Pat Burns, the former NHL head coach who enjoyed success with the Montreal Canadiens, Toronto Maple Leafs, Boston Bruins, and New Jersey Devils, has passed away on Friday. Burns, age 58, was battling lung cancer. From the Winnipeg Free Press:
Pat Burns Dead At 58; Former NHL Coach Led Devils To Stanley Cup
The New Jersey team confirmed his death today.
The native Quebecer stopped coaching upon discovering six years ago that he had colon cancer. He conceded at a public event earlier this year that he was unlikely to live much longer.
Though Burns had accepted the dire condition of his health, we had hoped that this report was a false one, as was the case in September. Burns brought success to all four NHL teams he coached. In his first season as an NHL coach, he reached the Stanley Cup finals with the Canadiens. After four years, he took the head coaching job with the Maple Leafs, leading them to three playoff appearances. Burns then began yet another four-year stint, this time with the Boston Bruins.
Burns’ greatest success came in the 2002-03 season, when he led the Devils to their third Stanley Cup championship. After the 2003-04 season, Burns, who had been a police officer before his career in hockey, made the decision to retire for health-related reasons. Fans campaigned on his behalf to get him inducted to the Hockey Hall of Fame, but he was not inducted before his death.
We certainly hope the Hall has a change of heart toward the beloved head coach, who earned many, many fans across the NHL during his coaching career. Be sure to check out the reaction from our Canadiens blog, Habs Eyes on the Prize, our Maple Leafs blog, Pension Plan Puppets, our Bruins blog, Stanley Cup of Chowder, and our Devils blog, In Lou We Trust.
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