Rangers owner Dolan on Sather: As long as he’ll stay, I'd like to have him

New York Rangers owner James Dolan says he believes in general manager Glen Sather.

The MSG executive chairman and CEO of Cablevision says as long as Sather wants to remain with the organization, he'll be welcomed.

"As long as he’d like to stay, I’d like to have him," Dolan told the New York Post in his first sit-down interview with any news outlet in seven years.

The Rangers are ninth in the Eastern Conference with 22 points in 22 games this season. Sather has been at the helm since being named president and general manager in 2000. 

The Rangers have missed the playoffs in eight of Sather's 13 years, reaching the third round once. But Dolan says Sather is safe for now.

"Ultimately, it’s got to be my call, but I have a tremendous amount of respect for Glen and still feel very lucky to have him," Dolan said.

The owner also expressed his fondness for former Rangers head coach John Tortorella, who is now behind the bench with the Vancouver Canucks.

 "I miss John Tortorella," Dolan said. "I’m developing a relationship with [current head coach] Alain [Vigneault] and he’s also a good guy, but Torts and I had a special relationship. It was fun for me. He banned me from the locker room for a while, all in fun. I miss that.