Glen Sather has been in charge of the New York Rangers since 2000 with nothing much to show for it. He tried bringing in every superstar available before the hard salary cap; witness the 2004 roster with names like Jaromir Jagr, Eric Lindros, Mark Messier, Pavel Bure, Alexei Kovalev, Petr Nedved, Brian Leetch, Mike Richter, Chris Simon, and Bobby Holik, among others. It was a Hall of Fame list that proved for the umpteenth time that the only way to build a 
hockey team is primarily through the draft, something that Sather did when he built the Edmonton Oilers dynasty in the 1980s. When he took over the Oilers in 1979 the first thing he did was to make special arrangement with the NHL and WHA to ensure that an 18-year old Wayne Gretzky would be exempt from the post-merger dispersal draft. It was, to say the least, a very wise move. He then put together a scouting team that over the next two years allowed the Oilers to draft Mark Messier (1979), Glen Anderson, and Jari Kurri (1980) as 3rd and 4th round picks. Along with 1980 first rounder Paul Coffey, those two drafts helped make that team what they became and earned Sather's Hall of Fame induction. However, with the Rangers he hasn't had nearly the same success and it not necessarily his fault. In hockey, it's all about scouting and talent evaluation at the amateur level and that's what t
he New York Rangers haven't had since the 1960s when they signed Jean Ratelle, Vic Hadfield, Brad Park, Gilles Villemure, Eddie Giacomin and Rod Gilbert. Most of them were undrafted free agents, indicating that management at the time showed a lot of ability in recognizing talent beyond the draft. Ever since then though, the Rangers, with very few exceptions, have developed a virtual tradition of drafting the wrong guys or in the rare case when they make a good choice they trade them away only to see them become stars eleswhere. This is how it's been for over 40 years no matter who's been in charge. The progess of the franchise, due to the various corporate regimes they've been under, has been shackled by arrogant, know-it-all businessmen who think their money translates into hockey sense. It's the classic case of having more belief in wealth and power than respect for the game. In 1990 the legendary Scotty Bowman was interested in the Rangers' GM position, but when the corporate stuffed suits said that if he took the job he had to go by their rules and recommendations, he told them just what they could do with that idea and he went on to win Stanley Cups in Pittsburgh and Detroit. The Rangers had brief success with Neil Smith, culminating in the long-awaited Cup win in 1994 but they soon reverted to the corporate interference and instilled an even bigger big-budget philosophy. It may work for the Yankees, but even the Steinbrenners recognize that they have to have a solid man at the wheel and a good team behind him, and they do with Brian Cashman and his assistants. But the Rangers, even before the Dolan era, have never allowed that essential off-the-ice team to be formed, and it has translated into a perfect mirror image of the franchise on the ice.
he New York Rangers haven't had since the 1960s when they signed Jean Ratelle, Vic Hadfield, Brad Park, Gilles Villemure, Eddie Giacomin and Rod Gilbert. Most of them were undrafted free agents, indicating that management at the time showed a lot of ability in recognizing talent beyond the draft. Ever since then though, the Rangers, with very few exceptions, have developed a virtual tradition of drafting the wrong guys or in the rare case when they make a good choice they trade them away only to see them become stars eleswhere. This is how it's been for over 40 years no matter who's been in charge. The progess of the franchise, due to the various corporate regimes they've been under, has been shackled by arrogant, know-it-all businessmen who think their money translates into hockey sense. It's the classic case of having more belief in wealth and power than respect for the game. In 1990 the legendary Scotty Bowman was interested in the Rangers' GM position, but when the corporate stuffed suits said that if he took the job he had to go by their rules and recommendations, he told them just what they could do with that idea and he went on to win Stanley Cups in Pittsburgh and Detroit. The Rangers had brief success with Neil Smith, culminating in the long-awaited Cup win in 1994 but they soon reverted to the corporate interference and instilled an even bigger big-budget philosophy. It may work for the Yankees, but even the Steinbrenners recognize that they have to have a solid man at the wheel and a good team behind him, and they do with Brian Cashman and his assistants. But the Rangers, even before the Dolan era, have never allowed that essential off-the-ice team to be formed, and it has translated into a perfect mirror image of the franchise on the ice.Now, having the top pick isn't always the answer (See Alexandre Daigle, Doug Wickenheiser). It's who you pick afterwards over a short time that often has more impact and is the true secret of success. The best proof over the last 40 years are the Montreal Canadiens, Philadelphia Flyers, New York Islanders, Edmonton Oilers, Quebec/Colorado, Detroit Red Wings and New Jersey Devils, who all built dynasties through brilliant scouting and shrewd drafting.
