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Islanders News: "You'll never find a better man, or a better coach, for that matter"

One man, one subject, many reflections.

Jim McIsaac/Getty Images

No additional hockey links today. Instead, here's a weekend's worth of reading about Al Arbour and his incredible life and legacy.

At LHH

Around the Hockey World

  • The Islanders' official statement includes words from Garth Snow about Arbour's impact on the current team, "Al is one of the reasons the New York Islanders are a historic franchise."
  • The team also talked to Denis Potvin, Bill Torrey and Jiggs McDonald about their friend.
  • NHL.com ran a package of Arbour tributes: The coach's story | Career timeline | Those that played with and for "Radar" talk about his influence.
  • Newsday on Arbour's passing, and Mark Herrmann on "those ever-present eyeglasses, is as much a symbol of the franchise as the logo."
  • NEW: At his personal blog, Newsday's John Jeansonne on Arbour as the human version of Nassau Coliseum, "Arbour's style and the team's Nassau Coliseum digs were analogous: Humble efficiency."
  • Stan Fischler remembers the man behind the coach in a hilarious and sweet memorial featuring Chico Resch in The Hockey News. Everything in this is gold: "[Al] bolted for his car and drove home only to realize as he reached the driveway that something was missing. His wife."
  • Brett Cyrgalis in the NY Post: "Al Arbour meant a lot to hockey, but he meant a lot more to the men he groomed over half a century in the game."
  • Mike Lupica doesn't stoop to covering the Islanders often, but for Arbour, Lupica weaves a gem about Arbour's place in the New York pantheon: "He was defense and class and he always told his players the same thing: 'We're only happy around here when we win.'" [LHH FanPost here]
  • The NY Times brings details and great old pictures, "He spent long hours examining videotapes of games and compiling detailed scouting reports when few other coaches were doing it."
  • Panthers connections Torrey and Potvin also talk to the Sun-Sentinel about Arbour.
  • For Sportsnet, Damien Cox on Arbour as a humble mentor.
  • ESPN has Arbour's unbelievable numbers and a treasure trove of great photos.
  • Assorted Islanders facts from Eric Hornick's Skinny blog.
  • Tom from Islanders Insight on legendary Arbour moments.
  • Sports Illustrated posted a classic article from 1972 on Arbour becoming the baby Islanders' "general."
  • Even opponents paid their respects, such as this statement from Ed Snider and Ron Hextall of the Flyers.
  • At Hockey Buzz, ref Paul Stewart says farewell to a friend and man he respected.

Video and More

  • Hornick also tweeted Arbour's Hall of Fame induction speech in 1996. [Warning: Fisherman logo ahoy]
  • In 2011, Arbour reflected on his Islanders with Chris Botta in a video posted at Islanders Point Blank.
  • Newsday video captures Pat LaFontaine and Clark Gillies discussing the affect of Arbour on their careers.
  • Brent Sutter talks to Sportsnet Radio about what Arbour taught the future coach.
  • The great Howie Rose spoke at length about Arbour's New York legacy and the respect he showed media members during last night's Mets-Red Sox game on WOR710. (Warning: Contains some baseball-like content)

Wearable Tribute

  • Custom pin designer Otto Art has crafted beautiful lapel pins featuring the glasses and a pair of orange and blue roses. You can order them now. All the money goes directly to the Arbour family.