Pat Burns, ex Bruins Coach

Pat burns has won the Jack Adams award as NHL coach of the year. Three different times the only person in history to do that and by the way did it with three different original six franchises he also won a Stanley Cup championship. As -- head coach of the New Jersey Devils in 14 seasons 1019 games 501 wins. He has spent out of the coaching business sense being diagnosed with cancer for a second time. Back in ninth 2005 and pat burns joins us on the line right now hello pat how are you I'm doing great and I can't tell you how good it is to hear your voice.

Good to be with you droop guys to Michael do fine citizens to two guys that I got along great.

That's a pat I'm still upset. That the Bruins let you go what was it eight games eight games into the season to games into the season. All of that Travis -- not that anybody scout -- got everybody's counting that that you know really enjoyed. Work what you -- in that coverage you always unpredictable. At that the first question is an obvious question. How -- you doing in what was the latest that your.

Are -- well -- well. There's deal with this -- this these courts you gotta keep an iron out of that the main thing. You know at least city -- fine. Did have a second -- the but went through two two to be surgeries for the first one another -- second and -- European mediation and everything else. Alright now back in.

Somehow UN battling back don't seem too surprising to me mean that's sort of been the story of your career hasn't.

Well all of that about let that structure. Before originally Keisel yeah -- I quote some -- the other the.

It one of the things I was wondering about. With whether or not you want to coach again I saw you behind the bench couple weeks ago and I thought man that is exactly where that man was meant to beat you want to get back into this is again.

Well you know there a lot of people last the first question comes up that did from -- would you know you missed it in -- I said. At all. Life course in this. For years to go to juniors American art in the -- You'd you don't just forget -- of course. He still part of the doubles rules -- predictable and the and the theory is you know of course it is. Whether whether aren't going to get back into with I I don't read old cards. That's that's beyond not have to do promotion it is for for a job -- ovals and they. -- just you know. In the parliament from the sick. Of these these these that was the old time the situation never did combine optical in touch them grow it from there. Decision not then it would Stanley and medical decisions medical decisions.

Pat for sure there are some of our listeners who either have cancer or who have friends and and we members who have experience this terrible disease that you mentioned. Can you describe what the with the process was like for you I know physically it wears you down but mentally. How did you deal with that not only once but twice.

Well it's it is it's only the physical part of the treatment it's it's just it's it's really tiresome. At least for you and we -- situation -- nobody expected. Oswego city it can't happen mean. You know people a lot it does it does -- creep -- and we see more and more of it. I think restraining you know -- the doctors is that we have -- step in preventing it. And and they do have a theory but it it's it is very stressful. Physically but especially. I -- at the end of the two worn this before the playoffs. -- have -- trouble one for a screening and colon cancer but -- for the playoffs in -- but I didn't want to. Continue coaching that first row and he still. Of course it. And while the players involved in it it was a tough decision is to do what we couldn't get somebody the last have been so that the plan was to get to first round than we did get to true somebody else -- probably probably probably would have been pretty good job -- probably.

I've known you since your American hockey league days and I said a few minutes ago the Europe battlers and I firmly believe that and yet. When they came to you and said pat you've got to the second time. That had -- very hard.

It was it was because I had it been to the the first surgery radiation. And you know and and and so great -- Of course they second screening show up again. Never in its parent. I was very very fortunate to have some. And I think the ovals -- guys today.

Other than the doctors because that's the obvious question that obvious answer to the -- to my question how'd you get through but. Who who was there for you who who provided the inspiration that you need.

Well all of fielders firmly. -- but it's difficult to -- such. It was ego where she would seem to come home from getting team. -- radiation. She weighs in its you know way you'll lot to these people. That's stood by you. It --

Let's talk a little hockey -- you've seen the new NHL quote unquote do you like it.

Yes and no I've never been I've never had a problem outlined I didn't have little problem. With the hooking and holding. Especially going to and I think what we're doing bill would start to have been the -- one -- which he. In -- today because I think we're trying to limit it to -- little little bit of the the old time prospect park -- people act that you know the one on one battles in front of the net. One battles for the puck in the corner you know that's our game that's that's that's the -- field well are you I think that partnered just just was he too many.

Pat that's the thing that worries me the most I mean. For for the people who love the game I think we're getting away from what they want and it seems to be in an attempt to sell it to people who don't really love it as much as we do. And I think the people who love the game don't like it as much right now.

