LOS ANGELES — Garden owner James Dolan has every right to feel vindicated over his staunch, unyielding support of Rangers general manager Glen Sather.
In fact, with the Blueshirts in the Stanley Cup finals that begin here Wednesday night, Sather might even be due an extension of his lifetime contract — even if that is only possible in the metaphysical world.
But Dolan told The Post on Tuesday morning he doesn’t see it that way.
“I’m not interested in vindication. I haven’t given that a thought,” Dolan said by phone. “You know, it’s not as if the team has done terribly the last few seasons.
“Glen and I have had one goal since we’ve been together, and that’s to win the Stanley Cup. That’s his motivation. That’s my motivation. I’m very happy with where we are, but we haven’t reached that goal yet. We’ve got to keep going, and I hope we get there the next two weeks.
“As far as anything else concerning Glen and the future, what he wants to do, this isn’t the time. We’re both enjoying this moment. Of course, he has been here before quite a few times.”
Sather was enjoying himself at Tuesday’s Media Day, during which he joined coach Alain Vigneault at the dais. Asked about his relationship with Dolan, the GM began by cracking a joke at former Edmonton owner Peter Pocklington’s expense.
“Well, I had another complicated owner that I worked for, for a long time, as well,” Sather said. “I enjoy [Dolan]. I think he’s an interesting, complex, caring human being that is probably a little bit apprehensive at letting himself be known by the media.
“I get along with him fine. Somebody wrote that I manage him well. Well, I wouldn’t say I’m a particularly good manager. I like to be friends with the people I work with. I like to be friends with the coaches, the players.
“At the same time you have to be respectful. I do respect him. I like him. I get along with him. It’s about that simple.”
This is Dolan’s first time as an owner of a Stanley Cup finalist. When he talks about the experience, he sounds like a fan. Probably because he is.
“I’m a little wide-eyed,” he said. “I’ve never been here before, so I’m not sure how to describe my emotions. Happy, I know I’m really happy, but there’s also trepidation at the same time. I’m a little off balance.
“You know what I hope, honestly? That we have really good games that hockey aficionados will appreciate. I hope the hockey people leave the finals with appreciation for the Rangers.”
There’s appreciation for the Rangers in New York, appreciation for this run that has propelled the Blueshirts and hockey under the spotlight of the Great White Way.
“It’s incredible,” Dolan said. “Everywhere I go, the Rangers are all anyone wants to talk about. You can feel the excitement throughout the city. The way I’m being treated, I may as well be wearing a jersey.”
Dolan primarily is identified in the public consciousness as the Knicks’ owner who has been a little bit too involved in personnel decisions and in the NBA club’s day-to-day operations. That perception never has applied to the role he takes with the Rangers.
“My biggest responsibility as owner is to make sure the team has the resources it needs,” Dolan said. “As far as getting into personnel decisions, I rarely even ask questions about the players Glen wants to bring in, that’s not my area of expertise.
“I attend our organizational meetings at the end of the season. and when a player’s name comes up, the one question I have — and it’s the same as relates to the Knicks — is whether that player is right for New York. New York’s a different animal. It’s not for everyone, so I just want to make sure that any player we bring has the right personality for this city.”
It is well known Dolan believed John Tortorella was right for the city and for the Rangers. The two men formed a bond over the former coach’s four-plus year tenure, which ended following last season’s second-round elimination.
But the owner did not interject his personal feelings into the equation when he was notified by Sather that the club needed to make a change.
“Torts and I were very friendly, we enjoyed each other’s company,” Dolan said. “When Glen came to me, I told him that if we needed to make the change I only wanted to make sure that we treated Torts as fairly and with as much dignity as possible, and we have.
“But I didn’t try to talk Glen out of it. I don’t have the résumé to challenge that decision.”
Dolan said he keeps in touch with Tortorella, who was dismissed by the Canucks after this season.
“We text from time to time. Sometimes he’ll text me if he hears one of my songs on the radio. We’re still friends,” said Dolan, referring to his band, JD and the Straight Shot.
Dolan still is in the process of getting to know Vigneault, but he knows this about the Blueshirts’ coach: “He’s a cool cucumber.
“He doesn’t get rattled. He’s enthusiastic and he knows what he’s doing. He’s calm, cool and collected.”
Goalie Henrik Lundqvist — calm, cool and collected himself — likes to play the guitar. Dolan was asked if he would consider adding the King to his group.
“I’ve never considered that,” he said. “I’ve only seen him play once, but we both love music and the guitar. [My band and I are] in the studio right now making a new record.”
Dolan is in the studio. He will be in the stands here for Game 1 against the Kings.
“I want our fans to be proud of our team and really to love our team,” Dolan said. “These next two weeks should be amazing. I’m telling you, I can’t wait.”