There is still important contract work to be done that apparently no one else in Edmonton is capable of handling, so Glen Sather will remain in control of the Oilers through either the end of June or until he gets another job, whichever comes first.
But his loyalty to the organization goes only so far, which is why Sather will have no second-thoughts about taking Kevin Lowe out of Edmonton with him if that’s what the coach desires, even though Lowe is Oiler ownership’s first choice to become the team’s next GM.
“Would I feel guilty about that? Absolutely not,” Sather said yesterday. “You’re talking about winning; that’s a lot different from offering to take care of contract issues and helping the organization through this month.
“If I’m going someplace, I’m going to pull any strings I can in order to be successful. I’m going to want the best coach possible for my team. When I get another job, I’m still going to have a lot of warmth in my heart for the Oilers, but I’m going to do everything in my power to beat that team every time I play them.”
Sather, who met twice for exploratory conversations with Garden executives before his Friday resignation from the Oilers, said he still has not been presented with a contract offer from the Rangers or from any other team. But he certainly expects to, probably sooner rather than later.
“I’d be a fool if I didn’t listen to the Rangers. I’ve said I’m intrigued. I think it would be fun. I think New York would be a great adventure,” Sather said. “But certainly I haven’t made any decisions about where I’m going, if I’m going anywhere, so I’ll listen to anyone.
“One thing I won’t do is take an offer from one team and then bring it to another team in order to sweeten the pot. This is not going to be a money decision for me. It’s going to be about competing, about the organization.
“When I go somewhere, when I take this next job, I want the opportunity to win or to fall on my face.”
The Rangers will be in. San Jose may dip its toe into the waters. Toronto could make a bid, but Sather there would be layered between Pat Quinn and Ken Dryden. Montreal doesn’t have the money.
And then of course, there’s Phoenix, where Wayne Gretzky may be set to become part owner and czar of hockey operations for the Coyotes under prospective new owner Steve Ellman.
“I think it’s great for Wayne if that’s what he really wants but it makes me a little bit nervous if he goes there,” Sather said. “Why? Well, he’s a competitor, too.”
When it was suggested that he and Gretzky could wind up competing together for the same side, Sather chuckled.
“We could,” he said. “We could.”