04-18-2004, 02:14 PM
Hope this doesn't hurt his job status. I heard that the administration for the Devils were talking about firing him.
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) -- New Jersey Devils coach Pat Burns has colon cancer and will immediately begin treatment, he said Sunday, a day after the defending Stanley Cup champions were knocked out of the playoffs.
Burns, 52, said his status with the team will be determined in six to eight weeks, when the treatment ends. He will undergo treatment five days a week beginning this week, he said.
``For those who know me well, I've never backed down from any fight. And I'm not going to back down from this one,'' he said.
Burns made the announcement at a news conference at Continental Airlines Arena that was also attended by his wife and Devils general manager Lou Lamoriello. Burns read from a prepared statement and did not answer questions.
A three-time NHL coach of the year, Burns led the Devils to their third Stanley Cup title in nine years last season, his first with the team.
New Jersey lost to Philadelphia 3-1 Saturday, losing the best-of-seven opening round series in five games.
``I wasn't the coach I should have been the last couple of weeks, but I had a lot of things on my mind so it was understandable,'' he said.
Burns insisted on coaching the Devils against the Flyers, although he said treatment would have prevented him from coaching if New Jersey had gotten past the first round.
``He was trying to get the team ready 100 percent just like he always does,'' defenseman Scott Niedermayer said. ``We didn't notice anything until he didn't come to a couple of morning skates. Then we knew he wasn't feeling well.''
Burns had missed two practices last week for undisclosed personal reasons.
``The last month or so I have not been feeling well,'' he said. ``There were signs that something was not right but I was reluctant to do anything because the playoffs were coming up.''
Defenseman Scott Stevens described the reaction of the Devils to Burns' illness as ``shock and depression.''
``This definitely puts everything in perspective,'' Stevens said. ``Hopefully he'll fight through this. He's a tough guy.''
Before arriving in New Jersey, Burns coached Montreal, Toronto and Boston for a total of 13 seasons.
He hadn't coached since being let go by the Bruins only eight games into the 2000-01 season. There was talk it would be tough for him to find a job as teams sought younger coaches with new ideas, new systems and no reluctance to try new things.
But Burns, a former policeman from Hull, Quebec, with a sullen personality and a self-proclaimed inability to smile, meshed well with the Devils.
Burns' record with the Devils is 89-53-22, and 17-12 in the playoffs. He is 501-367-151 overall.
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) -- New Jersey Devils coach Pat Burns has colon cancer and will immediately begin treatment, he said Sunday, a day after the defending Stanley Cup champions were knocked out of the playoffs.
Burns, 52, said his status with the team will be determined in six to eight weeks, when the treatment ends. He will undergo treatment five days a week beginning this week, he said.
``For those who know me well, I've never backed down from any fight. And I'm not going to back down from this one,'' he said.
Burns made the announcement at a news conference at Continental Airlines Arena that was also attended by his wife and Devils general manager Lou Lamoriello. Burns read from a prepared statement and did not answer questions.
A three-time NHL coach of the year, Burns led the Devils to their third Stanley Cup title in nine years last season, his first with the team.
New Jersey lost to Philadelphia 3-1 Saturday, losing the best-of-seven opening round series in five games.
``I wasn't the coach I should have been the last couple of weeks, but I had a lot of things on my mind so it was understandable,'' he said.
Burns insisted on coaching the Devils against the Flyers, although he said treatment would have prevented him from coaching if New Jersey had gotten past the first round.
``He was trying to get the team ready 100 percent just like he always does,'' defenseman Scott Niedermayer said. ``We didn't notice anything until he didn't come to a couple of morning skates. Then we knew he wasn't feeling well.''
Burns had missed two practices last week for undisclosed personal reasons.
``The last month or so I have not been feeling well,'' he said. ``There were signs that something was not right but I was reluctant to do anything because the playoffs were coming up.''
Defenseman Scott Stevens described the reaction of the Devils to Burns' illness as ``shock and depression.''
``This definitely puts everything in perspective,'' Stevens said. ``Hopefully he'll fight through this. He's a tough guy.''
Before arriving in New Jersey, Burns coached Montreal, Toronto and Boston for a total of 13 seasons.
He hadn't coached since being let go by the Bruins only eight games into the 2000-01 season. There was talk it would be tough for him to find a job as teams sought younger coaches with new ideas, new systems and no reluctance to try new things.
But Burns, a former policeman from Hull, Quebec, with a sullen personality and a self-proclaimed inability to smile, meshed well with the Devils.
Burns' record with the Devils is 89-53-22, and 17-12 in the playoffs. He is 501-367-151 overall.