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Tanner Glass promoted to lead New York Rangers player development department

Following the departure of Jed Ortmeyer, the Rangers have promoted Tanner Glass to lead a player development department facing immense organizational pressure.
ByTom Urtz Jr.|
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Mar 3, 2016; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; NHL linesman Derek Amell (75) talks with New York Rangers left wing Tanner Glass (15) during a time-out against the Pittsburgh Penguins in the second period at the CONSOL Energy Center. The Penguins won 4-1. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images
Mar 3, 2016; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; NHL linesman Derek Amell (75) talks with New York Rangers left wing Tanner Glass (15) during a time-out against the Pittsburgh Penguins in the second period at the CONSOL Energy Center. The Penguins won 4-1. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images | Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images

On Friday, it was announced that Jed Ortmeyer was leaving the New York Rangers after nine years. Just over 24 hours later, his replacement has been named. Tanner Glass, Ortmeyer's longtime No. 2 in command, has been officially promoted to Director of Player Development. The Rangers opted to stay in-house as opposed to bringing in an outside perspective. a decision that is already raising eyebrows across the fanbase.

Who is Tanner Glass?

Glass, much like Ortmeyer, was a meat and potatoes NHL player who led with grit and physicality. Originally drafted in the ninth round of the 2003 NHL Draft by the Florida Panthers, he carved out an 11-season career spanning 527 games. Three of those years were spent on Broadway, where he became a polarizing but respected figure for his work ethic, tallying 15 points and 181 penalty minutes in 134 games.

Interestingly, Glass often found another gear in the postseason, recording five points in 30 playoff games for the Blueshirts. A Dartmouth graduate and former team captain with a degree in history, Glass rejoined the Rangers in 2019 as a development coach. He was promoted to Assistant Director of Player Development a year later, a position he held for six years prior to this latest promotion.

Fans have a right to be skeptical

The Rangers moved on from Ortmeyer after his nine-year tenure, yet they immediately promoted the person who spent the last six years as his direct deputy. While Glass may have a different philosophy now that he’s in the top chair, it is a tough sell for a department that has been defined by stagnation.

The names Lias Andersson and Vitali Kravtsov still loom large as lottery picks who failed to launch, and the lack of reliable NHL talent emerging from the Hartford Wolf Pack remains the biggest hurdle for Letter 2.0. The timing of this, Ortmeyer leaving on a Friday and Glass being promoted on a Saturday, suggests this wasn't an exhaustive search for the best possible voice. Instead, it feels like a pre-determined succession.

At this point, fans will have to wait and see what Glass can do with total autonomy. It is possible he was the best candidate, but by bypassing an external search, Chris Drury has added a layer of unneeded pressure to a high-profile job that is already under fire

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