Hockey legend Arbour dies

Photo: Contributed - New York Islanders

Al Arbour, who coached the New York Islanders to four consecutive Stanley Cup championships in the early 1980s, died Friday at the age of 82.

Arbour was being treated for Parkinson's disease and dementia near his home in Sarasota, Fla. His death was confirmed by the Islanders.

"Al will always be remembered as one of, if not, the greatest coaches ever to stand behind a bench in the history of the National Hockey League," Islanders president and general manager Garth Snow said in a statement. "The New York Islanders franchise has four Stanley Cups to its name thanks in large part to Al's incredible efforts. From his innovative coaching methods to his humble way of life away from the game, Al is one of the reasons the New York Islanders are a historic franchise. On behalf of the entire organization we send our deepest condolences to the entire Arbour family."

NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman released the following statement.

“The National Hockey League deeply mourns the passing of Al Arbour, revered head coach of the dynastic New York Islanders.

"A four-time Stanley Cup champion as a player and a brilliant motivator and tactician as a coach, Al Arbour directed the Islanders' rapid transformation from expansion team to NHL powerhouse -- guiding them to four straight Stanley Cup championships, five consecutive appearances in the Stanley Cup Final and an astounding 19 consecutive playoff series victories. As it grieves the loss of a profound influence on coaching and on the game itself, the NHL sends its heartfelt condolences to Al's family and friends, to his former teammates and to all the players he mentored."

Inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1996, Arbour also won the Stanley Cup four times as a player, with the Detroit Red Wings in 1954 (though he did not dress for a playoff game), with the Chicago Blackhawks in 1961 and with the Toronto Maple Leafs in 1962 and 1964.

With a roster that included future Hall of Fame members Billy Smith, Denis Potvin, Bryan Trottier, Mike Bossy and Clark Gillies, the Islanders won the Stanley Cup in 1980, '81, '82 and '83. They made the Final in 1984 but lost to the Edmonton Oilers in five games, ending a streak of 19 consecutive playoff series victories, a record in professional sports.

"Al was a great motivator. He was probably our father figure in the fact that we all respected him so much," Trottier said in a 2014 radio interview. "He had a great command of the room and at the same time he had a big man's presence.

"He had won a lot of Stanley Cups as a player with several different teams, he played with great players, so he always brought that credibility with him. For us to sit down with him 1-on-1 or when he was in front of us as a team, he had a great presence.

"We loved the man."