"Would Mark Messier be considered greater if he retired after 1994?"
Not in my mind. Players play. Critics, meanwhile, live to find blemishes on those of accomplishment. Life is imperfect, so is a player's career. He loved the game, as well as its rewards, so he played as long as he damn could. Good for him.
His career is legendary, regardless.
Ask people if they remember Johnny Unitas for stumbling his way around a football field in his last NFL year in San Diego, circa 1973. Or Willie Mays for his last two seasons on broken knees with the Mets.
Only the haters will remember Messier and a forgettable Vancouver team or his playing out the string in NYR in the early part of this past decade.
The better question is: if Messier retired in the late 80s, several years into his NHL career, how many players, past, present or future, would match his career accomplishments even up to that point? Answer: few.
And really, should any player who still loves the game retire just so he will be thought of more splendidly by some hockey fans?