Former Oilers coach John Muckler dies at 86

Former Edmonton Oilers coach and longtime executive John Muckler has died at 86 years old, the team announced.

Muckler played a pivotal role in the organization's dynasty throughout the 1980s. He was an associate coach on the Oilers' staff for their Stanley Cup championships in 1984 and 1985 before his promotion to assistant head coach. He won two more rings in 1987 and 1988 in that role before winning a fifth as head coach in 1990.

"He was tough, strict, but most importantly fair, and he helped lay the groundwork to make our team more accountable to each other which propelled us to become champions," Wayne Gretzky said in the release. "A wonderful family man and great friend, he personally took my career to another level, and I will always cherish the hours we talked, from breaking down defenses to raising a family. Rest in peace, John, you will be missed."

Muckler also held coaching or managerial positions with the Minnesota North Stars, Buffalo Sabres, Vancouver Canucks, New York Rangers, Ottawa Senators, and then-Phoenix Coyotes.

He was a finalist for the Jack Adams Award in 1994 with Buffalo, and helped build a Senators team that reached the Stanley Cup Final in 2007.

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