McVie made his NHL head coaching debut when he succeeded Hall of Famer Milt Schmidt in Washington on New Year’s Eve in 1975, but he never finished higher than fourth before heading to the WHA.

Tom McVie, a Boston Bruins ambassador who coached the New Jersey Devils, Washington Capitals and Winnipeg Jets, died at the age of 89.

He began his coaching career with the Capitals and spent parts of nine seasons as a head coach with the Capitals, Jets and Devils before taking on various roles with the Bruins.