Links - CBCSportsca Blogs Messier a good selection for C - North River Minor Hockey Association

CBCSportsca Blogs Messier a good selection for Canadas GM at worlds News Sports Entertainment Radio TV My Region Member Centre Login Sign UpHalifax (Shearwater) Change City9c Tomorrow0c Snow and blowing snow Hockey Headlines Scoreboard Standings Stats NHL Schedule Teams Players Hockey Night in Canada Highlights Fantasy Pool FIFA World Cup Vancouver Now Football Headlines CFL Scoreboard CFL Standings CFL Stats CFL Teams NFL Scoreboard NFL Standings NFL Stats NFL Teams NFL Players Video Alpine Skiing Curling Figure Skating Basketball NBA Scoreboard Standings Stats Teams Players Basketball News Feed Baseball MLB Scoreboard Standings Stats Teams Players Baseball News Feed Soccer MLS Scoreboard MLS Standings International Stats Soccer News Feed Amateur Sports Golf Tennis Auto Racing Blogs and Columns HockeySubscribe to Blogs and Columns Messier a good selection for Canadas GM at worlds December 9 2009 0349 PM Posted by Scott Morrison Since he retired five years ago Mark Messier has always said he wanted to manage a hockey teamNow of course he is going to get that chance with Canadas 2010 entry in the world hockey championships in MayAnd the selection of Messier is a good oneEven though he has no managerial experience aside from the fact that he has been a special assistant this season to New York Rangers president and general manager Glen Sather this assignment is different in some ways from being a GM of an NHL team There are no salary caps to navigate no trades to be contemplated no inevitable peaks and valleys of a season with which to dealWhich is not to say it is without challenges Far from it This job is about putting together a solid management team then a coaching staff then being able to evaluate player talent and understand what is required to build a teamKnowing the gameHaving played in three Canada Cup tournaments a world championship in 1989 and the 1996 World Cup of Hockey Messier understands the dynamic of assembling an allstar team for an international tournamentHe knows about team chemistry and the need to not only have skill players but also players who are willing to do the dirty jobs The added challenge from say putting together an Olympic team is that you have a limited player pool from which to select meaning just the 14 NHL teams that dont make the playoffs and possibly a handful of others that make early playoff exitsThere are also a lot of decisions which need to be made in a short period of time depending on how tight the playoff races areIt might also include selecting a coaching staff unless of course Wayne Gretzky decides he is willing to acceptBut Messier understands what makes a great team and he also can identify talent Beyond that he is smart enough to know he has to surround himself with experienced NHL hockey people both in management and on the benchThe intangiblesHis ability to lead and help the ...