The following is a rundown of the Rangers top round draft results from 1969 through 2004, with the Rangers' choices (draft round with the overall pick in parentheses), followed by who they could have taken and who drafted them. It's a long list, but any true Ranger fan should consider this required reading:
[Ranger picks are in blue, their biggest misses are in red).
1969
1st round (8th overall) - D Andre "Moose" Dupont (Played seven games for the Rangers before t
hey gave him to St. Louis. Went on to a very good 13-year career and played a solid role with the '74-'75 Stanley Cup champion Flyers, where he was +171 over a three year period).
hey gave him to St. Louis. Went on to a very good 13-year career and played a solid role with the '74-'75 Stanley Cup champion Flyers, where he was +171 over a three year period).1st round (12) - RW Pierre Jarry (3 goals, 6 points as a Ranger before being dumped on St. Louis).
Second Round (17th), Philadelphia - C Bobby Clarke (If there was ever a bad omen, this draft is it).
1970
1st round (11th) - RW Norm Gratton (Ranger career: three games, 1 assist; Claimed by Atlanta Flames in 1972 expansion draft).
2nd round (18th), Philadelphia - C Bill Clement.
1971
1st round (10th) - LW Steve Vickers (A good choice but look what follows).
1st round (13th) - D Steve Durbano (a thug whom Marv Albert once called, "a very, very sick man.").
1st round (14th), Boston - RW Terry O'Reilly.
2nd round (20th), Montreal - D Larry Robinson (Hall of Fame defensive backbone of the great Canadiens teams of the l970s. Six-time Cup winner, two-time Norris Trophy winner, won the Conn Smythe Trophy in 1978. Was a record +120 on the '76-'77 team that went 60-8-12.).
1972
1st round (10th) - RW Al Blanchard (Never played a game in the NHL).
1st round (15th) - C Bob MacMillan (The Rangers never gave him a shot, let him go, and he had a couple of good years for the Atlanta Flames. Either way, he was not first round material).
2nd round (20th), Philadelphia - D Tom Bladon (Four times over +30, and an important part of the two-time Stanley Cup Champion Flyers).
See how the Flyers are building a foundation of a championship team that the Rangers could have? Oh, but we're just getting started. Read on:
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1973
1st round (14th) - RW Rick Middleton (An outstanding choice who the Rangers two years later foolishly traded to Boston for 32-year old Ken Hodge, who retired the following season. Middleton went on to score 448 goals and 988 points in his career).
1974
1st round (14th) - D Dave Maloney.
2nd round (22nd), NY Islanders - C Bryan Trottier.
2nd round (29th), Buffalo - RW Danny Gare (two-time 50-goal scorer, 354 career goals).
1975
1st round (12th) - C Wayne Dillon.
2nd round (21st), California Seals - C Dennis Maruk (356-522-878 career, 60-76-136 for Washington in 1981-82).
2nd round (24th), Toronto - D Doug Jarvis (The Canadiens acquired him three weeks after the draft and he helped them win four Stanley Cups. Went on to set the NHL record by playing in 964 straight games).
1976
1st round (6th) - RW Don Murdoch.
1st round (7th), St. Louis - C Bernie Federko (369-761-1130).