No they certainly built in and if you -- people I talked a lot of coaches past. And present. You can tell by weather but he says answer. And people didn't go to go you have. You know it you're gonna -- 1415 please we yielded there's going to be a -- guys on the bench that aren't going to play. Special and it's and I think that's well too so you know I just think that and and in in -- eight -- just -- our 28 guys start taken sides. What in well all -- And then now what happens is that everybody gonna get touched so isn't going to become like soccer and we certainly.

And -- the league has been criticized by fans five players current players former players. In the ratings are terrible it's on a network that a lot of people still can't find -- the ratings does does it's pathetic. How would you fix his game.

Well in all that oval the oval they situation take a lot of time to sit down really. Figaro things I think you know when they just talk -- those. Not to get away too much on. You know parties may. That's that's the way we know like there had to be that. That's certain -- this in this game I'm not I'm not seem stupid at times it -- there's going to be two guys who well you know that's the way it is and that's we -- was going to be in a league should be but you know we can't have these young -- coming into the league. They connectors this is what furcal and this is exactly morphine for the little houses game -- negative and should be called the there's there's none of that now it's automatic. And I think that's true.

Much of the rule changes were brought about by you guys in New Jersey I mean shocked lemerre before you got there but. You guys were so effective at what was called the neutral zone trap you once Stanley Cup championships other coaches said hey. Liking coach that how much do you think the devils played into the rule changes.

Well I think Lotta people said yeah I can when they did try and work you know people have to start stop you know. Understanding you know the doubles you have to look where they are today and with the same rules and what and 24 points for the first place in the Eastern Conference. So there's gotta be something wrong in which if you keep on in doubles because the rules there so in -- I saw was sort of one coach made some. So so ridiculous comment about one team being like the western. Western new actors doubles it is lift pro and look what position he was -- simple -- elected. Same position and so I really don't think you can blame that. I think it it I I. First when you do you agree with the cooking and only true low I don't believe in not that there should be shouldn't be in game. You don't have the -- you have to -- some information some kind of work carry it back. Traps -- been there it's almost existed always set the -- we gave it inane they've yet.

Pat you've -- a lot of great players your career one of them is Joe Thornton. And I'm just getting over November 30 2005. When the Bruins traded Joe -- the San Jose what were your initial thoughts when you heard about that traded in -- see why the Bruins did.

Well you know I don't really oh white weather was any situation what -- well I hadn't been part of for awhile ago that the jewel of the group after and a lot I spoke to I think two days after the trade. He he did -- called and spoke to look at them on our people now that you funny you know. Got through everything and and you know which to do you -- and pretty good. I would say dictates city but it did it to read our organization you gotta go there and then and and bring your talents you know and then just forget about this awful thing -- don't forget about the well. There one of the best which -- have them on and that's needed it.

I've found it interesting because there were people who thought well pat burns held back jail for his development and all that stuff and and after he got traded the guy he wanted to talk to the call and talk to about getting traded was you I don't think fans understood the relationship you guys.

All -- they didn't. I think that the I just that I knew that this is the that this young player. And -- one thing in support him in this situation and we saw that. Remember the name Alexander take. We we saw that we all situations with these first round picks. Known incident in line and and didn't make it didn't want to see that happen in. And you know we we took sight of some criticism or what I believe that was right thing to do -- you know it was a different situation with with -- But remember he came from the international he was playing and -- word joking generally. Teams play.

I'm sure -- is definitely doesn't have a place in New Hampshire

we've we've been we've been definitely -- in -- in the wintertime but and sometimes -- always go back in action is slope.

Do you still follow the Bruins and so what do you think up.

Well in all they have a little you know there's there's ways to go here and you know I think two games 30 games to play with what they need to do they have in depth. It is finishing first in the in the and that divisions in the top. Awful Ottawa Montreal struggled late -- you know. You think Pittsburgh went -- but there it is certainly come along they rule. The -- have to get down -- they have to get some consecutive wins put together ventured -- If they if they expect to make -- you know it's --

I can't tell how good it is to hear your voice and here you sounded healthy in Harding and I can't wait to see you behind the bench again someday in the NHL it's great to talk today. Our -- care -- that is pat burns the former head coach of the Boston Bruins