Complex sentence: Messier was the last WHA veteran to play in the NHL; he opened his professional career with 52 games with the Indianapolis Racers and Cincinnati Stingers in 1978--79, and played his last NHL game on April 3,2004.
Split into simpler sentences: Messier was the last WHA veteran to play in the NHL. He opened his professional career with 52 games with the Indianapolis Racers and Cincinnati Stingers in 1978--79, and played his last NHL game on April 3,2004.