Hall of Famer Glen Sather announces NHL retirement

Hockey Hall of Fame member Glen Sather announced his retirement Wednesday as the senior adviser to the owner and alternate governor of the New York Rangers.

Sather, 80, has been with the Rangers since June 2000 after being named as the team's president and general manager. He served as the club's GM for 14 years and president for 19 before moving into his advisory role five years ago. Altogether, Sather has spent a total of six decades in hockey as a player, head coach and front office executive.

Before his time with the Rangers, the Alberta native guided the Edmonton Oilers to five Stanley Cup championships as general manager -- including four as a head coach. He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in the builder category in 1997.

"Having the opportunity to be associated with the National Hockey League, and specifically the New York Rangers and Edmonton Oilers, has been one of the great privileges of my life," Sather said. "I want to thank Jim Dolan for giving me the chance to work for the Rangers 24 years ago and for his consistent guidance and friendship.

"I want to thank everyone in the Rangers organization for their dedication and pursuit of excellence throughout the years, as well as the family atmosphere they helped create. I would also like to thank the great Rangers fans for their passion and loyalty. This experience is something I will always treasure."

Rangers president and general manager Chris Drury played four seasons (2007-11) under Sather's watch with the Rangers.

"I would like to congratulate Glen on his tremendous career," Drury said. "I will forever be grateful to Glen for giving me the opportunity to play for the Rangers, and I was so fortunate to lean on him for guidance as I began my own career in the front office. I wish Glen -- along with Ann and the entire Sather family -- best of luck in the next chapter of their lives."

Sather spent 14 seasons as head coach of the Edmonton franchise (three when it was in the WHA, then 11 in the NHL) and parts of two seasons as the Rangers coach. He has a career record of 592-383-7 with 128 ties (497-307-7 with 121 ties in the NHL, 95-76-0 with seven ties in the WHA).