NY RANGERS: Time Keeps On Tick…Tick…Ticking

When you are dealing with a high payroll, there is little room for error. But luckily for Glen Sather, it usually takes a sex harassment suit to remove a GM (NY Knicks coach Isiah Thomas). Chuckie Dolan took over for dear old dad and has allowed his GMs carte blanche from failure to failure. When Sather arrived and no free agent could improve their non-playoff ways, he was allowed to rebuild. Luckily for him, Don Maloney oversaw the development system and very soon they were showing signs of competing again.

However, Glen Sather has never adequately handled the defense. The NY Rangers defense, despite their goalies skillset and success, it one of the worst in the league. Especially when you put it against the dollar value, it is an unmitigated embarassment.

Sather locked the Rangers into some horrendous deals, from Chris Drury and Scotty Gomez on offense, but none are as hamstringing as the resigning of Rosival and the head-scratcher of a signing of wilting wallflower from the Senators, Wade Redden.

As the only power performers remain King Henrik in goal, del Zotto’s rookie campaign, and Gaborik’s offensive prowess; the Rangers are in deep, deep trouble and against a cap thanks to their GM.

So, what’s the plan? Will they make mistake #2 by moving Sather out or reassigning him Dale Tallon-style (like ordering a Chicago-style pizza) and move in a man with ZERO GM skills like Mark Messier. This is what is supposed around the blogs…and for good reason. But, is it such a good idea?

Oh, I get it. I know Garth Snow from their hated rivals made the jump ok. Well, I guess Mr. Impetuous himself, Charles Wang, got lucky for once. But, that does not make it ok or a smart move. It does not GROOM for position and give anything for Messier to learn with or from.

If the NY Rangers were serious about going for it, turning it around at all costs, they’d hire Jay Feaster. The man who helped build the Tampa Bay cup-winner has a history of working with John Tortorella. Here there is a tandem to clean up a mess of Dolan and Sather’s making…if Dolan has the good sense to do it.

Fat chance. I know.

Sure, Mark Messier could surprise. But, let us be honest. Greztky didn’t exactly make coach of the year. Barry Melrose didn’t exactly warm Tampa. Names this day and age is MEANINGLESS. The more teams and owners seem to ignore this, the more their teams flap in the wind.

So, what do you think about a possible Messier regime? Am I sounding too gloomy? Does he have the sound player assessment and head on his shoulders to clean a giant mess that would cause even Brian Burke to pause in the middle of the word Truculence?

I personally think the NYR are better off with a proven guy who has working knowledge and know-how of GMing, and the actual coach. OR will they turn it around and make Sather and Dolan look like a genius? Ok, impossible, but it might lead to Glen smoking a giant stogie if he can keep his job by his white whiskers.