Speculation: Fire Glen Sather

[schabadoo]

I'd just like to say that if the Rangers lost this game there would be a flood of posters riding in here on their high horses whining about draft picks, the team sucks, the team's not built properly like the Blues and the Kings etc, etc.

Some of you guys need to be treated for post-traumatic Rangers dark ages disorder. It's OK to hope sometimes.

I believe there's a 'I don't care if we win a Cup, fire Sather' feeling amongst some posters here.

 

[HatTrick Swayze]

If I see the Rangers win a Cup in my adult lifetime, they can preserve Sather's DNA and Jurassic Park resurrect him so he can serve as GM for time as we know it by continually mating with himself.

It's science.

 

[McRanger]

I assume the "mediocrity" is meant as a term for Sather's entire tenure and not just this season. Also for me, it's tough to define mediocrity in sports. If your team makes the playoffs 6 seasons in a row, but can't get past the second round and got past the second round only once in that span, will that team retain the same staff and/or GM during that time? And if not, then is it mediocre? I don't know. Where does a GM have to lie within wins and losses for a period to be considered mediocre? Somewhere outside 10th, 11th or 12th best in terms of record, playoff appearances, and playoff wins during that period? I don't know, but it would be interesting to see where Sather stands over his tenure.

Having said all that, I personally would not suggest this season was a mediocre season. If they lose tonight, I have to say they played better than many thought they would, went further than most of the league has done, and I can say that it's past mediocrity. It's at a point that many in RangerLand actually expect a win and the Rangers have injected confidence into the fanbase. Well, at least I can say I wouldn't be surprised if they won tonight, knowing it will be tough played game.

Fletch my old chum, you have but to ask.

If I may reference my own (painstakingly researched) post from a previous Sather thread:

---------------------------
Sather's Rangers (current edit: before this year):

Since '00-'01 the Rangers are 16th in games in playoff games played.*
Since '00-'01 the Rangers are 15th in playoff series wins.*

Since the cap in '05-'06, the Rangers are 9th in playoff games played.
Since the cap in '05-'06, the Rangers are 11th in playoff series wins.

In those 12 seasons the Rangers are one of 15 teams to not go to the Stanley Cup Finals.
In those 12 seasons the Rangers are one of 20 teams to not win the cup.

Mediocrity. Even only looking at the last 8 seasons the Rangers are still, at best, only at the top of the list of also-ran's.

On a lighter note...

Since '00-'01 the Rangers have played in more playoff games than the Islanders, Florida, Atlanta/Winnipeg and Columbus combined.

Since '00-'01 the Rangers have won more playoff series than the Minnesota, Phoenix, the Islanders, Florida, Atlanta/Winnipeg and Columbus combined.

Since the cap in '05-'06 the Rangers have played in as many playoff games as St. Louis, Minnesota, the Islanders, Toronto, Florida, Atlanta/Winnipeg and Columbus combined.

Since the cap in '05-'06 the Rangers have won as many playoff series as Nashville, Phoenix, St. Louis, Toronto, Calgary, Minnesota, Islanders, Florida, Atlanta/Winnipeg, and Columbus combined.

Nothing like being better than expansion teams! Florida, Phoenix and the Islanders have no excuse.

*It should be noted that those pre-lockout early 2000's teams Sather inherited were so bad, I would be surprised Jesus could get them into the playoffs quickly as GM/coach.

-----------------------------------------

Statistically, Sather has been the epitome of indifferent mediocrity.

And yet, even looking at those hard stats, I still feel such a classification is generous.

But such sweet motherf***ing is for another time. Tonight is a time for celebration.

 

[17futurecap]

 

[GAGLine]

Whatever chance there was of Sather being fired is gone now. Our only hope is to win the cup and Sather retires. Just tell me who I have to hit in the knee with a crowbar to get this done.

 

[RangerBoy]

Maybe Sather rides off into the sunset if the Rangers win the Cup.

 

[Fletch]

thanks McRanger. It says what I thought it would say and it's easier to place such a label when you have a word that has a definition and statistics to back it up. Nice work, and as you said, today (well, last night) is/was a time for celebration. Beating a Pens team in the second round is beyond where many (I believe) thought this team would be at this point. Of course, coming from behind and winning a couple on the road kind of puts a dramatic flair to things and erases earlier thoughts of blowing it after a game 1 win! Congrats to this team and their effort. Time to rest those legs and minds, stretch a bit, and get ready for the Conference Finals! Going to call it the Wales Conference finals and a team from the Patrick division will play a team from the Adams division!!! Original six. I love it!

 

[I Eat Crow]

Still want him gone.

Good to see you around here, Fletch.

 

[GoAwayGiannone]

Now that the Rangers go on to the ECF once again, Sather apologists will be unbearable.

 

[NickyFotiu]

Now that the Rangers go on to the ECF once again, Sather apologists will be unbearable.

Playoffs 8 times in last 9 seasons

2nd round 3 seasons in a row.

ECF 2 times in last 3 seasons.

