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With a solid mix of star power and promising youth on the roster, Rangers President and General Manager Glen Sather continues to illustrate why he is one of the great architects in the history of hockey management. With 30 years of hockey experience on his Hall of Fame resume, which includes five Stanley Cup Championships, he is the league's longest tenured general manager, serving the past seven seasons with New York and before that, 21 years in Edmonton.During his term in New York, Sather has laid the foundation for long-term success by stockpiling talented prospects and adding significant pieces via trades and free agency. Over the last two seasons, the Blueshirts have totaled 86 wins, marking the first time in 23 years the club has achieved 40-or-more wins in back-to-back seasons. The Rangers enter the 2007-08 season led by 2006 Jack Adams Award finalist Tom Renney with significant veteran additions, including proven Stanley Cup Champions, Chris Drury and Scott Gomez.Sather became New York's 12th President and 10th General Manager on June 1, 2000. He also served as head coach from January 30, 2003 - February 25, 2004. Sather led the Edmonton Oilers' to five Stanley Cup Championships between 1984-1990, overseeing the development of a revolutionary team concept as well as some of the finest individual talents ever to play the game. His achievements were recognized and honored on September 9, 1997 when he became the first member of the Edmonton Oilers organization to be selected to the Hockey Hall of Fame.During his tenure with the Oilers, the club posted a 791-660-215 record in 1,666 regular season games (.539 winning percentage), capturing three President???s Trophies, six division titles and six conference championships. In Stanley Cup playoff action, Sather's teams compiled a 133-82 record in 215 games (.619 winning percentage), leading to the club's five Stanley Cup titles. Upon his retirement as a player following the 1976-77 season, Sather immediately joined the coaching ranks, guiding the Edmonton Oilers to 12 straight WHA and NHL playoff appearances, four Stanley Cup Championships and five Stanley Cup Finals appearances between 1977 and 1989. Sather added the title of General Manager on June 15, 1979, and was named the team's President prior to the 1982-83 season. Before embarking on his executive career, Sather put together one of the most impressive coaching records in NHL history. He has served as a Head Coach in 932 NHL regular season games, compiling a record of 497-314-121 (.598 winning percentage), ranking 10th on the NHL's all-time coaching list with 497 victories. In 127 Stanley Cup playoff games, Sather posted a record of 89-37-1 (.706 winning percentage), ranking sixth on the all-time list for playoff wins with 89. He received the Jack Adams Trophy as the NHL's Coach of the Year in 1985-86 and is one of only six coaches to coach in five or more NHL All-Star Games.Sather's knowledge of the game, tactical negotiating strategies, strong developmental skills and the keen ability to get the best out of his players are keys to his managerial success. During his administration in Edmonton, Sather developed a dynasty by nurturing talented draft picks Mark Messier, Kevin Lowe, Jari Kurri, Grant Fuhr, Paul Coffey, Esa Tikkanen and Glenn Anderson, along with the acquisition of a rising star named Wayne Gretzky.Sather's management experience and success also carries over to the international arena. Most recently, he served as Team Canada's General Manager and Coach for the 1996 World Cup of Hockey. He also guided Team Canada???s 1994 Canada Cup Championship and was the General Manager of the gold medal-winning team in the 1994 World Hockey Championships. A native of High River, Alberta, Sather enjoyed a successful junior career with the Edmonton Oil Kings. Following the completion of his amateur days, he became property of the Detroit Red Wings but would never wear a Winged Wheel jersey. After a season with the Central League's Memphis Wings, Sather was drafted from the Red Wings by the Boston Bruins in 1965, and would make his National Hockey League debut with the Bruins in the 1966-67 season. Sather would go on to play 10 seasons in the National Hockey League for the Boston Bruins, Pittsburgh Penguins, New York Rangers, St. Louis Blues, Montreal Canadiens and Minnesota North Stars. In 658 NHL regular season games, the feisty winger would register 80 goals and 113 assists for 193 points, along with 724 penalty minutes. As a member of the New York Rangers from 1970 through 1974, Sather appeared in 188 regular season games, registering 18 goals and 24 assists for 42 points, along with 193 penalty minutes. In addition, he was a member of the 1971-72 Rangers club which advanced to the Stanley Cup Finals.Sather and his wife, Ann, have two sons, Justin and Shanon. |
