Longtime NHLer Ryane Clowe Abandons the San Jose Sharks to Join Eastern Conference Rival

The announcement was met with plenty of support from Sharks fans, who hoped Clowe was okay and wished him the best moving forward.

However, today it was announced that Clowe would be joining the New York Rangers as an Assistant General Manager, the exact same role he had in San Jose.

The move comes in conjunction with three others, including the promotions of Jim Sullivan and Ryan Martin, and the hiring of former Ranger Blake Wheeler as a hockey operations advisor.

Why the Rangers Are Reshaping Their Leadership Group

To say the Rangers had an underwhelming year last year would be an understatement. After winning the Presidents' Trophy in 2023-24, the Rangers failed to make the playoffs entirely in 2024-25.

Bringing in Clowe is a sign that the Rangers want new voices in their front office to help make complicated decisions that can be worth millions of dollars and the elusive Stanley Cup.

Blake Wheeler, a former captain in the NHL, spent his final year in the league with the New York Rangers, where they won the Presidents' Trophy. After a year away from the NHL, Wheeler is back to help advise those in the Rangers front office, including GM Chris Drury, Clowe, Sullivan, and Martin.

This is all a part of a larger trend where former players join front offices at the end of their careers and continue to work in hockey and impact the game even when they cannot be on the ice scoring goals and making gritty plays.