No need to apologize for this teams record in the last 9 seasons.

 

[Hi ImHFNYR]

Playoffs 8 times in last 9 seasons

2nd round 3 seasons in a row.

ECF 2 times in last 3 seasons.

No need to apologize for this teams record in the last 9 seasons.

There ARE many reasons why this is not good enough because it isn't good enough. My only argument has ever been that many people now exaggerate how bad it's been to such a degree that it seems ridiculous and no longer credible or correct. But that's just my perspective and several posters here feel like sitting in the grey area (and still wanting him gone) is ridiculous and tantamount to being an apologist. I can't ignore the good and I certainly can't ignore the bad either. I have maintained since the MSL trade that this current team is the absolute deepest Sather has ever assembled and it has every shot of winning it all. But it's like a 1C team not a 1A top of the line team. Sather in 14 years has never managed to put together the absolute best team in the league. That's a bad job. Other things he's done were good but the thing I just mentioned is really bad. A lot of times the best team doesn't even win the cup but we've never had the best team or won. He tried through the draft very heavily the last 8 or 9 years. Now he's gone a little trade happy. He's obviously also always done his FA thing too. Now we have to hope the guys on the ice, who have more than enough talent and heart to win, can actually pull it off.

 

[TheTakedown]

There ARE many reasons why this is not good enough because it isn't good enough. My only argument has ever been that many people now exaggerate how bad it's been to such a degree that it seems ridiculous and no longer credible or correct. But that's just my perspective and several posters here feel like sitting in the grey area (and still wanting him gone) is ridiculous and tantamount to being an apologist. I can't ignore the good and I certainly can't ignore the bad either. I have maintained since the MSL trade that this current team is the absolute deepest Sather has ever assembled and it has every shot of winning it all. But it's like a 1C team not a 1A top of the line team. Sather in 14 years has never managed to put together the absolute best team in the league. That's a bad job. Other things he's done were good but the thing I just mentioned is really bad. A lot of times the best team doesn't even win the cup but we've never had the best team or won. He tried through the draft very heavily the last 8 or 9 years. Now he's gone a little trade happy. He's obviously also always done his FA thing too. Now we have to hope the guys on the ice, who have more than enough talent and heart to win, can actually pull it off.

my favorite is the guys that thing Sather literally sits on his ass and smokes cigars all day.

Sather has been better than average, at best. he's never been killer at this job, and he knows it

 

[NickyFotiu]

If making the ECF 2 times in last 3 seasons and 2nd round 3 years in a row and playoffs 8 times in the last 9 seasons is not good than 80% of GMS would be fired. The hatred I read on this board is personal. The posts saying even if we win the cup that they want Slats fired proves it's personal hatred not about being a good team.

 

[Jersey Girl]

Was this last night? Was Sather in attendance?

 

[DutchShamrock]

Its not always about bad or good. Talk last night was if Ray Shero gets fired for the Pens inability to get over the hump, a sin Bylsma will almost surely pay for. If the Pittsburgh GM can get fired for not being the right guy, Sather surely can. With Dolan at the helm, with the rangers getting 8 playoff gates minimum, that is out of the question.

 

[Jersey Girl]

Its not always about bad or good. Talk last night was if Ray Shero gets fired for the Pens inability to get over the hump, a sin Bylsma will almost surely pay for. If the Pittsburgh GM can get fired for not being the right guy, Sather surely can. With Dolan at the helm, with the rangers getting 8 playoff gates minimum, that is out of the question.

Not to mention the fact that Shero did win a Stanley Cup in Pittsburgh five years ago!

Regarding Sather, he's not getting fired, ever. 8 playoff gates, 16 playoff gates, 0 playoff gates - doesn't matter. Sather is leaving when Sather decides to tell Dolan Sather is leaving.

I think the only scenarios in which Sather leaves earlier than 10-15 years from now is if he falls ill (which I am NOT wishing on him) or if we win the Stanley Cup and he wants to retire on top - which I am TOTALLY wishing on him!

 

[NickyFotiu]

Dolan is not firing Slats so the haters can either get over their hate or go root for Torts in Vancouver..... or wherever.

 

[Jersey Girl]

Dolan is not firing Slats so the haters can either get over their hate or go root for Torts in Vancouver..... or wherever.

Yup, like it or not Sather has a contract for life, win or lose.

 

[Bluenote13]

From the GREAT Laches, circa 2003:

10. On signing Malakhov: "If you look through the NHL, there aren't many players with his type of ability; he has superstar ability."

9. On booing fans: "Well, that's the way it works in sports. You cheer and help the team get better. You boo them, they get worse. It's the same as your children. If you have a child who is having trouble in school and you berate him every day he's never going to get any better.â€

8. On the Lindros trade: "No. I don't think it's very risky."

7. On taking over the Rangers: "I'm going to send out a bit of a wakeup call to the entire team. If you're not going to work and sacrifice yourself, then there's no room for you."

