Reading between the lines, Don Maloney being considered for Phoenix GM job is an indication to me that he is being forced out. Why would he want to leave now when all the work he has put into player drafting and development is starting to pay off? The Rangers have made the playoffs two years in succession. Now, all of a sudden, he’s one of the last three candidates for the Phoenix GM job? Were I conspiracy theorist, I would say there is colusion on the part of Sather and Gretzsky to displace Maloney and hand his job to Messier. Nice of them to consider Donny in the final three. He probably won’t get the Phoenix job but it will soften the blow if Donny gets his walking papers from Sather.

How long would it be before AGM Messier forces Renney out and the team is run the Messier way? Everything that the present management and coaching staff has tried to build over the last three years will be subjugated to the will of Messier. How soon would it be before Messier’s entourage of friends and family takes over the team.

After the success of the past two seasons, the fans love this team and want to continue to support them. What recourse would the paying fans have if there is a change of managment and coaching? How many fans would protest by not re-upping their subscriptions? I fear the protesters would be in the minority because there are still soooo many fans that refuse to let 1994 take its place in history and move forward. Must the New York Rangers and their fans be beholden to Mark Messier in perpetuity?

Losing Maloney, and potentially the rest of the coaching staff, would be the wrong move at this time. Regardless of his Messianic hold over this franchise and its fans, making Moose AGM would be a prescription for disaster. Everything this team has achieved over the last two season would be in jeopardy. What would be the outcome of Messier locking horns with Jagr? Would Sather trade Jagr to Boston?

Messier was a great player and a great leader but he has no management experience. If Mark Messier wants to break into management, why isn’t his friend Wayne Gretzsky offering him the job in Phoenix?