NHL

Messier or Gretzky? Puck’s in Rangers GM’s court

Wayne Gretzky

Wayne Gretzky

WINNING EDGE: Among the professed candidates for the Rangers’ vacant coaching job, Wayne Gretzky (right) has coaching experience, but never won anything in four seasons with the Phoenix Coyotes, while Mark Messier (inset) won six Stanley Cups, including one with the Blueshirts, but has never coached at any level. (Getty Images (2))

The idea is that now, at the very least, Glen Sather has a better understanding of what’s before him.

Although there was no guarantee the Rangers’ general manager had spoken to either Mark Messier or Wayne Gretzky by yesterday afternoon regarding their shared interest in being the next coach of the team, at this point it can be assumed Sather would not be shocked by either man’s desire for the job.

Since hiring Messier as a special assistant in August 2009, Sather has been in constant contact with the hero of the 1994 Stanley Cup-winning team. It is unlikely there has been a formal interview yet, but whether or not Messier had made a personal declaration of his desire to replace fired coach John Tortorella at this point seems a formality.

The Rangers declined to make Sather or Messier available for comment.

As of Friday night, Gretzky had not spoken to Sather about his interest. It probably would be in his best interest not to put himself too far out on a limb in this situation, as if he were trying to steal the job from Messier, his friend and former teammate. It also would not be beneficial for his public image if he lost out on the job for the likes of … anyone, really.

That being said, as was confirmed in yesterday’s Post, Gretzky’s interest in the job is genuine.

Since Tortorella was fired on Wednesday, there have been a slew of candidates mentioned to take his place. Besides the two Hall of Fame players, the list also includes several men with much more coaching experience and much more success behind the bench.

Messier never has coached in the AHL or NHL, and Gretzky spent four playoff-less years leading the Coyotes, with whom he had a partial ownership stake.

The Blueshirts likely will be compiling candidates to bring in to an organizational meeting in late June in La Quinta, Calif.

First is Alain Vigneault, who was fired as coach of the Canucks at the end of this season following his winning of the Jack Adams award for the NHL’s top coach in 2007. Although Vigneault technically still is under contract with Vancouver, the Rangers have received permission to speak to him.

They also has received permission to speak to Dallas Eakins of the AHL’s Toronto Marlies, who is as hot a young coaching prospect as there is this summer.

It’s unsure if the team has been allowed to reach out to former Sabres coach Lindy Ruff, who spent 15 years in Buffalo compiling a great resume and should be at the top of any team’s coaching vacancy list — which at this point also include the Canucks and Stars.

So now the air around Sather has been ripened with intrigue, and it’s on him to make the next move.