TORONTO - Mike Murphy, the NHL's vice-president of operations, revealed Friday he has cancer.
The 59-year-old told Toronto sports radio station Fan 590 he was diagnosed six weeks ago with Hodgkin's lymphoma.
Murphy, who coached the Maple Leafs and the Kings, said he is undergoing chemotherapy to be followed by radiation treatment.
"If I'm blessed, I will be cancer-free come playoff time," said Murphy.
Anaheim Ducks forward Saku Koivu beat the disease in 2001, while former Pittsburgh Penguin Mario Lemieux also successfully fought off the cancer of the blood which has a 90 per cent cure rate.