Messier Open To Offers

Disappointed by a recent contract offer from the New York Rangers, free agent center Mark Messier said he will entertain offers from other teams.

Messier emphasized that Rangers general manager Neil Smith has not made himself particularly available for negotiations. Smith was in Hilton Head, S.C., where Messier lives, for AHL meetings last week.

“We never even talked,” Messier said. “Neil was down here and never even visited. You know, come over for a beer. I mean, we put six good years in. I mean, show a little bit of respect.”

The Philadelphia Flyers signed defenseman Luke Richardson, who played with the Edmonton Oilers last season, to a five-year, $12.6 million contract, adding one of this year’s most sought after free agents to its roster.

The Vancouver Canucks agreed to contract terms with free agent defenseman Grant Ledyard, who spent the past four seasons with the Dallas Stars.

Marc Crawford of the Colorado Avalanche reportedly will coach Canada’s hockey team at the 1998 Olympic Games, with new Philadelphia Flyers coach Wayne Cashman as his assistant.