NASHVILLE - Roger Neilson, a Hall of Famer who coached eight teams and established one of the longest resumes in league history, died Saturday. He was 69.
Mr. Neilson had been battling skin and bone cancer. He died at his home in Peterborough, Ontario, the Ottawa Senators said. Mr. Neilson's death was announced by NHL commissioner Gary Bettman 90 minutes into Saturday's draft.
"We'll miss you, Roger," Bettman told the crowd, which stood for a moment of silence.
Mr. Neilson was a coach or scout each of the past 25 seasons but never won a Stanley Cup. He had just completed his third season as an assistant with the Senators. He reached the playoffs 11 times in 15 seasons as a head coach.
His illness forced him to miss some games during the Senators' deepest playoff run, ended with a seven-game loss to New Jersey in the Eastern Conference final.
This season, as he became stooped and gaunt and wore a baseball cap to cover his bare head, Mr. Neilson was a motivational force.
He spoke to the Senators before their Game 5 win over the Devils. Defenseman Chris Phillips recalled what Neilson meant.
"It wasn't something we talked about every day," Phillips said. "But every guy in this room knew it. I feel terrible. This was the team that was going to be able to do that, win one for Rog, and we let him down."
Lightning associate coach Craig Ramsay knew Mr. Neilson since he was 14. He played for him for four years in juniors and with the Sabres, was Mr. Neilson's assistant with the Panthers, worked with him in Ottawa and took over from Mr. Neilson when Mr. Neilson was fired as Flyers coach, though Mr. Neilson remained as an assistant.
"He was a very honest, sincere guy who wanted to make people better no matter what they were doing, not only in the hockey business but in their personal lives," Ramsay said. "That's what he'll be remembered for. As great as a hockey coach as he was, it was the way he touched people."
The last time Ramsay spoke to Neilson was before the Senators faced the Devils. Neilson called for a Devils scouting report after New Jersey eliminated Tampa Bay in the previous round.
"He sounded tired but, as usual, he was ready to go to work and get some information as to how to win," Ramsay said. "He didn't want to talk about (his illness). He just wanted to talk hockey."
Lightning director of player personnel Bill Barber coached Philadelphia's AHL affiliate when Mr. Neilson coached the Flyers. "It's a big loss to everyone, especially his family," Barber said. "He's been around so long and done so many good things, I can't speak any more highly of him."
Mr. Neilson was elected last year to the Hockey Hall of Fame in the builders' category. He was labeled "Captain Video" for introducing videotape as a teaching tool.
- Times staff writer Damian Cristodero contributed to this report.
