Remembering NHL Coaching Great, Al Arbour

One of sports’ all-time great coaches and winners, Al Arbour, has passed on at the age of 82.

He guided the New York Islanders to four straight Stanley Cup victories from (1980-1983) and five straight Stanley Cup Finals appearances including the team’s finals loss in 1984.

Additionally, the Islanders made the NHL semi-finals in nine of ten seasons from 1975, just their third season, through 1984.

Mr. Arbour also played in the playoffs for three Stanley Cup winners, the 1961 Chicago Black Hawks and the 1962 and 1964 Toronto Maple Leafs.

Only a few days back, I commented in a nostalgic conversation that the New York Islanders had one of the greatest periods, certainly in hockey, if not North American sports history. Al Arbour, a true great was a big part of their greatness.