Mark Messier: The core of the Rangers is fractured.

"They don't look like a championship team right now," said legendary former Rangers' captain Mark Messier on Saturday.

That one line more or less summarized what Messier had to say about his former team ahead of a clash against the Metropolitan Division leading Washington Capitals on Saturday and, although they did show some life during the game, the Rangers would respond by losing by a convincing score of 7-4.

Messier was asked to share his thoughts on the current state of his former team on Saturday and unsurprisingly Messier didn't have a lot of positives on his mind given how this season has gone for the Rangers thus far.

"I think right now the core of the Rangers is fractured right now," said Messier on Saturday. "I don't think they are fractured internally but I think there's a disconnect between management and the coaching staff, there's a lack of trust and loyalty now, and in order to get over that it's going to take a lot of work."

Messier hinted at the fact that he believes some of the decisions by management, namely trades made this season, may be playing a big role in that fracture currently being felt by the Rangers. Messier compared the situation to one he experienced himself, albeit with a much bigger player being traded, while also adding that his team managed to overcome that hurdle.

"I remember when Edmonton traded Wayne Gretzky and how that affected us, and how mad we were at management for trading away a brother... we were able to overcome it as mad as we were at the ownership," admitted Messier.

Messier believes it will be a lot of work for the Rangers to repair that fracture, feeling though that it will take a lot of work and a lot of trust while being an uphill battle.

If you'd like to hear Messier's full comments check out the short clip below: