Update: While the sentiment we expressed for Pat Burns is genuine we're happy to be wrong: he's still alive and has spoken with Bob McKenzie of TSN. We apologize for jumping the gun on this one and hope the Montreal Gazette, CTV Ottawa, and others who unceremoniously spread this story and then yanked it own up to their mistake.

Pat Burns (1952 - 2010) has passed away after a long battle with lung cancer.

Burns coached the Leafs from 1992 to 1996 including the 1992-1993 team that came out of nowhere to make a Western Conference Finals appearance before repeating their trip one year later. He coached the New Jersey Devils to their 2003 Stanley Cup win.

Pat Burns also won three Jack Adams awards as coach of the year in 1988 with Montreal, 1993 with Toronto and 1998 with Boston.

Shown to the left much thinner than any of us remember when we think back to his glory days this is a reminder of how hard he fought. It's an absolute disgrace that Burns never lived to see his plaque in the Hockey Hall of Fame but it will be there eventually.

Our thoughts go out to his family, rest in peace Pat.