said there was nothing the Rangers wanted more than to re-sign Messier, their captain and team leader.

But he qualified the statement with a remark that the decision would be based purely on business, saying the Rangers will have to be fiscally responsible.

At $6 million, Messier was the highest-paid Ranger this season. Smith would not discuss contract possibilities with his star player, other than to say negotiations with him remained a top priority.