Mark Messier named Special Assistant to the President (NY Rangers)

New York Rangers President and General Manager Glen Sather announced today that Mark Messier has been named Special Assistant to the President.

"Mark is one of the greatest players in the history of the National Hockey League. I have witnessed him grow throughout his career and am looking forward to him joining the organization and learning a whole new part of the hockey business.," stated Sather.

"I am looking forward to joining the Rangers organization and having the opportunity to learn a new part of the business, working closely with Glen," stated Messier. "I have felt a strong connection to the Rangers, Madison Square Garden and the city of New York from the moment I arrived in 1991. I am honored to begin this new chapter of my career here."

The 16-time NHL All-Star joined the Rangers on October 4, 1991 in one of the most significant transactions in the history of the organization. Messier was acquired from Edmonton in exchange for Bernie Nicholls, Steven Rice and Louie DeBrusk. He was named captain in his first home game as a Ranger on October 7, 1991 following his Rangers debut in Montreal, on October 5. In his first season with the club, Messier guided the team to the President's Trophy, leading the team in scoring with 107 points and capturing his second Hart Trophy. He set a Rangers record for most assists by a center, with 72, while becoming the fifth player in franchise history to reach the 100-point plateau.

http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=470093

but I've respected Messier's abilities since he started playing with them.

To this day I still have nightmares about Nathan LaFayette. Fuck man, that is still painful.

Sather, Messier and Tortorella in the same organization?

That's not gonna work. The battel of egos there are gonna make the headlines. If you thought the "body language" articles and blogs about Snow and Nolan were bad.

Wait for this.