1st round (9th), Chicago - RW Real Cloutier (429-481-910 with the WHA and NHL)
2nd round (20th), St. Louis - LW Brian Sutter.
1977 (This one really hurts)
1st round (8th) - C Lucien DeBlois.1st round (10th), Montreal - RW Mark Napier.
1st round (13th) - C Ron Duguay.
1st Round (15th), NY Islanders - RW Mike Bossy.
2nd round (26th) - LW Mike Keating.
2nd round (33rd), NY Islanders - C John Tonelli (Presto, a dynasty is born. As you can clearly see, Trottier, Bossy and Tonelli could have easily been Rangers instead of Islanders).
2nd round (36th), Montreal - D Rod Langway (And another dynasty continues).
1978
No first round pick.
2nd round (26th) - LW Don Maloney (A rare good pick, but it was a weak draft, and Maloney was hardly a Hall of Famer).
Q: How many players can one team miss in one draft?
A: You're about to find out.
1979
1st round (13th) - W Doug Sulliman (8 goals in 63 games as a Ranger).
1st round (14th), Philadelphia - LW Brian Propp (425-579-1004)
1st round (15th), Boston - D Brad McCrimmon (+444 in 1222 games, including +83 in 1986 for Philadelphia).
1st round (20th), Quebec - LW Michel Goulet (548-604-1152).
1st round (21st), Edmonton - D Kevin Lowe.
2nd round (34th) - D Ed Hospodar.
2nd round (35th), Philadelphia - G Pelle Lindbergh (1985 Vezina Trophy winner).
2nd round (37th), Montreal - Mats Naslund (651games, 251-383-634).
3rd round (42nd), Minnesota - C Neil Broten.3rd round (48th), Edmonton - C Mark Messier.
4th round (66th), Detroit - RW John Ogrodnick (402-425-827).4th round (69th), Edmonton - F Glenn Anderson (498-601-1099).
4th round (76th) C Pat Conacher.
4th round (83rd), Quebec - Anton Stastny (650 games, 252-384-636).
You'd think at least ONE of these players could have fallen into the Rangers' laps by the oddest of accidents. But noooo....
1980
1st round (14th) - F Jim Malone (Never played a game in the NHL).
1st round (17th), NY Islanders - C Brent Sutter (363-466-829).
1st round (18th), Boston - C Barry Pederson (701games, 238-416-654).
2nd round (35th) - LW Mike Allison (26-38-64 as a rookie, 37-64-101 the next five seasons).
2nd round (35th) - LW Mike Allison (26-38-64 as a rookie, 37-64-101 the next five seasons).
4th round (69th), Edmonton - RW Jari Kurri.
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1981
1st round (9th) - D James Patrick (Not bad, right? But wait...).
1st round (15th), Calgary - D Al MacInnis (One of only five defensemen to get 100 points in a season. Orr, Potvin, Coffey and Leetch are the others).
2nd round (30th), - LW Jan Erixon.
2nd round (40th), Montreal - D Chris Chelios (Have you noticed that Larry Robinson, Rod Langway and Chelios were all 2nd round selections? It's no accident, it's research. That kind of foresight is what made the Montreal Canadiens the New York Yankees of the NHL during the 20th Century).
1st round (15th), Calgary - D Al MacInnis (One of only five defensemen to get 100 points in a season. Orr, Potvin, Coffey and Leetch are the others).
2nd round (30th), - LW Jan Erixon.
2nd round (40th), Montreal - D Chris Chelios (Have you noticed that Larry Robinson, Rod Langway and Chelios were all 2nd round selections? It's no accident, it's research. That kind of foresight is what made the Montreal Canadiens the New York Yankees of the NHL during the 20th Century).
1982
1st round (15th) - LW Chris Kontos (78 games over three seasons as a Ranger: 12-16-28, -13 (Now, look what happens with the next three picks).
1st round (16th), Buffalo - LW Dave Andreychuk.
1st round (17th), Detroit - LW Murray Craven.
