After winning two games in a row and scoring a combined total 14 goals, I thought it was safe to take my annual vacation on January 21 and left the Rangers to pursue points and move up in the standings. Instead the Rangers went to hell in a handbasket and the villagers are calling for heads to roll from Redden to Tortorella and a few others in between. Why am I not surprised? 

The first thing I saw when I could access my email was an invitation from “Ranger Nation” to sign a Fire Sather petition and to attend their rally on March 7th to express the discontent of the fan base with the owernship and management of the New York Rangers. Excuse me, but do the organizers think such activities will really help. Like Marie Antoinette, Dolan’s simple answer to cries of the subscribers and fans will be a predictable “let them eat ….”.

I wholeheartedly support and agree with the sentiments of the organizers and the supporters of the “Fire Sather” protest in principle. In practice, they need to offer positive solutions to improve the lamentable situation the Rangers find themselves in. I agree with Jess Rubenstein when he cautioned the protesters not to compromise their credibility by turning this rally into an obscenity filled slanging match against Dolan, Sather, Tortorella, the players, (insert name here).

Unfortunately, even if the protest organizers come up with the most lucid, cogent plan to turn the franchise around by firing Sather, they do not realize that the future of the franchise is a fait accompli. My intuition told me so at one of the first preseason games where I saw Mike Keenan follow Mark Messier out of the Geico Suite and get on the elevator by Section 409.

If Sather retires at the end of the season to save face or if Dolan somehow does get sick of defending the decade long malfeasance of his mastemind and fires Sather, Dolan/Sather will tap Mark Messier to take over as GM. Moose will turn to Keenan and his old friends to help him “turn the franchise around” Graves will be a VP, maybe Assistant GM . Maybe Leetch could be an Assistant Coach running defense. Dolan’s only recourse will be to spin “the ‘94 heros taking charge” to retain subscribers next season. Dolan’s made huge bucks with his dog and pony show number retirement ceremonies. Dolan had nothing to do with the 94 Cup but he continually milks it for every dime and good feeling he can to disguise a failing franchise.

I would put money on Messier replacing Sather.  I agree with the HockeyRodent. See his three part rant called “Entitlement” on 01/31/10. If the “Reign of the Moose” does come to pass, it will be the worst thing to happen to the franchise since the Ratelle/Park trade to Boston. Dolan either won’t exert the effort or doesn’t have the intelligence to do the right thing for his own franchise. He’s a bad owner.

Dolan needs to clean MSG of Sather and his cronies and rebuild his franchise. More’s the pity that Don Maloney was squeezed out and Tom Renney forced out by Sather’s inepititude. I do not intend any disrespect to Messier, Graves, Leetch or any other of the 94  team who might become involved with running the franchise if Sather goes. It’s just that they are still too close to Sather. They are not ready now. I do not believe the future of the franchise should be handed over to individuals who’d be receiving on the job training.

We can’t overcome
We can’t overcome
We can’t overcome today
Deep in my heart I don’t believe that
We will overcome someday

Posted under New York Rangers