Hall of Fame Coach Al Arbour Dies at 82

[GMRwings1983 8,803]

http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nhl-puck-daddy/former-new-york-islanders-coach-al-arbour-dies-at-age-82-163859386.html

If Bowman is the best coach in NHL history, Al Arbour isn't far behind.

And yes, he spent several seasons with the Red Wings as player.

[haroldsnepsts 4,826]

A couple more short pieces on Arbour if any of the youngin's here who may not know who he was are interested.

Definitely one of the greatest coaches of all time.

http://www.thescore.com/nhl/news/818109

http://www.tsn.ca/hhof-coach-arbour-passes-away-1.352204

[GMRwings1983 8,803]

No team in sports will ever win 19 consecutive playoff series again. Too much parity now.

Those Islander teams are probably my favorite dynasty in NHL history.

[chaps80 1,591]

RIP.

[haroldsnepsts 4,826]

No team in sports will ever win 19 consecutive playoff series again. Too much parity now.

Those Islander teams are probably my favorite dynasty in NHL history.

Considering what they achieved the Islanders seem like the most overlooked dynasty in NHL history.

4 Stanley Cups in a row (Montreal is the only other team to better that feat and it was in the original 6 years)

Won 19 consecutive playoff series (a completely untouchable record) and posted a 60-18 post season record

They accomplished all this only 8 years after their creation as an expansion team.

[chaps80 1,591]

The Isles dynasty might be overlooked because the Oilers starting piling up cups right after them. When many people, especially casual hockey fans, think of the 80's, they think of the Oilers. Which has a lot to do with Gretzky i'm sure.

[toby91_ca 620]

Not only what the Oilers did after them, but what the Canadiens did before them.

[Learn2LuvIt 246]

Went to college with one of his daughters. Great family. All of them (including Al) were really down-to-earth and really kind people. RIP Al. Thoughts and prayers to the rest of the family.

[GMRwings1983 8,803]

Not only what the Oilers did after them, but what the Canadiens did before them.

It was a strange time in the NHL. Montreal wins 4 straight, the Islanders win 4 straight, and the Oilers (almost) win 5 straight.

Poor Boston. They had some great teams during this stretch, but were on the wrong end of those teams.

Edited August 31, 2015 by GMRwings1983

[Helmethead 235]

The infamous Steve Smith scoring on his own goal versus Calgary game is the only thing which prevented the Oilers from winning 5 Cups in a row . Always felt bad for Smith. Solid dman, had a good career. The Oilers had plenty of time to tie that game 7 up but he was blamed for the loss. It was cool to see him be the first one to be handed the Cup the next season when they beat the Flyers in 7. Who knows how many more Cups that team would have won if they could have kept that team together. They even won a Cup without Gretzky and 2 without Coffey.

Edited August 31, 2015 by Helmethead

[GMRwings1983 8,803]

The infamous Steve Smith scoring on his own goal versus Calgary game is the only thing which prevented the Oilers from winning 5 Cups in a row . Always felt bad for Smith. Solid dman, had a good career. The Oilers had plenty of time to tie that game 7 up but he was blamed for the loss. It was cool to see him be the first one to be handed the Cup the next season when they beat the Flyers in 7. Who knows how many more Cups that team would have won if they could have kept that team together. They even won a Cup without Gretzky and 2 without Coffey.

Yeah, the 1989 Flames may not have won the Cup had Gretzky not been traded. Then again, as you said, they won the following season.

I mentioned the Bruins earlier, but the Flyers were also victims of those Montreal, Islander and Oiler teams. Never could get past the hump.

[cusimano_brothers 1,655]

Alger Joseph "Radar" Arbour.

After distinguishing himself as an

amateur hockey star, Arbour was

signed by the Detroit Red Wings

and played his first professional

game in the NHL in 1953.

[GMRwings1983 8,803]

He played some games for that 1954 team, but not sure if he got his name on the Cup.

[Helmethead 235]

His best coaching may have come in 1993 when the Isles upset the heavily favoured Pens going for their 3rd Cup in a row. That's one of the biggest upsets I've seen. The Pens were a machine that season. Arbour knew how to get the most out of what he had. One of the all time great coaches. He was a very good player too . A winner all the way around.

[Hockeytown0001 7,652]

RIP to a hockey legend.