Al Arbour, who coached the New York Islanders to four consecutive Stanley Cup championships in the 1980s and finished his career with the second most coaching wins in National Hockey League history, died on Friday in Sarasota, Fla. He was 82.
His death was announced by the Islanders.
When he was named the Islanders’ coach in 1973, Arbour took over a team that had won only 12 games the previous season, when it joined the N.H.L. as an expansion franchise.
Arbour emphasized defense at first, then a more freewheeling style as talented players arrived, and he was an intense presence at practices as well as on game nights.