ST. LOUIS, Jan. 10 (UPI) -- Former longtime St. Louis Blues General Manager Ron Caron has died at age 82, the club announced Tuesday.
Caron died Monday night in Montreal after a long illness, the team said.
"On behalf of the St. Louis Blues, I would like to express how saddened we are to hear about the passing of Ron Caron," Blues President John Davidson said. "Mr. Caron was extremely passionate about the Blues and the city of St. Louis. He will truly be missed."
Caron served as team's GM from 1983-94 and again during the 1996-97 season, a total of 12 years.
Nicknamed "The Professor" for his encyclopedic hockey knowledge, Caron led the Blues into the playoffs in every one of his seasons in the front office, compiling a 438-405-127 mark.
He was one of the most colorful characters in team history, combining a frequently explosive passion for the game with entertaining quips, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported.
He also won six Stanley Cups as a member of the Montreal Canadiens' organization previous to his stint with St. Louis.
Caron's best trade is generally considered to be his acquisition of Brett Hull from Calgary in 1988.
