NHL coaching great Murray dies at 74
OTTAWA — Bryan Murray, an NHL coaching giant known for his rapier wit, acute hockey sense and, ultimately, courage in his fight against cancer, has died. He was 74.
The Ottawa Senators confirmed Murray’s death in a statement on Saturday. The former NHL coach and general manager, who remained in the game until his death, had been fighting colon cancer for three years.
Murray received the cancer diagnosis in the summer of 2014, but he waged a valiant, public battle against the disease, remaining actively involved with the Senators as a senior adviser. He stepped down as general manager after the 2015-16 season.
“I owe a lot to Bryan as he gave me a shot and he’s a big reason why I’m playing in the NHL,” said Senators forward Zack Smith. “It was heartbreaking news to hear of his passing. He was always honest with guys and was just great to work with. ”
“My thoughts and prayers are with the entire Murray family,” Senators captain Erik Karlsson wrote on Twitter. “Thank you for everything Bryan. You gave me the chance to be who I am today.”
Over 35 years of working in the NHL, Murray won the Jack Adams award as NHL coach of the year in 1984 with the Washington Capitals and executive of the year as general manager of the Florida Panthers in 1993.
He coached the Senators to a Stanley Cup final appearance in 2017. Murray coached 1,239 regular-season games over his NHL career, notching 620 wins, the 10th most in NHL history.
“Bryan Murray’s strength and character were reflected in the teams he coached and the teams he built over decades of front office excellence,” NHL commissioner Gary Bettman said in a statement. “While his warmth and dry sense of humour were always evident, they were accompanied by the fiery competitiveness and determination that were his trademarks.”