Don, Hahn & Rosenberg – Hour 3: Mark Messier Joins the Show

Air Date: December 2, 2025
Key Guest: Mark Messier
Main Theme: Leadership, resilience, and “Game 7 moments” in sports and life

Overview

This episode spotlights the legendary Mark Messier—six-time Stanley Cup champion—exploring what defines championship teams, leadership under pressure, and translating “Game 7” moments from the arena to life. The conversation moves from Messier’s business ventures to gritty leadership lessons, deep dives into failure, and reflections on the mental and cultural keys to winning. The hosts also tie Messier’s wisdom to the challenges facing the New York Knicks, Giants, and Rangers, probing the elusive formula for overcoming adversity in sports and beyond.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Mark Messier’s “Game 7” Brand and the Universal Pressure Moment

[01:38 – 03:21]

• Messier shares the genesis of his new “Game 7” brand—a platform and apparel line based on owning the rights to the “Game 7” trademark, with the goal to build a community and inspire people through iconic sports moments.
  • “We knew it was a pretty iconic brand… a lot of people understood what the significance of a Game 7 [is], even if we weren’t in sports.” (Messier, 01:48)
• Discussion of the Amazon docuseries, partnerships with the NBA and NHL, and plans to expand the brand’s influence.
• The "Game 7" metaphor extends beyond sports—everyone has their own high-stakes moment in life.
  • “Everybody in life has a game seven moment… Do you have the tools required to perform under pressure when the stakes are the highest?” (Messier, 02:35)

The Psychology of Winning—Culture, Ego, and Team Dynamics

[03:21 – 05:59]

• Messier describes how true teams reveal themselves:
  • “When teams are really connected, how easy it is to identify. The way they speak to each other… where the ego is not the most important thing.” (Messier, 03:34)
• Leadership isn’t about standing above the group, but about being “in the pit with” the team, drawing parallels from Shohei Ohtani to Wayne Gretzky and Mario Lemieux.
  • “Sports people that are always integrated into the team, they never hold themselves above the team.” (Messier, 05:13)
• The “Game 7” pressure exists across all sports—and translates to everyday life.

Failure, Resilience, and Learning

[06:33 – 10:07]

• Messier is candid about his early failures and the challenges post-hockey, discovering that the path to success in sports and business is not linear.
  • “Nobody can go through life happy, unaffected… [Game 7] really taught me the lessons that I needed… and part of that is failing.” (Messier, 06:33)
• He expands on how pressure, when unaddressed, can undermine even routine skills.
  • “All of a sudden, pressure changes everything. How do you take the pressure away, strip it away, and keep your focus where it needs to be?” (Messier, 08:37)

Preparation, Visualization, and the Path to Performing Under Pressure

[10:07 – 12:56]

• Messier shares his famous routine before Game 7 in 1994, mentally rehearsing every possible outcome—victory and defeat—to reduce anxiety and sharpen focus.
  • “I would lay there in bed for many hours thinking what it would look like and feel like if we don’t win this game. And then you allow yourself to go... what’s it gonna feel like if we do win?” (Messier, 10:07)
• The negative fades as game day approaches, replaced by singular focus on execution.
• Trust and preparation are vital:
  • "Whatever happened in the past, this is my moment. This is my opportunity to show that. So my confidence is going through the roof because I believe in myself and unwavering trust that I have, not only in myself but teammates. And trust becomes absolutely paramount." (Messier, 12:44)

The Ugly Side of Winning—Doing Everything Right and Still Losing

[12:44 – 14:41]

• Messier emphasizes you can “be a winner and not win,” recognizing that factors outside your control—like resources or team cohesion—are critical.
  • “You can be a winner and not win. …The reality and the brutality of our sport—not all my sport, but any sport—[is] we’re reliant on everybody having the same amount of commitment.” (Messier, 12:56 and 14:41)
• The unity and shared commitment are visible when teams are truly “locked in.”

Slumps, Self-Doubt, and Getting “The Zone” Back

[14:41 – 18:45]

• Messier discusses how even champions experience periods of lost confidence and overthinking.
• The secret? Trust in practice and living like a champion—not just in games, but daily habits and focus.
  • “You have to live a life like a champion. …You are eliminating distractions. You are completely focused in.” (Messier, 15:49)
• Without this, critical breakdowns happen under pressure, and the team fails.