1st round (18th), New Jersey - D Ken Daneyko.
2nd round (36th) - RW Tomas Sandstrom (A very good choice at 36, but it doesn't make up for what they could have had).
1st round (16th), Buffalo - LW Dave Andreychuk.
1st round (17th), Detroit - LW Murray Craven.
1st round (18th), New Jersey - D Ken Daneyko.
2nd round (36th) - RW Tomas Sandstrom (A very good choice at 36, but it doesn't make up for what they could have had).
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1983
1st round (12th) - C Dave Gagner (Chris Kontos Version 2.0: 80 games over three seasons as a Ranger: 11-16-27, -17. The Rangers dumped him but unlike Kontos, Gagner went on to a good career with 318-410-719. Figures. Meanwhile...)
1st round (19th), Edmonton - D Jeff Beukeboom.
4th round (80th), Edmonton - LW Esa Tikkanen.
5th round (86th), Detroit - LW Petr Klima.
6th round (125th), Philadelphia - RW Rick Tocchet.
1st round (12th) - C Dave Gagner (Chris Kontos Version 2.0: 80 games over three seasons as a Ranger: 11-16-27, -17. The Rangers dumped him but unlike Kontos, Gagner went on to a good career with 318-410-719. Figures. Meanwhile...)
1st round (19th), Edmonton - D Jeff Beukeboom.
4th round (80th), Edmonton - LW Esa Tikkanen.
5th round (86th), Detroit - LW Petr Klima.
6th round (125th), Philadelphia - RW Rick Tocchet.
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1984
1st round (14th) - D Terry Carkner (Played one year with the Rangers, went 2-13-15 and was included in a deal for John Ogrodick, who had one good season and was gone after three.)
1st round (17th), Washington - D Kevin Hatcher (Notice all the great defensemen the Rangers have missed out on? It's criminal).
2nd round (29th), Montreal - LW Stephane Richer (421-398-819; two-time 50-goal scorer; two Cups with Montreal and New Jersey).
1st round (17th), Washington - D Kevin Hatcher (Notice all the great defensemen the Rangers have missed out on? It's criminal).
2nd round (29th), Montreal - LW Stephane Richer (421-398-819; two-time 50-goal scorer; two Cups with Montreal and New Jersey).
3rd round (51st), Montreal - G Patrick Roy.(Again, the Canadiens continue to demonstrate kind of brilliant amateur scouting the Rangers have lacked, and it paid off with two more Stanley Cups in 1986 and 1993.
[Interesting trivia bit: In the 4th round with the 69th pick the LA Kings chose a teenage forward out of Billerica High School in Massachusetts by the name of Tom Glavine. Yes, that Tom Glavine.]
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1985 
2nd round (28th) - G Mike Richter (FINALLY, some paydirt! The rest of this draft is irrelevant.
2nd round (28th) - G Mike Richter (FINALLY, some paydirt! The rest of this draft is irrelevant.
1986
1st round (9th) - D Brian Leetch (See above. These two picks were crucial to the 1994 Stanley Cup winners. That's how it's done, and it's the only time the Rangers have ever done it.).
1st round (9th) - D Brian Leetch (See above. These two picks were crucial to the 1994 Stanley Cup winners. That's how it's done, and it's the only time the Rangers have ever done it.).
1987
1st round (10th) - D Jayson More (Played one game for the Rangers, recorded a -1, and was traded the following season for another first round (6th) flop, Dave Archibald, who played 19 games for the Rangers (2-3-5).
1st round (15th), Quebec - C Joe Sakic.
2nd round (31) - LW Daniel Lacroix.
2nd round (33), Montreal - LW John LeClair (The '86 champs further loading up for '93...).
3rd round (44), Montreal - D Mathieu Schneider (...and again).
For the Rangers... Sigh...Back to the drawing board.
For the Rangers... Sigh...Back to the drawing board.
1988
No first round pick.
