Mark Messier is returning to the NHL – but in a management position.  Moose will be serving as a special assistant to GM Glen Sather with the New York Rangers .  Being out in Alberta, I would have loved to see him return to the Edmonton Oilers (he apparently interviewed for the head coaching position this summer) but I’m glad he’s going to have a chance to get some experience on the other side of the organization. Of his return, Messier said: “I couldn’t be more thrilled with the opportunity to move back to New York with my family, to learn from Glen and to work for the Rangers.  I’m going to come in and get my feet wet and get an overview of how the business runs and how the team runs and take it from there.” I’m glad that he’s looking to learn something since he must see from his pal Wayne Gretzky’ s experience with coaching the Phoenix Coyotes that managing and coaching a team is very different than playing.  Still, Messier seems confident in his abilities: “I think I have a pretty good eye for talent, but really, there are so many things about the management and business side of the game that I’ve never been exposed to. So I’m going to soak it all in and learn as much as I can about what it takes on that end to build a champion.  I think I bring a little different perspective to the organization after and playing in the NHL for 25 years and playing in New York for 10 years.  I understand what a player needs to succeed in this environment that’s riddled with pressure to win.” It does help that he has played in New York so he understands the feel of the team and the fanbase which I think are really important elements.  Plus, it doesn’t hurt that he’s won the Stanley Cup six times (with Edmonton in 1984, 85, 87, 88, 90 and the Rangers in 1994).  He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2007

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Mark Messier Returns to the NHL