The guy has handed out some of the worst contracts in league history, and he lucked out of getting rid of both of them (otherwise wouldn't they both still be eating up ~14 million in cap space?). If it wasn't for gross incompetence from (I want to say) Bob Gainey, and then gifted two buyouts to get rid of the Redden and Richards contracts, the Rangers are far from getting to the Cup - in fact they're closer to the bottom of the league. Add on to that giving a plug like Tanner Glass a three year, 1.5 million contract. He's had some success - generally good drafting and generally very good trading - he has a huge blind spot when it comes to FAs.
Handing out those contracts hasn't hurt the franchise. He works for one the richest teams in the league, under an owner who is willing to spare no expense for his franchise. All those contracts combined have been a huge net positive for the team. Gomez produced solidly with the team, then was dealt for a super stud and the cap space to sign Gaborik who then produced a ton. Drury was the captain, and while he was over paid, his contract did not force us to lose home grown talent nor did it keep them out of the bidding for other pieces. Redden was buried, with his cap hit, in the AHL. Didn't hurt a bit. The buyout there was a favor to Redden, to let him try to get back into the NHL. The only thing he was costing was dollars, dollars Dolan was fine with parting with. Richards was a leader on the team, both in production on the ice and in leadership off of it, in his time in NY. He was bought out, and the only thing that was lost in the buyout was again cash Dolan didn't mind paying. The only way to bring in Richards was to pay him that price, and it was clearly worth it. The team doesn't do the elite work it does over those years minus him. Tanner Glass, whatever, he doesn't even really play and the fourth line is great without him. If you think Tanner Glass drops Slats out of being a clear cut top ten GM you're crazy, because it's a nothing move.
The Rangers have been incredibly successful under Sather for a while now, and Sather deserves the credit. He has full reign over the franchise, and it's clearly been a top franchise for a while now.
