To put things in the proper perspective: Glen Sather was a general manager in the NHL the year before Brad Richards was born – a 34-year career that saw him build a dynasty with the Edmonton Oilers before running the New York Rangers beginning in 2000.

The 69-year-old Sather has been in this game for decades. He also had surgery to treat prostate cancer in March, leaving assistant GM Jeff Gorton to handle the team’s duties leading up to the trade deadline.

All of this is to say that it would be understandable if Sather decided to dial back his workload in the Rangers braintrust. Jimmy Murphy, who writes for ESPN Boston, hears this might be exactly what happens this summer. From his blog:

Don’t be surprised if Sather, 69, decides to step down from his GM post and places another in charge of running the player personnel decisions. An NHL source as well as a Rangers team source have told MurphysHockeyLaw.com that Sather is considering such a move as he prepares to meet with his hockey operations staff in La Quinta, California this week to discuss the coaching situation, the roster going forward and prepare for the 2013 NHL Entry Draft in Newark on June 30.

Keep in mind that Sather is on record as saying he plans on remaining general manager through next season.

But if he steps down as GM, Murphy hears that Jim Schoenfeld, the GM of the Rangers AHL affiliate the Connecticut Whale, and former Wild GM Doug Risebrough, a team consultant, would be prime candidates to take over as GM.

But Gorton has been viewed as the heir to Sather for some time, especially when it comes to Sather handing the reins over for players personnel while remaining the team’s president.

Or perhaps the Rangers will fulfill every puckhead fever dream and name Mark Messier their GM with Wayne Gretzky as their new head coach. Because who wouldn’t want to see that other than every Rangers fan ever?