Glen Sather
Architect of the Oilers dynasty and longtime Rangers executive.
Glen Cameron Sather, born September 2, 1943, is a Canadian former ice hockey left winger, coach, and current executive. As of his most recent role, he served as a senior advisor and alternate governor for the New York Rangers, stepping down from that advisory position on June 26, 2024. He had previously been the Rangers’ general manager until July 1, 2015, and then their president until April 4, 2019.
Sather is most famous for guiding the Edmonton Oilers as their coach to four Stanley Cup championships in the 1980s. He was instrumental in bringing in star players, most notably Wayne Gretzky, which turned the Oilers into a dominant hockey dynasty. Gretzky, widely regarded as the most dominant player in hockey history, has credited Sather—along with his father, Walter Gretzky—as one of his most important mentors.
Beyond the NHL, Sather helped build Canadian national teams for several international tournaments: the 1984 Canada Cup (which Canada won), the 1994 Ice Hockey World Championship (where Canada took gold), and the 1996 World Cup of Hockey (where Canada finished as finalists). Before his coaching career, Sather played professionally as a left winger in both the WHA and NHL over ten seasons.
Sather was born in High River, Alberta, and grew up in Wainwright, Alberta. He now splits his time between Rye, New York during the hockey season and Palm Springs, California in the off-season, and also owns a home in Banff, Alberta. His nickname is “Slats.” He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1997.
Sather began his junior hockey career in 1961, playing three seasons with the Edmonton Oil Kings. His professional playing days started in 1964 with the CPHL’s Memphis Wings and Oklahoma City Blazers, and he later joined the Boston Bruins at the end of the 1966–67 season, appearing in five games.
Over his professional playing career, Sather logged ten full NHL seasons plus one season with the Edmonton Oilers in the WHA. In 739 regular-season games, he recorded 99 goals, 146 assists, and 245 points, along with 801 penalty minutes. In the playoffs, he played 77 games, scoring 2 goals and 6 assists for 8 points, with 88 penalty minutes. His last season as a player was 1976–77 in the WHA.
With 18 games left in the 1976–77 WHA season, Sather was named player-coach of the Oilers.
Quick Facts
- Birth Date
- 1943-09-02
- Birth Place
- High River, Alberta, Canada
- Halloffame
- 1997 (Builder)
- Coached For
- Edmonton Oilers / New York Rangers
- Career Start Coach
- 1976
- Career End Coach
- 2004
- Position
- Left wing
- Shoots
- Left
- Height Ft
- 5
- Height In
- 11
- Weight Lb
- 180
- Played For
- Boston Bruins / Pittsburgh Penguins / New York Rangers / St. Louis Blues / Montreal Canadiens / Minnesota North Stars / Edmonton Oilers
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Sather was born in High River, Alberta but grew up in Wainwright, Alberta. He played three junior seasons starting in 1961 with the Edmonton Oil Kings. His professional career started in 1964 with the CPHL Memphis Wings and Oklahoma City Blazers, joining the Bruins at the end of the 1966–67 season. He played ten full seasons in the NHL and another with the Edmonton Oilers of the WHA, totaling 739 regular season games as a pro. His career as a player ended after the 1976–77 WHA season.
Sather was named player-coach of the Oilers with 18 games remaining in the 1976-77 WHA season. In his first game as player-coach, the Oilers defeated the Winnipeg Jets 5–4, with Sather scoring a goal 1:11 into the game. He retired as a player after that season but remained as head coach. In 1978, owner Peter Pocklington asked Sather about acquiring Wayne Gretzky; Sather replied, 'Whatever you have to do, get him.' Upon acquiring Gretzky, Sather allowed him to live with his family. Sather stayed on as head coach when the Oilers joined the NHL in 1979–80.
Sather was promoted to president and general manager in 1980, and after a slow start to the 1980–81 season, he stepped back behind the bench. The Oilers made the playoffs from 1979–80 until 1984–85 with Sather as sole head coach. In 1985, he named John Muckler as associate head coach and began splitting coaching duties. Sather won the Jack Adams Trophy in 1985–86. After the 1988 Gretzky trade, Sather relinquished head coaching to Muckler but remained general manager. The Oilers won their fifth Stanley Cup in 1990. Sather left the Oilers organization in 2000.
Reader's Guide
Sather's significance lies in his role as the architect of the Edmonton Oilers dynasty, coaching them to four Stanley Cup victories in the 1980s. He was instrumental in acquiring Wayne Gretzky, whom Gretzky credits as one of his most important mentors. Sather also built Canadian national teams for the 1984 Canada Cup (champions), the 1994 Ice Hockey World Championship (gold medal winners), and the 1996 World Cup of Hockey (finalists). However, the article notes that the Oilers' decline was precipitated by poor scouting and drafting in the 1980s, with only three of 17 first-round picks from 1982 to 2000 becoming successful for the Oilers. This deficiency hampered the team for years. After leaving Edmonton, Sather joined the New York Rangers as president and general manager for the 2000-01 season, relying heavily on aging veterans acquired through expensive free agency. He served as Rangers general manager until July 1, 2015, then as president until April 4, 2019, and as senior advisor until June 26, 2024. Sather also co-owned the Tri-City Americans of the WHL until 2005, and later was part of a group granted a WHL expansion team in Chilliwack, British Columbia, which became the Chilliwack Bruins, owned until 2011.
Did You Know?
- Sather's nickname is 'Slats'.
- He scored a goal 1:11 into his first game as player-coach of the Oilers.
- Sather allowed Wayne Gretzky to live with his family after acquiring him.
More in Hockey Hall of Fame Builders and Executives, Part 3 1-24
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