GET WELL PAT BURNS

Former Bruins, Devils, Canadiens, and Maple Leafs head coach Pat Burns is fighting his third bout with cancer in the past six years. Burns, who was diagnosed with colon cancer in 2003, and liver cancer in 2005, learned in May, 2008 that the disease has returned in his lungs. I think I can speak for most hockey fans when I say that I sincerely hope Burns beats this thing once again.

As a Bruins fan, I loved the way Burns liked to mix it up with opposing coaches. His argument with Capitals coach Ron Wilson after the team's--goalies included--brawled during a game in Boston in 1998 was certainly memorable. He always said what was on his mind without being afraid of the consequences, and was a hell of a coach as well. Burns won three Jack Adams awards as the NHL coach of the year for three different teams, and won a Cup with New Jersey back in 2003.

Burns, who's career record stands at 501-350-161, has been doing some scouting for the Devils but was hoping to get back into coaching before he was diagnosed. Hopefully he'll be able to make a triumphant return to the bench at some point soon.