6. On trading for Poti: "I think he'll be one of the top players in the league.â€

5. On the Lindros trade part II: "You can be a lion maybe once in your life. If you don't make this deal, you're a mouse forever….Wouldn't you rather be a lion for one day than a mouse for life?"

4. On the Kovalev 'trade': "I don't think it's a salary dump at all. I think it's a trade. This is a trade I don't think many teams would turn down."

3. More on taking over the Rangers: "I'm not singling anybody out, but if these veterans don't come in ready, we'll be the first team to have $6 million players in the minors, and I'm not kidding. I don't want anyone to waste my time."

2. On organizational direction: "At some point in time, this organization has got to get younger and get some enthusiasm."

and, the number one quote from Glen Sather...

1. On building a winner: "One thing, though, and I hate to say it, but a high budget doesn't bring a championship. Hard work, players living for each other and working with each other striving for the same goal wins championships. I don't believe you can buy a winner, though that's not to say that you don't sign a free agent if there's one available who can help the team. I think a team has to be built. You build through the draft and through trades."

And don't forget his first quote before he got here, which seems to me to be about HIM rather than the team:

"If I had the Rangers payroll, I'd never lose a game"
-Glen Sather

 

[HatTrick Swayze]

If making the ECF 2 times in last 3 seasons and 2nd round 3 years in a row and playoffs 8 times in the last 9 seasons is not good than 80% of GMS would be fired. The hatred I read on this board is personal. The posts saying even if we win the cup that they want Slats fired proves it's personal hatred not about being a good team.

Everyone has relatively different standards for success. Like obviously is based on Cups and wins. If you are happy with what the Rangers have accomplished that is wonderful and there is no debate that they have been consistently above average in the last 9 years while producing some fun and undoubtedly sucessful postseason runs compared to the rest of the field this year and 2012.

It has been a blast, and I just want to enjoy beating friggin Pittsburgh. So I'm gonna keep this novel short. But I don't think it has to be "personal" at all to still want Sather fired or to have heightened expectations than your individual level of happiness with what the Rangers have done to date.

 

[NYROrtsFan]

Dolan is not firing Slats so the haters can either get over their hate or go root for Torts in Vancouver..... or wherever.

Exactly... It's confusing to me that some people still do not accept this.

Hasn't history proven it to you? There are plenty of other times where Sather should have been fired and it wasn't really even a question.

 

[Jersey Girl]

Exactly... It's confusing to me that some people still do not accept this.

Hasn't history proven it to you? There are plenty of other times where Sather should have been fired and it wasn't really even a question.

I think most of the fan base realizes this, but that doesn't change their opinion that he should be fired. Wanting Sather fired, and thinking he could actually be fired, are two different things.

 

[NickyFotiu]

Everyone has relatively different standards for success. Like obviously is based on Cups and wins. If you are happy with what the Rangers have accomplished that is wonderful and there is no debate that they have been consistently above average in the last 9 years while producing some fun and undoubtedly sucessful postseason runs compared to the rest of the field this year and 2012.

It has been a blast, and I just want to enjoy beating friggin Pittsburgh. So I'm gonna keep this novel short. But I don't think it has to be "personal" at all to still want Sather fired or to have heightened expectations than your individual level of happiness with what the Rangers have done to date.

When a poster says even if we win the cup I want him fired that is personal. I do not see how that is about winning.

Every team wants to win. Winning takes a lot of factors in this era. Some factors like health/death are not controllable so the most I can ask is to put a entertaining team on the ice that has a chance to win.

 

[Tawnos]

Exactly... It's confusing to me that some people still do not accept this.

Hasn't history proven it to you? There are plenty of other times where Sather should have been fired and it wasn't really even a question.

Not that I haven't felt that way about that sentiment before... but, I will say two things.

Something not likely to change has never been a reason to not complain about it.
and
If no one complained about Sather because he isn't going anywhere, there would be a lot less interesting discussion on here.

We can point to two ECFs in three years all we want and say that it shows that Sather has done a good job. He has, really. I have a problem though. The Rangers have to make the SCF for me to be really happy with what he's done recently. Why? Because he already had an ECF caliber team and he sacrificed a ton of assets in order to vastly change the team. The only way that those sacrifices are justified is if it makes the team better. Right now, they're on par with what he had. Who would be happy with throwing assets at a problem just to stay still?

 

[OverTheCap]

Everyone has different expectations for success. Personally, I feel like if you have been a GM of an organization for 14 years, you should have more than 2 ECF appearances to show for it - maybe an SCF appearance at the very least.

Sather is now the 4th longest tenured GM in the league behind Lamoriello, Holland, and Poile. Lamoriello and Holland have won multiple cups while Poile has managed to field competitive teams despite being a small market expansion franchise with ownership issues and budgetary restraints - challenges that Sather has never come close to facing in NY.

I have no qualms about demanding more from Sather than what we have seen thus far. We reached the ECF two years ago and many of the moves he's made since then were to put us "over the edge" - Nash, St. Louis, AV, etc. This team made a lot of changes in order to "win now" so I'd like to see them take it the next level instead of just spinning their wheels.