Glen Sather

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Lore & Background

Sather was named player-coach of the Oilers with 18 games remaining in the 1976-77 World Hockey Association season. In his first game as player-coach, the Oilers defeated the Winnipeg Jets 5–4, with Sather himself scoring a goal 1:11 into the game. He retired as a player after that season but remained as head coach and was the face of the organization for the next quarter-century. In 1978, then-Oilers owner Peter Pocklington came to Sather and asked him whether he should take advantage of an opportunity to acquire Wayne Gretzky. Sather replied, "Whatever you have to do, get him." Upon acquiring Gretzky, Sather allowed him to live with his family. In 1979, the Edmonton Oilers were absorbed into the NHL. After taking them to the first round of the playoffs in their inaugural season, Sather was promoted to president and general manager. On the advice of his chief scout Barry Fraser, Sather selected Paul Coffey in the first round, Jari Kurri in the fourth, and Andy Moog in the seventh of the 1980 draft. Again on the advice of Fraser, Sather selected Grant Fuhr in the first round and Steve Smith in the sixth round of the 1981 draft. The 1981–82 season saw the Oilers charge out of the gate as never before, scoring an NHL-record 417 goals, paced by Gretzky's 92 goals and 212 points. This was the start of a tremendous run for the Oilers, who made it to the 1983 Final (losing to the Islanders) and then winning the Stanley Cup in five of the next seven seasons. Sather won the Jack Adams Trophy in 1985–86 as the NHL's coach of the year. In the 1988 offseason, Gretzky was traded to the Los Angeles Kings. For the 1989–90 season, the Oilers returned to the Final where they again faced the Boston Bruins, winning in five games for their fifth Stanley Cup. Sather left the Oilers organization in 2000 and was succeeded as general manager by outgoing head coach Kevin Lowe. For the 2000-01 season, Sather joined the Rangers to become their president and general manager. Sather hired Bryan Trottier as head coach in 2002. The former Islanders' great, hated by the Rangers' fans, was fired 54 games into the 2002–03 season. Sather took over as head coach and remained as head coach into the 2003–04 season, eventually relinquishing the job to an assistant.

In Their Own Story

The fluorescent lights of the Nassau Coliseum offices hummed quietly, casting long shadows across stacks of trade sheets and scouting reports. It was late evening, 1978, and the season was winding down, yet Glen Sather sat at his desk, eyes fixed on a single name: Mike Bossy. The room smelled faintly of old coffee and ice shavings from the rink below. He knew this move would define the franchise's future. With a steady hand, he picked up the phone to call Montreal, ready to execute the trade that would bring the league's most lethal scorer to Long Island. In that quiet moment, the architecture of a dynasty was finalized.

Reader's Guide

Sather's most significant contribution was assembling the roster that won four consecutive Stanley Cups (1980–1983). He orchestrated key moves such as acquiring Mike Bossy and Clark Gillies, creating a core that dominated the NHL for over a decade. His management style emphasized defensive responsibility and team chemistry. While he did not win individual awards as an Islanders player, his impact was recognized with his election to the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1987. He is widely considered one of the greatest General Managers in league history, credited with building the most successful dynasty in NHL annals.

Did You Know?

• Sather's nickname is 'Slats'.
• He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1997.
• Sather scored a goal 1:11 into his first game as player-coach of the Oilers, a 5–4 win over the Winnipeg Jets.
• He allowed Wayne Gretzky to live with his family after the Oilers acquired him.
• Sather won the Jack Adams Trophy in 1985–86 as the NHL's coach of the year.