1989
1st round (20th) - Steven Rice (One season, 11 games, 1 goal, 1 assist).
2nd round (22), Quebec - D Adam Foote.
2nd round (22), Quebec - D Adam Foote.
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1990
1st round (13) - D Michael Stewart (Like 1980 1st rounder Jim Malone, Stewart never played a game in the NHL).
1st round (13) - D Michael Stewart (Like 1980 1st rounder Jim Malone, Stewart never played a game in the NHL).
1st round (19th), Winnipeg - LW Keith Tkachuk.
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1991
1st round (15th) - RW Alexei Kovalev (The only time during his career he reached his enormous potential was alongside Mario Lemieux, but he was an important part of the Rangers' '94 Stanley Cup champions, so the Rangers did very well here).
1st round (15th) - RW Alexei Kovalev (The only time during his career he reached his enormous potential was alongside Mario Lemieux, but he was an important part of the Rangers' '94 Stanley Cup champions, so the Rangers did very well here).
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1992
1st round (24) - RW Peter Ferraro (The Rangers spent the next several years touting Peter and his twin brother Chris (4th round, #85) as the next big things. If by "things," they meant "disappointments," they were right on target.
2nd round (40), Vancouver - C Mike Peca.
1st round (24) - RW Peter Ferraro (The Rangers spent the next several years touting Peter and his twin brother Chris (4th round, #85) as the next big things. If by "things," they meant "disappointments," they were right on target.
2nd round (40), Vancouver - C Mike Peca.
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1993
1st round (8th) - RW Niklas Sundstrom (Decent in a mediocre draft, but...).
1st round (21st), Montreal - C Saku Koivu
1st round (23rd), NY Islanders - LW Todd Bertuzzi.
1st round (8th) - RW Niklas Sundstrom (Decent in a mediocre draft, but...).
1st round (21st), Montreal - C Saku Koivu
1st round (23rd), NY Islanders - LW Todd Bertuzzi.
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1994
1st round (24th) - G Dan Cloutier.
2nd round (44th), Montreal - G Jose Theodore.
2nd round (51st), New Jersey - Patrik Elias.
3rd round (71st), Quebec, LW Chris Drury.
1st round (24th) - G Dan Cloutier.
2nd round (44th), Montreal - G Jose Theodore.
2nd round (51st), New Jersey - Patrik Elias.
3rd round (71st), Quebec, LW Chris Drury.
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1995
No first round pick
2nd round (39th) - RW Christian Dube (Another player management tried to hard-sell who never amounted to anything).
4th round (91st) - C Marc Savard (To be continued)
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1996
1st round (22nd) - D Jeff Brown (Another 1st round pick who was never seen in the NHL).
1st round (24th), Phoenix - C Danny Briere.
1st round (24th), Phoenix - C Danny Briere.
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1997
1st round (19th) RW Stefan Cherneski (Yet another wasted first round pick who never made it to the dance. Unacceptable).
1st round (25th), Dallas - LW Brendan Morrow.
1st round (25th), Dallas - LW Brendan Morrow.
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1998
1st round (7th) - C Manny Malhotra (Another swing, another miss, and more better choices ignored).
1st round (7th) - C Manny Malhotra (Another swing, another miss, and more better choices ignored).
1st round (10th), Toronto - C Nikolai Antropov.
1st round (12th), Colorado - C Alex Tanguay.
1st round (22nd), Philadelphia - C Simon Gagne.
1st round (12th), Colorado - C Alex Tanguay.
1st round (22nd), Philadelphia - C Simon Gagne.
1st round (27th), New Jersey - C Scott Gomez.
2nd round (29th), San Jose - RW Jonathan Cheechoo.
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2nd round (29th), San Jose - RW Jonathan Cheechoo.
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1999
1st round - (4th) RW Pavel Brendl.
