Jack Adams
Contrary to numerous but erroneous reports this morning that he had succumbed to his battle with lung cancer, Pat Burns is still alive at his home in Quebec with his family.
Apparently, Burns has even had a little fun with all of the reports, telling Bob McKenzie;
"Here we go again. They're trying to kill me before I'm dead. I come to Quebec to spend some time with my family and they say I'm dead. I'm not dead, far (expletive) from it. They've had me dead since June. Tell them I'm alive. Set them straight." [more…]
Now, I for one dislike the "coulda, woulda, shoulda" debate when it comes to the National Hockey League Hockey Hall Of Fame. Â After all, I think it somewhat demeans and disregards the accomplishments of those who are selected, and that simply isn't right.
No one knows better than I do how much Dino Ciccarelli deserves the call to the Hall.  I have been telling more or less anyone who will listen for a number of years that I thought he belonged.  I couldn't be happier for  Angela James and Cammi Granato, the first female players to be enshrined.  And Jim Devellano and Daryl "Doc" Seamen are both incredibly intelligent men who deserve their spot along hockey's greatest.
But as a Leafs fan, it's hard not to feel selfishly snubbed once again. Â With yesterday's vote for the Hall of Fame here and gone for another year, the only thing I could think of wasn't what was, but what could have been.
And what could have been would have been really special.
