Pat Burns

In Burns first year as an NHL coach, the Canadiens finished the [[1988–89 NHL season]] with a division-winning 53-18-9, ultimately losing the Stanley Cup finals in six games to the [[Calgary Flames]]. Burns won the [[Jack Adams Award]] for coach of the year, his first of three wins.{{cite web|title=Pat Burns, Stanley Cup winner, dies at 58|url=http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=544018|publisher=[[NHL]]|date=November 20, 2010|access-date=February 14, 2015}} A defensive-minded coach,{{cite web |last1=Dixon |first1=Ryan |title=Celebrating the '93 Montreal Canadiens and Canada's last Cup |url=https://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/montreal-canadiens-stanley-cup-1993-oral-history/ |website=Sportsnet.ca |access-date=May 25, 2021}} Burns would lead Montreal to the second round of the playoffs in every year as head coach, before making a shocking resignation at the end of the 1992 season where they were swept by the [[Boston Bruins]], citing his frustration with the media.{{cite web|title=Former Leafs coach Pat Burns dies at 58|url=http://toronto.ctvnews.ca/former-leafs-coach-pat-burns-dies-of-cancer-1.576734|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150215060156/http://toronto.ctvnews.ca/former-leafs-coach-pat-burns-dies-of-cancer-1.576734|url-status=dead|archive-date=February 15, 2015|publisher=[[CTV News Channel (Canada)|CTV]]|date=November 19, 2010|access-date=February 14, 2015}}

In Burns first year as an NHL coach, the Canadiens finished the [[1988–89 NHL season]] with a division-winning 53-18-9, ultimately losing the Stanley Cup finals in six games to the [[Calgary Flames]]. Burns won the [[Jack Adams Award]] for coach of the year, his first of three wins.{{cite web|title=Pat Burns, Stanley Cup winner, dies at 58|url=http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=544018|publisher=[[NHL]]|date=November 20, 2010|access-date=February 14, 2015}} A defensive-minded coach,{{cite web |last1=Dixon |first1=Ryan |title=Celebrating the '93 Montreal Canadiens and Canada's last Cup |url=https://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/montreal-canadiens-stanley-cup-1993-oral-history/ |website=Sportsnet.ca |access-date=May 25, 2021}} Burns would lead Montreal to the second round of the playoffs in every year as head coach, before making a shocking resignation at the end of the 1992 season where they were swept by the [[Boston Bruins]], citing his frustration with the media.{{cite web|title=Former Leafs coach Pat Burns dies at 58|url=http://toronto.ctvnews.ca/former-leafs-coach-pat-burns-dies-of-cancer-1.576734|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150215060156/http://toronto.ctvnews.ca/former-leafs-coach-pat-burns-dies-of-cancer-1.576734|url-status=dead|archive-date=February 15, 2015|publisher=[[CTV News Channel (Canada)|CTV]]|date=November 19, 2010|access-date=February 14, 2015}}

Following his departure from Montreal, Burns was hired as head coach of the [[Toronto Maple Leafs]]. He had also received an offer from the [[Los Angeles Kings]], but he cited the Leafs' history as a factor in his decision, and added "I find myself fortunate to coach two of the greatest franchises in NHL history."{{cite web|title=Pat Burns, Builder Category|url=http://www.hhof.com/htmlinduct/ind14burns.shtml|publisher=[[Hockey Hall of Fame]]|access-date=January 29, 2024|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140701115414/http://www.hhof.com/htmlinduct/ind14burns.shtml|archivedate=July 1, 2014}} He led Toronto in their best playoff run since [[1967 Stanley Cup Playoffs|1967]], making it to the conference finals, losing in seven games to the Kings. At the NHL Awards, Burns won his second Jack Adams trophy. He followed that performance with another trip to the conference finals in 1994, losing in five to the [[Vancouver Canucks]]. The Leafs again made the playoffs in 1995, but following a disappointing losing streak during the 1996 season, Burns was let go.

Following his departure from Montreal, Burns was hired as head coach of the [[Toronto Maple Leafs]]. He had also received an offer from the [[Los Angeles Kings]], but he cited the Leafs' history as a factor in his decision, and added "I find myself fortunate to coach two of the greatest franchises in NHL history."{{cite web|title=Pat Burns, Builder Category|url=http://www.hhof.com/htmlinduct/ind14burns.shtml|publisher=[[Hockey Hall of Fame]]|access-date=January 29, 2024|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140701115414/http://www.hhof.com/htmlinduct/ind14burns.shtml|archivedate=July 1, 2014}} He led Toronto in their best playoff run since [[1967 Stanley Cup Playoffs|1967]], making it to the conference finals, losing in seven games to the Kings. At the NHL Awards, Burns won his second Jack Adams trophy. He followed that performance with another trip to the conference finals in 1994, losing in five to the [[Vancouver Canucks]]. The Leafs again made the playoffs in 1995, but following a disappointing losing streak during the 1996 season, Burns was let go in March 1996. Burns had been making $850,000 to coach the Maple Leafs, one of the highest salaries for a coach in the NHL.{{Cite web |last=Cooper |first=Tony |date=October 22, 1996 |title=Toronto Not Turning Over New Leafs |url=https://www.sfgate.com/sports/article/ON-THE-NHL-Toronto-Not-Turning-Over-New-Leafs-2962050.php |access-date=April 20, 2026 |website=[[SFGate]] |language=en |quote=In any case, the Leafs are a mess. And the person having the biggest chuckle over it all is Pat Burns, fired as coach late last season. He's a hockey broadcaster -- and collecting his $850,000 salary for sitting at home.}}

Burns took a year off from hockey before being hired to coach the [[Boston Bruins]] in 1997. He won the Jack Adams at the end of the season, making him the only coach in history to win the award three separate times. All three of his wins came in his introductory season with the team. The Bruins continued to have success until the [[1999-2000 NHL season|1999-2000]] season, when they missed the playoffs, the first time in Burns's career where his team missed the playoffs.{{cite web|title=Former NHL coach Pat Burns dies|url=http://www.cbc.ca/sports/hockey/former-nhl-coach-pat-burns-dies-1.887587|publisher=[[Canadian Broadcasting Corporation|CBC]]|date=November 19, 2010|access-date=February 14, 2015}} Burns was fired eight games into the [[2000-01 NHL season|2000-01]] season, following a disappointing 3-4-1 record.

Burns took a year off from hockey before being hired to coach the [[Boston Bruins]] in 1997. He won the Jack Adams at the end of the season, making him the only coach in history to win the award three separate times. All three of his wins came in his introductory season with the team. The Bruins continued to have success until the [[1999-2000 NHL season|1999-2000]] season, when they missed the playoffs, the first time in Burns's career where his team missed the playoffs.{{cite web|title=Former NHL coach Pat Burns dies|url=http://www.cbc.ca/sports/hockey/former-nhl-coach-pat-burns-dies-1.887587|publisher=[[Canadian Broadcasting Corporation|CBC]]|date=November 19, 2010|access-date=February 14, 2015}} Burns was fired eight games into the [[2000-01 NHL season|2000-01]] season, following a disappointing 3-4-1 record.