Sather's Secret
Posted 2:36 PM ET | Comments 7
I think I figured out Glen Sather’s trick to being a GM. He follows the rule “If you can’t beat them, SIGN them”. Over the past few years Sather has made many different changes to the Rangers organization. With every decision the response from Rangers fans usually starts with “Why?” Glen Sather is not in good standing with many Rangers fans. Reasons like why he signed Wade Redden to a 6 year 6.5 million Dollar deal and why Dubinsky still isn’t signed doesn’t hold well with a lot of fans. Meanwhile fans from teams often criticize the Rangers for trying to “buy the cup” every year. I think it’s more like “buying the competition” than anything. Lets look at three big signings in the past few years. Chris Drury, Marian Gaborik and Donald Brasher all had there moments against the Rangers.
Chris Drury before being a Ranger many of you know was a Buffalo Saber on their 06’ 07’ playoff run. The game that sticks out most to me is game 5 off the 07’ playoffs. The Rangers had a 1-0 lead late in the 3rd period. With only 7.7 seconds left Drury fires in the game-tying goal. Later in OT Afinogenov rips in the game-winning goal. Giving Buffalo the 3-2 series edge. The goal and come back to me seemed like the turning point of that series. I was at MSG that night watching it inside the Garden. As everyone left I recall many “fans” saying its over. That summer guess who signs with the Rangers…. Chris Drury.
Marian Gaborik was just signed this year from the Minnesota Wild. In a mid season game the Rangers walked into Minnesota and were chewed up and spit out by Gaborik. That night not only did he score 1 goal but…2…. 3…. 4… and 5 goals. While many probably turned off the TV Gaborik put on a clinic. At the beginning of the offseason there where many potential goal scorers for the Rangers. All I’m saying is that the memory of that game may have pushed Sather to signing Gaborik.
I’m sure we all remember Donald Brasher from last season’s playoffs. When he delivered that punishing and illegal hit on Blair Betts. Which sidelined him for the rest of game 6 and game 7. The loss of Betts, the Rangers key face off guy and penalty killer was hard to swallow. Hatred for Brasher was at an all time high in New York. Only about 2 months later did Glen Sather sign Brasher and cause an up roar in NY.
While many have been able to forgive and forget what these players have done. No one has been able to do it faster then Glen Sather. Personally I don’t disagree with any of these signings. Although I’m not Sather’s biggest fan I agree with most of his moves. Will he bring us a cup in the next few years? I’m not sure. But I do know if u want to get on this team fast. Make sure that you stand out and knock a few guys around when playing the Rangers. NYR
Chris Drury before being a Ranger many of you know was a Buffalo Saber on their 06’ 07’ playoff run. The game that sticks out most to me is game 5 off the 07’ playoffs. The Rangers had a 1-0 lead late in the 3rd period. With only 7.7 seconds left Drury fires in the game-tying goal. Later in OT Afinogenov rips in the game-winning goal. Giving Buffalo the 3-2 series edge. The goal and come back to me seemed like the turning point of that series. I was at MSG that night watching it inside the Garden. As everyone left I recall many “fans” saying its over. That summer guess who signs with the Rangers…. Chris Drury.
Marian Gaborik was just signed this year from the Minnesota Wild. In a mid season game the Rangers walked into Minnesota and were chewed up and spit out by Gaborik. That night not only did he score 1 goal but…2…. 3…. 4… and 5 goals. While many probably turned off the TV Gaborik put on a clinic. At the beginning of the offseason there where many potential goal scorers for the Rangers. All I’m saying is that the memory of that game may have pushed Sather to signing Gaborik.
I’m sure we all remember Donald Brasher from last season’s playoffs. When he delivered that punishing and illegal hit on Blair Betts. Which sidelined him for the rest of game 6 and game 7. The loss of Betts, the Rangers key face off guy and penalty killer was hard to swallow. Hatred for Brasher was at an all time high in New York. Only about 2 months later did Glen Sather sign Brasher and cause an up roar in NY.
While many have been able to forgive and forget what these players have done. No one has been able to do it faster then Glen Sather. Personally I don’t disagree with any of these signings. Although I’m not Sather’s biggest fan I agree with most of his moves. Will he bring us a cup in the next few years? I’m not sure. But I do know if u want to get on this team fast. Make sure that you stand out and knock a few guys around when playing the Rangers. NYR
so what did Wade Redden do to deserve the love?
Nice write up. Very true but sad. Another thing that Sather does is that he goes and gets high priced free agents in bunches. Gomez, Drury and Rozi, Redden.
Got guys like Staal, Girardi, Cally, Dubi, Anisimov, Grachev, MDZ, Mcdonagh, Sangs, Heikkinen, Byers, Gilroy, Stepan, Kreider, Werek and possible the steal of this years draft in Bourqe. Gotta give credit where it's due and Gordie Clark and Sather do a fantastic job of drafting recently. And don't forget the pick in the 7th round I think his name is Henrik Lundquist.
Never said they couldn't evaluate amateur talent... they just have issues with pro talent scouting...
Agreed, they have some good talent and a lot of it is their own amateur scouting. Pro scouting... not so much. Honestly, the players they sign are not so bad as the contracts they get (with the exception of Redden- not so much talent at all).
u guys are so right.. were great at evaluation amateur talent recently.. hopefully we dont trade it away.. we have so many good young prospects.. we can have such a good young core hardworking team.. thats the way u get to a cap..very true though with signing people who beat us.. couldnt be more right
Great blog. He probably hires away the good dressing room guys too!