"I think hockey is a game, a child's game, played by men and to play it effectively you must have fun just like children do. I've been with too many teams in sports through the years where you weren't allowed to open your mouth, you weren't allowed to laugh, you weren't allowed to question the coach or anyone in authority … You lived in fear. My players don't live in fear. They get up in the morning, they're happy and they go to bed, they're happy. And that's the type of person I am."

“To avoid criticism, say nothing, do nothing, be nothing.”

“Sometimes I don't think he knows Wednesday from Thursday, and then sometimes I think he's a genius who's got us all fooled”

“Be more concerned with your character than your reputation. For your character is what you really are, while your reputation is merely what others think you are.”

“I swear I have never told a player to attack another player. In fact, I have told my players if they ever hear me saying something like this, they can break a stick over my skull. I ask only that they play aggressively.”

“We're in a weird position. All year long people keep telling us that we're bad for hockey, bad for the NHL, bad for Canada because we're too rough. Now we're supposed to save the game for the NHL, for Canada, for everyone. Hah! For the first time we're the good guys.”

“Arrive at the net with the puck and in ill humor.”