Chris Neil: Bryan Murray was like a father to me

The hockey world continues to mourn the passing of former NHL general manager and coach Bryan Murray, who succumbed to a three-year battle with colon cancer at age 74 on Saturday.

Perhaps the most poignant tribute came from one of the toughest to play for the Ottawa Senators in recent years, gritty winger Chris Neil, who remains an unrestricted free agent following 1,026 games with the team.

"(Murray) was like a father to me with the bond we had," Neil told the Ottawa Sun's Ken Warren. "He gave me an opportunity to play. I have so much respect for the guy for what he has done in hockey and what he has done in getting people checked out for colon cancer."

Neil, known largely for his willingness to drop the gloves for his teammates, scored 28 goals over the two full seasons Murray served as Ottawa's head coach - a testament to his ability to get the most out of his players.

"He got the most out of every single guy in the locker room. Whether you played four minutes or 24 minutes, guys would skate through the wall for him. In today's game, that's hard to find. He was really good at reading people and relating with players."

Neil also credited Murray for being a fighter to the very end, and for leaving a lasting impact as a result.

"He fought for a long time," Neil said. "When he was first diagnosed, he wasn't given much time, but he surpassed all that. He knew what he had to do. He got the word out about colon cancer. He was open and honest about it and he is going to save some lives because of it. He was remarkable."

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