1st round - (9th) C Jamie Lundmark
1st round - (9th) C Jamie Lundmark
Other than Vancouver drafting the Sedin twins at #2 and #3, this was arguably the worst NHL draft field ever, which explains why the Rangers were able to wheel and deal their way into two top ten picks. But leave it to the Rangers to make things worse. They acquired that 9th pick in exchange for Marc Savard, who the Rangers had picked with their 4th rounder (91st) in 1995.
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2000 - No first round pick.
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2001
1st round (10th) - G Dan Blackburn (After just two poor seasons (20-32-4; 3.22GAA), retired due to health reasons.
1st round (15), Vancouver - C R.J. Umberger.
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1st round (10th) - G Dan Blackburn (After just two poor seasons (20-32-4; 3.22GAA), retired due to health reasons.
1st round (15), Vancouver - C R.J. Umberger.
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2002 - No first round pick.
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2003
1st round (12th) - RW Hugh Jesseman (Since dumped, has still yet to see an NHL arena).
1st round (14th), Chicago - D Brent Seabrook.
1st round (14th), Chicago - D Brent Seabrook.
1st round (17th), New Jersey - C Zach Parise.
1st round (19th), Anaheim - C Ryan Getzlaf.
1st round (23rd), Vancouver - C Ryan Kesler.
1st round (24th), Philadelphia - C Mike Richards.
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1st round (19th), Anaheim - C Ryan Getzlaf.
1st round (23rd), Vancouver - C Ryan Kesler.
1st round (24th), Philadelphia - C Mike Richards.
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2004
1st round (6th) - G Al Montoya (If you draft a goalie with a top ten pick he damn well better be the next coming of Dominik Hasek. Montoya was the next coming of... well, at least Dan Blackburn made the team. Montoya was quietly dealt away and as of now, he and Jesseman remain on track to be the 6th and 7th Ranger first round draft choices who never made it to the NHL. That is the most infuriating aspect of the Rangers' drafting practices. That, and wasting first rounders on goaltenders (Montoya, Blackburn and Cloutier). Most of the best goalies - including Mike Richter, Patrick Roy, Hasek (199th overall) and Henrik Lundqvist (205th overall) - were taken after the first round).
1st round (19th) C Lauri Korpikoski (One season, 68 games, 6-8-14, dealt to Phoenix for Enver Lisin, who put up idenical numbers in 2010 and rode the bench the last three weeks of the season).
1st round (27th), Washington - D Jeff Schultz (a league leading +50 for the Caps in '09-'10).
1st round (6th) - G Al Montoya (If you draft a goalie with a top ten pick he damn well better be the next coming of Dominik Hasek. Montoya was the next coming of... well, at least Dan Blackburn made the team. Montoya was quietly dealt away and as of now, he and Jesseman remain on track to be the 6th and 7th Ranger first round draft choices who never made it to the NHL. That is the most infuriating aspect of the Rangers' drafting practices. That, and wasting first rounders on goaltenders (Montoya, Blackburn and Cloutier). Most of the best goalies - including Mike Richter, Patrick Roy, Hasek (199th overall) and Henrik Lundqvist (205th overall) - were taken after the first round).
1st round (19th) C Lauri Korpikoski (One season, 68 games, 6-8-14, dealt to Phoenix for Enver Lisin, who put up idenical numbers in 2010 and rode the bench the last three weeks of the season).
1st round (27th), Washington - D Jeff Schultz (a league leading +50 for the Caps in '09-'10).
1st round (29th), Washington - D Mike Green.(The Caps drafted a championship caliber backline way after the Rangers sifted for mud. This draft is at least as much of a reason why the Caps are where they are as Alexander Ovechkin is. It's also why the Rangers are where they are).