Big-Market Pressure: Knicks, Jalen Brunson, and Leadership Lessons from Messier

[18:48 – 23:24]

• Comparing the Knicks’ recent game seven heartbreaks to Messier’s own struggles in New York, especially before finally winning the Stanley Cup.
  • “When you look at what Jalen Brunson is trying to do right now with the Knicks… How hard was it in New York… to finally get to the mountaintop?” (Host, 19:14)
• Messier reflects on an infamous playoff collapse after Gretzky’s trade, admitting, “I got so focused in… my complete focus was so far gone… All my ego came into it…. I made it about winning without Wayne, which just completely contaminated the whole thing.” (Messier, 22:34)
• The lesson: No ego in the circle of team energy. True leaders draw people in and build unity.

Ego, Team Structure, and Gretzky’s Unique Discipline

[23:25 – 26:11]

• Messier shares a memorable story about Gretzky’s meticulousness—writing out goals and assists for each game on his fridge calendar.
  • “He had our schedule for that month, and inside every game, he had three goals, two assists… and it went on and on…” (Messier, 23:35)
• Teams succeed with egoless circles, not hierarchies.
  • “Teams aren’t built in pyramids, they’re built in circles. Everybody’s on the circle, everybody’s reaching in the middle to bring the energy in.” (Messier, 25:35)

Coaching: Philosophy, Communication, and Why Messier Isn’t Interested Anymore

[26:11 – 27:45]

• Coaching, according to Messier, is about relationships and constructive criticism without resentment.
  • “Being a good coach is being able to give constructive criticism without resentment.” (Messier, 27:21)
• He’s read Pat Riley and Phil Jackson, believes in their cross-sport leadership philosophies, but says coaching has “passed him by.”

Rangers Check-In: Team Culture and Nuances of Success

[27:45 – 31:08]

• Messier evaluates the Rangers’ current chemistry, explaining that changing a team’s “nucleus” creates disruption.
  • “The culture is set by the nucleus of your team, the leadership of your team, that core group of players, that five or six, seven guys…” (Messier, 27:48)
• Success depends on finding a strategy everyone truly commits to—defense, offense, or both. Trust, execution, and identity are key.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “Everybody in life has a Game 7 moment… Do you have the tools that are required to perform under pressure when the stakes are highest?”
  – Mark Messier, 02:35
• “When teams are really connected, how easy it is to identify . . . where the ego is not the most important thing.”
  – Messier, 03:34
• “You can be a winner and not win.”
  – Messier, 12:56
• “Teams aren’t built in pyramids, they're built in circles. Everybody’s on the circle...”
  – Messier, 25:35
• “Being a good coach is being able to give constructive criticism without resentment.”
  – Messier, 27:21
• Gretzky’s fridge calendar story
  – “He had our schedule for that month, and inside every game, he had three goals, two assists…” (Messier, 23:35)

Segment Timestamps

• [01:38] – Messier introduces “Game 7” brand and philosophy
• [03:34] – The cultural DNA of championship teams
• [05:13] – Humility and true sports leadership
• [06:33] – Failure and universal life lessons
• [10:07] – Messier’s Game 7 mental routine (1994 Finals example)
• [12:44] – On losing despite doing everything right
• [14:41] – Coping with slumps and regaining confidence
• [18:48] – Knicks pressure, leadership, and personal failure stories
• [23:35] – Gretzky’s preparation and team dynamics
• [25:35] – Team structure: circles vs. pyramids
• [27:21] – Coaching philosophy and Messier’s retirement from the bench
• [27:48] – Rangers’ team chemistry and rebuilding challenges

Tone & Style

• Messier is philosophical, self-reflective, and candid, comfortable sharing failures alongside lessons learned.
• The hosts are engaged, inquisitive, and personal, tying Messier’s principles to the city’s beloved teams and their own experiences.
• Overall, the conversation is thoughtful, encouraging, and insightful for listeners interested in sports, leadership, and personal growth.

Useful Takeaways for Listeners

• High-pressure situations are inevitable: Everyone faces their own "Game 7"—success depends on preparation, self-belief, and coping with pressure.
• Team culture and unity are paramount: Ego, lack of alignment, or insufficient trust will break teams at crucial moments.
• Failure is a necessary teacher: Learning to process and grow from setbacks is critical, not just in sports but across any pursuit.
• Leadership is inclusion, not hierarchy: The true leader’s job is to create a circle—and to make sure every teammate is connected and trusted at all times.
• Coaching and personal growth transcend sport: Winning principles and habits are universal across disciplines.

For more, listen to the full episode, or keep these major lessons in mind the next time you encounter your own "Game 7" moment.