"I'm glad to say I've won something now," said Burns. "I've accomplished a lot in the years I've been (in hockey). I have not always been easy with the way I get on in these press conferences. But, what I think is important is my team and how my team feels about me."

In that respect, Burns is the ultimate winner.

His team respects him, although they may not all love him. After a win in Game 5 of the Finals, player after player talked about the real possibility of winning the Cup for the first time. But, at that time, they also talked about the pressure of not disappointing Burns. In those comments, the Devils let their true feelings about the man perceived as being the harshest of taskmasters come through loud and clear.

"I think he's extremely unique," said Joe Nieuwendyk, who missed the Finals with a torn oblique muscle, but was giving every chance to return by Burns. "All the coaches I've played for are different in their own right. But, the thing that impresses me so much about Pat is that he treats guys with respect and he expects a lot out of the guys, but he treats everyone like men. He doesn't hold anything back in that regard."

New Jersey captain Scott Stevens has won three Cups with the organization, under three different coaches. In 1995, supreme tactician Jacques Lemaire led the team to its first Finals triumph. Five years later, Lemaire disciple Larry Robinson, a player's coach in every regard, delivered the second title.

Monday night, Stevens said Burns earned the right to be considered their equal.

"Well, he's an old-style coach," said Stevens, an old-style player. "He demands a lot from us, and he kept us on an even keel. He's a character. He hates to lose and I'm much the same way, so I like his style. He has his ideas and his beliefs. We never changed our style. He just tried to get people to buy into the system throughout the season and get better at it and that's all it is.

"It's great to see him finally get a win and win the Stanley Cup because he's done a great job for this hockey club."

Ken Daneyko: "He's probably one of the toughest coaches I've played for, but well worth it, I'll tell you that".

Even Daneyko, who had the most reason to dislike Burns because of the coach's decision to sit him down in the first round, ending his iron streak in the Playoffs, could only praise Burns after the team's Cup victory.

It helped that Burns showed his sentimental side, not only putting Daneyko in the Game 7 lineup, but throwing him out there in the waning seconds of Mondays game so Daneyko, in perhaps his last season, could be on the ice when the Cup was clinched.

"He came in from day one and was a no-nonsense guy," said Daneyko. "He did some things that sometimes you don't understand. But, I guess that's why he coaches and we play. Like I said, I didn't understand him putting me back in the lineup, but he was a guy that just stayed focused throughout and kept our guys focused.

"He's probably one of the toughest coaches I've played for, but well worth it, I'll tell you that."

If the Stanley Cup wasn't enough to put a smile on Burns' face, those words from Stevens and Daneyko, the consciences of this championship squad, would surely do the trick for the man that always cared more about his team than personal glory.