Messier to become Rangers GM?

[Mel]

Sure sounds like it's a strong possibility

Messier says he'll talk to Sather about future GM role

Mark Messier is eyeing a return to the NHL ... as a GM.

According to a report in Monday's Toronto Sun, the future Hall of Famer said he plans to talk to current Rangers GM Glen Sather about taking over the post when Sather decides to move on.

"I'm going to have discussions with Glen," Messier told The Sun. "I don't know how long Glen is going to keep doing it. Maybe he'll continue for another five or 10 years.

"I just know New York fits best for me and my family. And this is what I know best and what I love the most."

Messier said he plans to move back to New York and make it his family's primary residence. He plans on talking to Sather about his future after Messier's banner-raising in Edmonton on Feb. 27.

Messier's father, Doug, said the five-time Cup winner has a plan.

"He's not moving back just to go to nightclubs," Doug Messier said. "He must know something."

Sather didn't deny that Mark Messier could do the job.

"He probably could," Sather told the newspaper. "We'd have to sit down and figure out a lot of details. The first thing would be to be sure it's what he really wants to do because it's not something you can work at part time. I talked to him previously, just last spring, and he wasn't sure.

"I'm glad he's interested," Sather added. "He has been able to accomplish everything he set his mind to at this stage in his life. Most guys who have stepped in as a general manager have worked to get a little background, either in coaching or working under others in an organization. I think there are necessary steps to take."

Former Rangers and Edmonton Oilers teammate Jeff Beukeboom also said he could see Messier in a GM role.

"It wouldn't surprise me. It would be hard not to give it to him, too," Beukeboom told The Sun.

Beukeboom added that Messier on the job would bring on "extreme pressure, which he would relish."

rest -> http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/news/story?id=2755952

[Max Power]

I wonder if he told Sather he wanted his job before telling the media. Also is Sather President and GM or just GM? I find it odd that Messier would say this to the media.

[Mel]

I wonder if he told Sather he wanted his job before telling the media. Also is Sather President and GM or just GM? I find it odd that Messier would say this to the media.

My guess is that Sather has already decided to retire after this season.

Then he, Dolan and Messier already decided that Messier will take over as GM. Why else would they talk about this stuff so openly?

I'm not convinced he is at all qualified or will make a good GM, but maybe he will.

btw, Sather is president and GM.

[Amoroq]

I'm not convinced he is at all qualified or will make a good GM, but maybe he will.

is he any less qualified then Snow? :laughing:

[Mel]

is he any less qualified then Snow? :laughing:

Well Snow went to college didn't he? :shrug:



:laughing:

[KB in Kelowna]

If Messier wants to be a GM let him join a team's hockey operations office. Let him ride the busses in the minors, or shuttle across the continent on the red eye flights and puddle jumpers to do some scouting of minor pro, juniors and NCAA players. Maybe then I will feel he is a potential GM.

[Mel]

Messier's public comments apparently came as a surprise to the Rangers front office, including Sather who said he has no plans to retire, and Don Maloney who has served as Sather's assistant for 6 years.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/news/story?id=2757012

Also these types of comments being made public go against Madison Square Garden policy. This is very strange.

And so it continues. Messier is the tail that wags the Ranger dog.

First, as a player he was never held to any rules - in fact he was the ruler. He was above the coach.
He - not the Rangers - decided when and if he'd be returning for another season. He would not announce this until just before training camp, after all the good FA's were signed.... making it impossible for the team to plan accordingly.

And now in retirement, he proclaims out of the blue that he will replace Sather as GM.

Either Mess has some sort of plan going with Dolan, and Sather is doing damage control, or this is all taken out of context. Either way, it is not good.

Mark, for the 1,000th time... Thank you for captaining Conn smythe winner Brian Leetch and the rest of the Rangers to a stanley cup victory 13 years ago. Now move on please.

[MadDevil]

If I were Messier, I'd stay away from the Rangers GM position. The only possible way he could succeed in that role would be to bring another Stanley Cup to New York, and I just don't see it happening. We've seen how many times now that great players don't usually make good coaches or GMs? I guess Messier could be the exception, but the way he's gone about this seems strange to me. Unless, like Mel said, the whole thing got taken out of context.

Besides, does Messier really want to be a GM in the same division as the Godfather of the NHL?:D

[KB in Kelowna]

Messier's public comments apparently came as a surprise to the Rangers front office, including Sather who said he has no plans to retire, and Don Maloney who has served as Sather's assistant for 6 years.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/news/story?id=2757012

Also these types of comments being made public go against Madison Square Garden policy. This is very strange.

And so it continues. Messier is the tail that wags the Ranger dog.

First, as a player he was never held to any rules - in fact he was the ruler. He was above the coach.
He - not the Rangers - decided when and if he'd be returning for another season. He would not announce this until just before training camp, after all the good FA's were signed.... making it impossible for the team to plan accordingly.

And now in retirement, he proclaims out of the blue that he will replace Sather as GM.

Either Mess has some sort of plan going with Dolan, and Sather is doing damage control, or this is all taken out of context. Either way, it is not good.

Mark, for the 1,000th time... Thank you for captaining Conn Smythe winner Brian Leetch and the rest of the Rangers to a stanley cup victory 13 years ago. Now move on please.
:thumb: the joke around the BC/Canucks media is that Messier already has GM experience from his time with the Canucks, as he decided who was on the team and who ran it, until they hired Burke.

I have never bought this "Greatest Leader in Sports" hype around Messier. My perception is that since 1988-89( post Gretzky being sold to LA) it has always been about Messier first in his mind.

[Iced Tea]

Is Messier the GM yet or has he become the president of the Rangers? :D