Former Oilers coach John Mukler has died

The Canadian Press

Oilers confirmed his death Monday night. No reason given.

Muckler was one of the staff who helped shape the Oilers dynasty in the 1980s. He joined the team as an assistant coach under Glenn Sother in 1982 and won five Stanley Cups with the company in 1984. Until 1990, he was the last to be head coach.

When Antarion left Edmonton, he was director of operations and head coach of Buffalo Sabers from 1991 to 1995. Muckler was the head coach of the New York Rangers from 1997 to 2000 and played 35 games as head of the Minnesota North Stars in 1968-69.

He became general manager of the Ottawa Senators in 2001 and helped build the team that reached the Stanley Cup Final in 2007, where the senators lost to Anaheim.

Muckler’s last NHL job was as a senior consultant with Phoenix Coyotes in September 2008, and he had a close relationship with then-head coach Wayne Gretzky since he was in Edmonton. .

“He was tough, tough, but the most affordable of all, and he helped lay the foundation for making our team more accountable to each other, which pushed us to become champions,” Gretzky said in a statement.

“A great family man and a great friend, he personally took my career to the next level, and I treasure the hours we spent talking, whether it was defensively cheating or raising a family.”

Muckler compiled 276-288-84 career coaching record.

He coached three NHL All-Star Games, as well as the Canadian Cup winning teams in 1984 and 1987.