Al Arbour, who coached Isles to 4 Cup titles, dies at 82

UNIONDALE, N.Y. (AP) — Al Arbour, who coached the New York Islanders to four consecutive Stanley Cup championships and ranks as the NHL's second-most winningest coach, has died, team officials announced today. He was 82.

The cause of death is unclear, though Arbour was battling Parkinson's Disease and dementia. He had been living in Florida.

Arbour transitioned from a successful 14-season NHL playing career as a defenseman to become one of the league's all-time best coaches.

Beginning in 1973-74, Arbour led the Isles to 15 playoff appearances and won 119 playoff games – an NHL record with one team – over 19 seasons. His 740 career regular-season wins with the Islanders are the most with one NHL team. He retired after the 1993-94 season, before returning to coach his 1,500th game with New York on Nov. 3, 2007.

Arbour was elected into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1996.