Messier as Assistant GM?
Mark Messier would like to become the New York Rangers’ new assistant GM. Don Maloney, the previous asst. GM, left to work for the Phoenix Coyotes as the GM. NYR has not talked to Messier about the position so this is all just Messier talking so far. I don’t think Messier as an assistant GM would be a good idea at all. You certainly didn’t see Yzerman jump from retired player to assistant GM. Instead, he’s learning the ropes and the business side of things. Messier should try to do that instead of go after the assistant GM spot already.
“Until two days ago, there was no opening. So it’s kind of hard to talk about,” Messier said Wednesday during an interview with The Associated Press. “The Rangers have been a big part of my life for all the obvious reasons.
“It’s kind of where I’ve decided to live, and all that kind of stuff, so it’s obviously something that is very attractive.”
…
He had plans to head to La Quinta on Tuesday to play golf with Sather, who served as coach and GM when Messier won five championships in Edmonton, but decided to cancel the trip once Maloney took the job with the Coyotes.
“When all this broke, I thought, ‘You know what? It’s better for me to not go out there since everyone will assume that’s what I’m going there for,”‘ Messier said. “I don’t know what the time requirements are for that job to be filled. I haven’t talked to anybody about it.”
In other Messier related news, Chris Chelios has been given the Mark Messier Leader of the Year award. I don’t know if Cheli would be the best pick based on the first two qualifications, but it sounds like he has given a lot through his charity which definitely qualifies him for the third description. I’m not saying Cheli isn’t deserving of this award at all as he definitely picked it up for the Wings in the playoffs when we lost two of our top four defensemen.
The honour is given to a player who demonstrates outstanding performance, vast leadership skills and dedicated humanitarian efforts.
The 45-year-old Chelios recorded 11 assists in 71 games this season and added a goal and six assists in the playoffs as the Red Wings advanced to the Western Conference final.
Since 1992, his Cheli’s Children’s Foundation has donated more than US$2-million to youth charities throughout Chicago and Detroit. Cold-FX, the award’s sponsor, will donate US$25,000 to the charity of Chelios’ choice.
The NHL is involved in the selection of potential recipients of the award but the final decision was made by Messier, who retired following the 2002-03 season.
Jeremiah @ a new Wings’ blog, All Things Red Wings, recently put up a nice post about the past couple of seasons and the rollercoaster it has been for Chris Chelios between playing hockey, stabbings at his restaurant in Detroit, and the lawsuit against the NHLPA.
This incident was the culmination of a rollercoaster year for one of the greatest defenseman to play the game. It also shouldn’t distract or taint the wonderful season Chris Chelios had for the Detroit Red Wings in the regular season and the playoffs. His value to the Red Wings and his strong play this season, along with leading the charge against the corrupted NHLPA, didn’t go unnoticed. Chelios was named the recipient of the Mark Messier Leader of the Year Award for his outstanding performance as a player, his vast leadership skills and his dedicated humanitarian efforts.
“I don’t have many regrets about my hockey career, but one might be never having had the opportunity to play with Chris Chelios,” Messier said. “I have always admired his commitment and dedication to the game, and I have never heard a negative word spoken about him, which is a true testament to his character. In addition to his ability to lead his teammates both on and off the ice, he is an incredible ambassador for the game of hockey and a wonderful role model - totally committed to his community and giving back to those in need.”
At the end of the day, Chris Chelios is just a person. Remove the professional athlete label and you still have a human being. The experiences, the tragedy, the triumphs, the vindication and the disappointment that Chelios endured this past season is difficult to deal with no matter what profession you hold in life. In one season, he went through a tremendous range of emotions–a rollercoaster of emotional highs and lows.
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2 Responses to “Messier as Assistant GM?”
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June 1st, 2007 at 12:33 am
Hey, I just did a blog on Cheli. I would love it if you checked it out! Hope ya like.
June 1st, 2007 at 3:41 pm
Miah- I just read it and you wrote a great piece on Cheli! Just wanted you to know I updated this post with a link to it and wonderful post!