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          Reaction to Pat Quinn's death

          Pat Quinn ranks fifth on the league's career list for games coached (1,400) and games won (684). Anne-Marie Sorvin/USA TODAY Sports
          • ESPN.com
          Nov 24, 2014, 12:03 PM ET

          Longtime NHL coach Pat Quinn died Sunday night at Vancouver General Hospital after battling a lengthy illness. The two-time Jack Adams Award winner was 71 years old. The following is a sampling of the tributes expressed by members of the hockey fraternity on Monday:

          "Whether he was playing for a team, coaching a team or building one, Pat Quinn was thoughtful, passionate and committed to success. Pat's contributions to hockey, at every level, reflected the skills he possessed and the great respect with which he treated the sport. The National Hockey League, one of the many organizations to benefit from his devoted service, sends heartfelt condolences to Pat's loved ones and his many friends around the hockey world." -- Commissioner Gary Bettman

          "We are deeply saddened by the passing of Pat Quinn. Pat is one of hockey's most respected individuals whose lifetime involvement as a player, coach and executive has made an indelible mark on the game, and our thoughts and prayers are with Sandra and all of Pat's family and friends at this extremely difficult time." -- Jim Gregory, vice chairman of the Hockey Hall of Fame

          "I have never worked with someone like Pat in my life. There's coaches and then there's managers of people. I've never met a man who manages people as well as he does on a coaching staff." -- Blues coach Ken Hitchcock told ESPN.com

          "We have lost a great man. It's a sad day for hockey and for everyone who loves our game. On this difficult day I am thinking about Pat, his family and his friends, and how much he will be missed. I wouldn't be the person I am today if it weren't for Pat. He was a great leader and always a teacher. He taught me how to be a professional on and off the ice. He taught me how to play hockey the right way, how to win, and about the importance of respect and loyalty. Pat's impact on our city has been immeasurable. He was responsible for bringing hockey to the forefront in Vancouver. He brought the pride back to the Canucks and today his finger prints and impact are still felt within this organization." -- Canucks president Trevor Linden

          "Pat was a great leader and coach. I was fortunate to spend many years playing for him. Nobody got attention and respect from his players better than Pat. He was also a great person." -- Former Leafs captain Mats Sundin told ESPN.com

          "He was a smart guy, but a gentle giant for sure. I was fortunate to have such a great coach, someone to learn from." -- Former Leafs blueliner Bryan McCabe told ESPN.com

          "Pat was a very well respected coach, a guy that players would go through the wall for. He demanded hard work and he got it. ... You didn't want to disappoint him." -- Flyers president Paul Holmgren told ESPN.com

          "Pat Quinn represented everything you could want in a coach and a man. His presence, his patience, his toughness, and his grasp of what was required in the moment, all define Pat. The Hockey World is shaken today, and the pain of losing Pat Quinn will resonate with millions. To Pat's family, we wish you peace, at what has become the end of his journey, and the beginning of his legacy. We are fortunate you shared him with us." -- Tom Renney, President and CEO of Hockey Canada told ESPN.com

          "Pat Quinn was not just a great coach but he's been a great friend, we spent a lot of summers together. ... He's been huge to Hockey Canada and was always there for them." -- Former Hockey Canada president Bob Nicholson told ESPN.com

          "He was a great man. Unbelievable presence. Intelligent, intelligent guy. He was great at handling the media in Toronto. Maybe the last guy that was able to do that. Spent his whole life in the game." -- Red Wings coach Mike Babcock told ESPN.com

          "I can't remember being with him and not having a good time, having a good laugh. He always had an impact on you because he was larger than life. He had that presence. He had that personality -- he was charismatic. People wanted to be around him." -- Predators GM David Poile told ESPN.com

          "Words cannot express the pain we all feel today for the Quinn family. Pat was an inspiration to all of us. He always said that respect was something that should be earned, not given, and the respect that he garnered throughout the hockey world speaks for itself. He will be sorely missed." -- Vancouver Giants majority owner Ron Toigo

          "I think that's a sad day for coaching in the National Hockey League. All the condolences from myself, my coaching staff and the Ottawa Senators to the Quinn family. Really a patriarch of coaching in the National Hockey League. I think we've all watched him. I remember watching him when he played. Obviously very competitive, physical man, an imposing man when he played and when he coached. It's a great loss to the National Hockey league and the Quinn family." -- Senators coach Paul MacLean