Prospal Precursor?

The New York Rangers have added former captain and franchise icon Mark Messier to the front office.

The Rangers announced Sunday that Messier has been named a special assistant to club president and general manager Glen Sather. Messier won six Stanley Cup titles during a 25-year career that came to an end following the 2003-04 season. He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2007.

"I am looking forward to joining the Rangers organization and having the opportunity to learn a new part of the business, working closely with Glen," Messier said. "I have felt a strong connection to the Rangers, Madison Square Garden and the city of New York from the moment I arrived in 1991. I am honored to begin this new chapter of my career here."

Messier is best remembered for helping the Rangers win the Cup in 1993-94 and snap a 54-year championship drought.

The Rangers have also signed veteran forward Vinny Prospal to a one-year contract, according to the New York Post.

Prospal became an unrestricted free agent when Tampa Bay bought him out of his contract earlier this summer, and previously played for New York head coach John Tortorella during his time with the Lightning. ~ Miami Herald

According to the New York Post, it's a one-year deal worth $1.1M. Apparently Glen Sather isn't as senile as I thought he was. One year after signing Wade Redden to a ridiculous $39.5M, 6-year pact, Slats apparently has rekindled some negotiation skills.

In the wake of the Prospal signing, expect two things to occur:

1. A slew of sensationalist anti-Murray commentary that will involve ripping the GM for not bringing in Prospal at the same term. Retarded fans will ignore or mis-remember (thanks for that word Roger Clemens) the fact that Prospal was written out of town during his first tour of duty. Instead, they'll dwell on things and make efforts to demonstrate how much smarter they are than our GM by saying things like, "He signed Chris Neil for $2M per, but a 45-point guy in Prospal signed for $1.1? What the fuck?" 
2. The Prospal signing will be the latest boom to the local rumour market. With Prospal on the Rangers, they're not moving on without Heatley...they're just warming up to the possiblity of including Brandon Dubinsky in a potential deal. Right...