Pat Burns Dead At 58; Former NHL Coach Led Devils To Stanley Cup

Devils Blog: 'In A Perfect World, Burns Would Still Be Coaching Devils'

Last year, our Devils blog, In Lou We Trust, put together an all-decade team for the New Jersey hockey club. They all agreed that only one coach could take the honor of being named to that team. That coach was Pat Burns.

Here's what John Fischer at ILWT had to say, a sentiment that is ever more poignant now that coach has passed on.

To put it simply, Burns got so much more out the Devils in those two seasons than any coach in the last decade.  It led to the team's third Stanley Cup, his first as a head coach, and it cemented him as a legend among New Jersey supporters. 

A part of me wants to think that in a perfect world, Burns would still be coaching the Devils to this day.  After all, Burns falls completely with the organization's principles and goals; and as with the organization itself, I believe Burns would take the steps to ensure he didn't wear out his welcome among the players. Burns certainly held the organization in high enough regard to be a part of the team as a special assignment coach for a few seasons after the lockout - even if it meant just fighting cancer in Florida.   Alas, this is not a perfect world; the cancer spread to the point where Burns is trying to enjoy what he has left; and the Devils are still trying to find a more permanent answer at head coach.  Still, as a fan myself, I can't think of anyone who was as close to being a perfect fit as a head coach for the Devils.

After all, there is only one Pat Burns.

Read more of the tribute over at ILWT.

Pat Burns Dead At 58; Former NHL Coach Led Devils To Stanley Cup

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:

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.