On June 26, during one of the busiest periods in the NHL, Glen Sather announced his retirement from hockey, stepping down from his executive role with the New York Rangers. This announcement came amidst significant NHL events, including Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final, the NHL Awards, the NHL Draft, and the start of free agency, making it easy to overlook. However, with the hustle and bustle calming down, it’s an opportune moment to reflect on Sather’s legacy, particularly his profound impact on the Edmonton Oilers.
For those under 30, Sather is primarily associated with the Rangers, where he served from June 1, 2000, when he was appointed president and general manager. His tenure as GM lasted 14 seasons, and he held the president’s position until 2019 before becoming a senior advisor to the owner and alternate governor. However, Sather’s NHL journey began long before his time with the Rangers.
Hailing from High River, Alberta, Sather entered the NHL as a forward with the Boston Bruins in 1966. His playing career included stints with the Pittsburgh Penguins, Rangers, St. Louis Blues, Montreal Canadiens, and Minnesota North Stars, before returning to Alberta. His most significant contributions came after he joined the Edmonton Oilers in the World Hockey Association (WHA) in 1976-77, which marked his final season as a player. With 18 games left in the regular season, Sather was named player-coach, transitioning to a full-time head coach the following season.
In the 1978-79 season, Sather led the Oilers to their first appearance in the Avco Cup Final, the WHA’s championship series, where they were defeated by the Winnipeg Jets. The WHA merged with the NHL the following season, and after Edmonton’s inaugural NHL campaign, Sather was promoted to president and general manager, appointing Bryan Watson as head coach. However, after a rocky start in 1980-81, Sather reinstalled himself as head coach, now juggling three roles: president, GM, and head coach.
Under Sather’s leadership, the Oilers became a powerhouse, winning the Stanley Cup in 1984, 1985, 1987, and 1988, and reaching the finals in 1983. The Oilers’ roster during this era included six future Hall-of-Famers: Glenn Anderson, Grant Fuhr, Wayne Gretzky, Jari Kurri, Kevin Lowe, and Mark Messier, with Paul Coffey being part of the first three victories. Sather’s ability to manage and motivate a team of young superstars was crucial to their success. As Mark Spector of Sportsnet noted, Sather was “the perfect father figure for an Oilers team that required equal parts guidance and free reign.”
Grant Fuhr, in Spector’s book “The Battle of Alberta,” described Sather’s approach: “He gave us a lot of rope, so that we could learn on our own, but he also knew when to yank on the rope to reel us back in.” Sather allowed the team to grow independently while maintaining control when necessary.
After trading Gretzky to the Los Angeles Kings in 1988, Sather stepped down as head coach to focus on his front office duties, with John Muckler taking over and leading the Oilers to their fifth championship in 1990. Despite a period of decline in the early ’90s, Sather undertook a massive rebuild, navigating the team through financial challenges and keeping them competitive. The 1990s were tough for small-market Canadian teams due to the absence of a salary cap and the Canadian dollar’s low value. The Quebec Nordiques and Winnipeg Jets both relocated to U.S. markets, and the Oilers also faced the threat of moving. However, Sather’s strategic trades and key draft picks, like Jason Arnott and Ryan Smyth, helped the Oilers stay competitive and maintain playoff contention.
In recognition of his contributions, the Oilers raised a banner in Sather’s honor on December 11, 2015, placing it alongside those of legendary players like Anderson, Coffey, Fuhr, Gretzky, Kurri, Lowe, Messier, Al Hamilton, and Rod Phillips. Sather’s name rightfully belongs among these legends, cementing his status as one of the most significant figures in Oilers history. His legacy in Edmonton is a testament to his impact on the game and his ability to lead and rebuild a team through various challenges, ensuring its competitiveness and success.
