After an illustrious Hall of Fame career that spanned six decades in hockey as a player, head coach and front office executive, Glen Sather, senior advisor to the owner and alternate governor, announced today that he is retiring from his position with the Rangers and professional hockey.
“Having the opportunity to be associated with the National Hockey League, and specifically the New York Rangers and the Edmonton Oilers, has been one of the great privileges of my life,” Sather said. “I want to thank Jim Dolan for giving me the opportunity to work for the Rangers 24 years ago and for his constant guidance and friendship. I want to thank everyone in the Rangers organization for their dedication and pursuit of excellence over the years, as well as the family atmosphere they helped create. I would also like to thank the great Rangers fans for their passion and loyalty. This experience is something I will always treasure.”
“From the moment he joined the Rangers organization 24 years ago, Glen Sather has been a consummate professional,” said James L. Dolan, executive chairman and CEO of Madison Square Garden Sports Corp. “I am grateful for the friendship that Glen and I have had over the years and for the success he helped the Rangers franchise achieve during his tenure, Glen, Ann and their family will always be a part of the Rangers and Madison Square Garden family, and I wish you all the best in the years to come.”
“I would like to congratulate Glen on his tremendous career,” said Chris Drury, Rangers president and general manager. “I will always be grateful to Glen for giving me the opportunity to play for Rangers, and I was very fortunate to have him to guide me as I began my own managerial career. “I wish Glen, along with Ann and the entire Sather family, the best of luck in the next chapter of their lives.”
During nearly half a century as an NHL executive, Sather illustrated why he is one of the great architects in the history of hockey management. Sather, who was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1997, won five Stanley Cups as general manager and was also the head coach of his team during four of those five Stanley Cup Championships. Sather is one of only two people in hockey history to win at least four Stanley Cups as a head coach and general manager (along with Punch Imlach). By the time Sather’s tenure as general manager ended in July 2015, he held the NHL record for career regular season games (2,700) and career regular season wins (1,319) by a General manager.
Sather joined the Rangers organization on June 1, 2000, when he was named president and general manager. He served as president of the Rangers during his first 19 years in the organization (2000-01 – 2018-19) and was the team’s general manager for the first 14 seasons of his tenure with the Blueshirts (2000-01 – 2014-15). During the 14 seasons that Sather was the Rangers’ General Manager, he had more wins (556) and held the position for more games (1,114) than any general manager in franchise history.
Sather oversaw one of the most successful eras in franchise history. Over a 12-season span from 2005-06 – 2016-17, the Rangers were one of four NHL teams to make the playoffs 11 times and were the only NHL team not to be mathematically eliminated from the playoffs. the Stanley Cup before the start of a regular season game during the stretch. New York played in more playoff games than any NHL team over a six-year period from 2011-12 – 2016-17 (93) and was the only NHL team to win at least one playoff series in five of those six seasons. In Sather’s final year as General Manager in 2014-15, the team he assembled earned 53 wins and 113 points, setting franchise single-season records at the time, and captured the Presidents’ Trophy for the third time in history. of the franchise.
Sather served as senior advisor to the owner and deputy governor for the final five years of his tenure with the Rangers. During those five years, the Blueshirts advanced to the Eastern Conference finals twice in a three-season span and won the Presidents Trophy for having the NHL’s best regular season record in 2023-24. Sather also served as head coach of the Rangers during his tenure with the organization, serving from January 30, 2003 to February 25, 2004.
During his time in the Oilers organization, Sather led Edmonton to five Stanley Cup championships in a seven-year span (1983-84, 1984-85, 1986-87, 1987-88, 1989-90). As head coach and general manager of the Oilers from November 22, 1980 until the end of the 1988-89 season, Edmonton posted a record of 414-202-86 in 702 regular season games and had the most NHL wins during that span. . While Sather oversaw the Oilers as the team’s general manager, Edmonton captured two Presidents’ Trophies, six division titles and six conference championships. In Stanley Cup playoff action as Edmonton’s General Manager, Sather’s teams compiled a record of 133-82 in 215 games.
Sather served as head coach in 932 NHL regular season games with the Oilers and Rangers, compiling a record of 497-307-121-7. In 126 Stanley Cup playoff games, Sather posted an 89-37 record, and his .706 playoff winning percentage is the best of any head coach in NHL history. Sather, winner of the Jack Adams Award as NHL Coach of the Year in 1985-86, immediately joined the coaching ranks upon his retirement as a player following the 1976-77 season, while leading the Oilers to 12 consecutive WHA and NHL Playoffs. appearances, four Stanley Cup championships and five Stanley Cup Finals appearances between 1977 and 1989. Sather added the title of General Manager in June 1980 and held the position for 20 seasons (1980-81 – 1999-00) .
Sather’s management experience and success also carried over to the international arena. He served as General Manager and Coach of Team Canada for the 1996 World Cup of Hockey. Additionally, Sather guided Team Canada’s 1994 Canada Cup Championship and was the General Manager of the gold medal-winning team in the 1994 World Hockey Championship.
During his playing career, Sather spent parts of 10 seasons in the NHL with the Boston Bruins, Pittsburgh Penguins, New York Rangers, St. Louis Blues, Montreal Canadiens and Minnesota North Stars. In 658 regular season games, the left winger scored 80 goals and 113 assists for 193 points, plus 724 penalty minutes. As a member of the Rangers, Sather appeared in 186 regular season games over parts of four seasons (1970-71 – 1973-74), recording 18 goals and 24 assists for 42 points, along with 193 penalty minutes. Additionally, he was a member of the 1971-72 Rangers club that advanced to the Stanley Cup Final.
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