Two-time Stanley Cup champion and former defenseman and coach Bob Murdoch has died at the age of 76, the NHL Alumni Association announced Friday.

The NHL Alumni Association is deeply saddened to learn that Bob Murdoch has passed away at the age of 76.

Bob had a brilliant achievement @NHL A career both on and off the ice. In his first three seasons since playing, Bob won the Stanley Cup, where he was a two-time champion. @canadiensMTL In 1970-71 and… pic.twitter.com/fgA4U9Sve5

— NHL Alumni (@NHLAlumni) August 4, 2023

Murdoch was diagnosed with Lewy body dementia, Parkinson’s disease and Alzheimer’s disease in 2019, according to the announcement. (Related: Chicago Blackhawks owner Rocky Wertz dies suddenly at 70)

The defenseman has scored 278 points in 757 NHL games for the Montreal Canadiens, Los Angeles Kings and Calgary Flames and will eventually help coach as an assistant, according to the alumni association.

In his first three seasons as a player in Montreal, Murdoch won the Stanley Cup twice and won with the Canadiens in 1971 and 1973, according to the alumni association. His efforts in coaching the Jets earned him the 1990 NHL Jack Adams Award for Coach of the Year.

Murdoch was fired from Winnipeg after the 1991 season and worked as an assistant coach with the San Jose Sharks before moving on to coach the NHL in Europe. Said.

Former Murdoch teammate and current MP Ken Dryden writes for the Toronto Sun editorial While pointing out that Murdoch didn’t play a “bashing game” last year, he said he was smart and played with his head, noting that he studied mathematics at the University of Waterloo. bottom. “As we know, real damage often comes from the cumulative number of daily blows to the head over the course of a game, season and career, the vast majority of which are not penalized. ‘ wrote Dryden.