Mark Messier: In case you failed the above math teaser you get a second shot with Messier. 694 goals plus six still equals nag.

Paul Coffey: 396 goals. Four more and he’s only the second defenseman behind Raymond Bourque to score 400.

Not quite the “nag” category but I decided to pro rate Mario Lemieux’s stats. Nagged throughout his career by injuries, Lemieux managed 1701 points in 889 games in 17 seasons. That’s a 1.913 points per game ratio – good for second best in NHL history behind Gretzky’s (duh) 1.921. Let’s assume Lemieux’s ppg dropped to 1.50 for five more seasons. That equals 615 points or 2316 all time. If he kept a 1.913 clip he hits 2485 points.

People who suggest Lemieux could have broken Gretzky’s 2857 points if not for injuries and the garage league the NHL had become while he played are not insane.

Bill Reay: I was perusing the all time coaching wins list and came across this gem. Reay won 599 games while coaching for the Toronto Maple Leafs in the 1950s and Chicago Blackhawks in the 1960s and 70s. One Word: nag.

Why stop at hockey? Check these out:

In the NBA, Bill Fitch won 999 games with five teams. Not many coaches won 1000. At least he won a title with the Boston Celtics in 1981. That’s one more than Bill Reay.

Bobby Matthews: Okay, this is stretching back to the late 19th century but it still counts. Largely a mysterious figure, Matthews won 297 games in the National League, American and National Association.

Tony Gwynn hit .394 in 1994. What he couldn’t get on base roughly three more times?

There you have it. I’m sure there are many more but I do have a life. Off to fold some bath towels.