The Return of Mark Messier: O Captain, My Captain

I think my favorite memory of Mark Messier as a part of the Rangers is still Game Six of the Eastern Conference Finals in 1994.  

I remember walking my dog around the corner to the deli. I walked in the door, looked at the little stack of newspapers to the right of the entrance, and saw the headline "Messier: 'We will WIN tonight!'"

You see, I'm a hockey fan first, but mostly I'm a self-hating Rangers fan. After years of watching seemingly great Rangers teams choke in the playoffs—à la the current San Jose Sharks—when the Devils took a 3-2 lead in the series, I had written these '94 Rangers off to elimination. I had made plans for that summer evening specifically so I would not be exposed to another Rangers choke fest.

I sat in my friend's living room and watched movies.  Little did I know that his sister's boyfriend was a Devils fan. He would periodically come in and give me a little trouble. When the Devils went up 2-0, I really thought that Messier was full of it.

We all know how that game and that season ended for the Rangers. 

With that brand of drama in mind, I look at the events unfolding in Rangers-land. Messier has returned to the Rangers as Sather's assistant. Considering the moves made over the last few offseasons, Mr. Sather might be thinking of hanging it up. 

Want to hear a theory?

Dolan is anything but stupid.  He sees Sather spending a whole lot of money and not getting anywhere.  He sees Sather in deep cap trouble.  Dolan tells Sather to bring in a winner to help. Sather dips back into the Oilers' success and brings in Messier.

Dolan googles the name Mark Messier and discovers that the man has unparalleled leadership and huge street cred in New York, let alone the NHL in general.

Some time around January, Dolan will get sick of the fans screaming "Fi-re Sa-ther," and finally take their advice. Then Messier steps into his position.  

Honestly, Messier may return the Rangers to contention just by his presence and innate hockey sense. I don't have any doubt that he will be active as Sather's assistant.  The Captain doesn't know how not to succeed.

Other than that, Messier has one Stanley Cup ring for every finger on his right hand, and has started on his left.  He had success at every stage of his career until Neil Smith ran him out of New York in 1997. If Messier's itch to succeed was so strong as a player, why shouldn't that translate into drive as an executive?