Glen Sather

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Lore & Background

Sather joined the Oilers during the 1976–77 season, three seasons before the franchise's final WHA campaign in 1978–79. Named player-coach with just 18 games left in the 1976–77 season, he scored a goal in his debut as player-coach against the Winnipeg Jets on February 22, 1977, and continued playing until retiring as a player after the 1978–79 season. When owner Peter Pocklington hesitated on acquiring Wayne Gretzky in 1978 due to concerns about the young star's size, Sather insisted immediately. He even allowed Gretzky to live with his own family to ensure stability. Under Sather's guidance, the Oilers selected Paul Coffey, Jari Kurri, and Andy Moog based on scout Barry Fraser's advice. After a rocky start in 1980–81, Sather replaced Bryan Watson as head coach on November 22, 1980, when the team's record was 4–9–5. The team responded by sweeping the Montreal Canadiens in the first round of the 1981 playoffs. This marked the beginning of a dominance that included an NHL-record 417 goals in 1981–82 and four Stanley Cups in five seasons (1984, 1985, 1987, 1988). Sather won the Jack Adams Trophy in 1985–86. Even after trading Gretzky to Los Angeles in 1988, Sather remained as GM and led the team to a fifth championship in 1990 against the Boston Bruins.

In Their Own Story

The turning point for the franchise arrived in 1978 when Peter Pocklington called Sather with an opportunity to acquire Wayne Gretzky. Many scouts, including Howie Meeker, dismissed Gretzky as too small for professional hockey, but Sather replied, "Whatever you have to do, get him." That decision set the stage for a dynasty. In 1981–82, the Oilers scored an NHL-record 417 goals, driven by Gretzky's 92 goals and 212 points. By 1983, they reached the Final, losing to the Islanders, only to win their first Cup in 1984. The team swept the heavily favored Canadiens that year, signaling a shift in power. Sather split coaching duties with John Muckler by 1985 but took sole credit for winning the Jack Adams Trophy that season. When Gretzky was traded in 1988, Sather stepped back from head coaching to focus on management, yet still guided the team to a fifth Stanley Cup in 1990 against Boston. The era ended with the departure of key veterans like Mark Messier and Jari Kurri due to financial constraints, leaving the Oilers without depth until they returned to the playoffs in 1997.

Reader's Guide

The Sather era is defined by a bold willingness to take risks that paid off in unprecedented glory. Key to this was his reliance on scouts like Barry Fraser, who recommended drafting Paul Coffey and Jari Kurri early. The strategy shifted from struggling expansion team to record-breaking offensive juggernaut. However, the decline after 1987 highlighted the dangers of relying on a single core; when Mark Messier, Jari Kurri, and Esa Tikkanen left for higher salaries, the Oilers lacked depth due to poor drafting in the late 1980s. Sather was forced to rush prospects before they were ready, leading to missed playoffs in 1993 for the first time since joining the NHL. Despite this, he returned the team to the postseason in 1997 and secured back-to-back first-round upsets against Dallas and Colorado in 1997 and 1998. The legacy includes not just five Cups but a standard of excellence that defined Edmonton hockey for decades.

Did You Know?

• Gretzky credited Sather and his father, Walter Gretzky, as his most important mentors.
• Sather scored a goal just 1:11 into his first game as player-coach against the Winnipeg Jets on February 22, 1977.
• The Oilers set an NHL-record of 417 goals during the 1981–82 season under Sather's coaching.
• Sather stepped down from his advisory role with the Rangers on June 26, 2024, ending a 24-year tenure with the franchise.
• Only three of the 17 first-round picks Sather chose for the Oilers between 1982 and 2000 (Jeff Beukeboom, Jason Arnott, Ryan Smyth) turned out to be successful.

Building a Dynasty: The Edmonton Era

Sather's tenure began as player-coach in the WHA, where he scored a goal in his first game as a coach against Winnipeg. In 1978, he convinced owner Peter Pocklington to acquire Wayne Gretzky, dismissing concerns about the player's size with the instruction: "Whatever you have to do, get him." Sather allowed Gretzky to live with his family and built a roster around him, drafting Paul Coffey, Jari Kurri, and Andy Moog. After a poor start in 1980–81 (4–9–5), Sather took over as head coach, leading the team to sweep Montreal. The 1981–82 season saw an NHL-record 417 goals scored, paced by Gretzky's 212 points. The Oilers won five Stanley Cups between 1984 and 1990, including a fifth title in 1990 after trading Gretzky. Sather served as head coach from 1979–80 until 1985, then split duties with John Muckler before relinquishing the role in 1988 to focus on management.

International Leadership and National Pride

Sather's influence extended beyond the NHL. He was instrumental in building Canadian national teams for three major tournaments: the 1984 Canada Cup, which they won as champions; the 1994 Ice Hockey World Championship, where they secured a gold medal; and the 1996 World Cup of Hockey, reaching the finals. These successes showcased his ability to assemble competitive rosters on the international stage, leveraging his deep understanding of player dynamics and team chemistry.

Executive Tenure with the New York Rangers

Sather joined the New York Rangers in 2000 as president and general manager after Neil Smith was fired. His initial tenure saw the team miss the playoffs for four consecutive seasons, extending a franchise-record seven-year drought from 1998 to 2005. He acquired aging veterans like Mark Messier, Theoren Fleury, and Eric Lindros but failed to secure playoff spots. Sather traded away key players like Brian Leetch and Pavel Bure towards the end of the 2003–04 season. He served as GM until July 1, 2015, then became president until April 4, 2019. He remained as senior advisor and alternate governor until June 26, 2024.

Life Beyond the Rink and Hall of Fame Legacy

Sather was born in High River, Alberta, and raised in Wainwright. He played professionally for ten seasons in the NHL and one in the WHA, scoring 99 goals and 146 assists in 739 regular-season games. In retirement, he co-owned the Tri-City Americans (WHL) until 2005 and later owned the Chilliwack Bruins before they became the Victoria Royals in 2011. He resides in Rye, New York; Palm Springs, California; and Banff, Alberta. Inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1997, he is remembered as a mentor to Wayne Gretzky, who credited him alongside his father as his most important mentors.