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Okay, nobody gets it right all the time, but if the Rangers got at least half-a-dozen right over the last 40 years the results would have been a lot different over the long haul. The proof is Richter and Leetch. Mark Messier was the heart, soul and leader of the '94 Rangers, but even he couldn't have done it without those two. The importance of a good drafting technique is undeniable. In recent years the Rangers have gotten into a different kind of rut by drafting the same kind of second and third line hard-working roll player. Every team needs players like that, but when a franchise loads up their rosters with them, the team as well as their minor league affiliates are guaranteed to be stuck in neutral indefinitely, and that's precisely where the New York Rangers stand. Alexei Cherepanov was a great pick and a stroke of luck for the Rangers that may have changed a lot about the team, but sadly we'll never know what he would have done.
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Over the last several years the Detroit Red Wings, Colorado Rockies and New Jersey Devils have been the most successful teams, but the Devils have developed the best overall system in the the business, primarily because they don't have the capital to draw on that Detroit does. Not only does GM Lou Lamoriello have an outstanding scouting department (and is encouraged by ownership to maintain it), but the Devils also draft the right players for their style of play and develop them accordingly. They hire the right coaches and they teach that style in every level of their minor league system so that by the time a player gets to the Devils he knows exactly what he's supposed to do. That's the biggest reason they stay at or near the top every year even with roster turnovers and coaching changes. You can criticize their Trap and Left Wing Lock defenses all you want, but the proverbial bottom line is that it wins games and championships. In addition, players who come up through the Devils organization are among the most disciplined in the game. If there's any drawback it's that when a star player comes to the Devils in a midseason trade, they rarely are able to adapt, as Ilya Kovalchuk can attest to. In spite of that, they've won three Stanley Cups since 1995 and have been among the most consistant and respected organizations in all sports over the last 15 years.
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The Rangers are the polar opposite and with the NHL's hard salary cap locked in, they can no longer just buy the big names, which is good and bad. It's good because they now have little choice but to build a team the right way - through the draft. But it's bad because the Rangers track record is abysmal at best. It's time for a change, real change, not artificial, phony big-name solutions. If the Knicks can bring in Donnie Walsh to fix the mess Isiah Thomas left behind, then the Rangers can do it too, since it's the same ownership. It's not necessarily Sather's fault, either. He had a great scouting system in Edmonton. Why doesn't he have one in New York? Simple: The owners, from Gulf and Western and Paramount all the way to the Dolans, have foolishly maintained a policy of putting tons of money into over-the-hill, big-name superstars instead of the all-important scouting department. In this area the Rangers have been getting what they do (and don't) pay for for four decades running and there's no sign it will change. If Sather is let go, his successor should demand that a serious, legitimate scouting and player development system be put into place before they even think of asking him to take over because no matter how smart that guy is, if he doesn't have the right kind of people working with and for him, he'll wind up on the scrap heap with all the others.
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That said, my message to Mark Messier is: Be careful. Please. Everyone knows how much you want the job and deserve the chance, and Glen Sather is a good example to learn from - as the Edmonton GM, not the Rangers GM. Beware though, that history dictates that the MSG owners only want your name as a selling point (John Ferguson, Phil Esposito, the failed attempt to bring in Scotty Bowman, not to mention Dave DeBusschere and Isiah Thomas for the Knicks). You've given far too much to this franchise to have that indignity thrust upon you.
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That said, my message to Mark Messier is: Be careful. Please. Everyone knows how much you want the job and deserve the chance, and Glen Sather is a good example to learn from - as the Edmonton GM, not the Rangers GM. Beware though, that history dictates that the MSG owners only want your name as a selling point (John Ferguson, Phil Esposito, the failed attempt to bring in Scotty Bowman, not to mention Dave DeBusschere and Isiah Thomas for the Knicks). You've given far too much to this franchise to have that indignity thrust upon you.
There are a few bright lights for the Rangers, but not enough of them. Michael Del Zotto looks like a real good one, and Marc Staal has the tools, but he's not developing as fast as expected. When you consider the increasingly shaky standing of Gary Bettman's National Hockey League as a whole, it's quite literally now or never for the New York Rangers. Unfortunately, the negative reactions across the board to the Rangers' latest puzzling attempts to prove that they know what they're doing in the draft seems to make "never" look like the best bet.
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