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Al Arbour Passes Away At Age 82

The four-time Stanley Cup winning coach spent six years with the Blues organization.

By hildymac
Jim McIsaac/Getty Images

Al Arbour, who led the New York Islanders to the Stanley Cup and created a dynasty, passed away today. He was 82.

As coach of the St. Louis Blues from 1970 through 1973, he went 42-40-25, leading the Blues to the semi-finals in 1972. As a player, the defenseman was one of the original players to don the Note, helping guide the team to three consecutive Stanley Cup finals appearances. Sid Salomon III assessed Arbour as "a good sergeant, but he's not a general" shortly before firing him. A worse assessment of a person is hard to find.

Arbour had been living with both Parkinson's disease and dementia, being cared for in hospice care in Sarasota, FL. Earlier this year, we asked for well-wishes for Al. Today we ask that you keep his family and friends in your thoughts and prayers.