It’s the end of an era, both for the New York Rangers and hockey in general. As Glen Sather retires almost a decade after handing the reins to Jeff Gorton, it’s impossible to ignore his legacy both with the Rangers and across the NHL. Both good and bad, Sather’s legacy stretches far beyond his nearly 25 years with the Blueshirts. The 5 time Stanley Cup winner, all with the Edmonton Oilers, left a mark on the game.

Despite the tumultuous start to his tenure in New York, he oversaw one of the longest stretches of sustained success in New York Rangers history. Sather is famous for stating he could win every year with the Rangers’ budget, then followed it up with horrible signings, trades, and finally admitting the Rangers needed to rebuild.

The Rangers made the playoffs in all but one season between the lockout and “The Letter,” and we don’t talk about Olli Jokinen anymore around here. Some will say the Rangers were all Henrik Lundqvist, and to an extent that’s true, but Sather deserves credit for the rebuild and finding players to build around.

As for Colin Campbell, he’s only mentioned here since he was the coach of the Rangers after Mike Keenan and before the Dark Ages. He’s not well liked and it’s a bit odd he didn’t get a Pete Rose type ban, given his ref tampering while his son played for the Bruins. But it’s Rangers related news nonetheless.

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