Former Toronto Maple Leafs assistant GM, broadcaster, and NHL executive Bill Watters sadly passed away at the age on 83 as the hockey world is in mourning.
Sunday morning came with the unfortunate news that former Toronto Maple Leafs assistant GM, longtime Sportsnet, TSN, and The FAN 590 contributor, and former player agent Bill Watters had died at the age of 83:
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The news was broken by Steve Simmons of the Toronto Sun and it led to an immediate outpouring of support from his colleagues and friends he's met over the years including Joe Bowen, with TSN also putting out a memorial on their social media page:
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The Maple Leafs also put out an official statement, with Senior Advisor to the GM Mats Sundin penning the tribute:
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Other media personalities also took the time to share stories and pay tribute to the former broadcaster as well:
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Watters spent 12 years as Maple Leafs GM from 1991-2003 and oversaw the likes of Mats Sundin, Doug Gilmour, Curtis Joseph, and Darcy Tucker's rise as part of that legendary and iconic group.
Watters also co-hosted Hockey Central on Sportsnet, had his own radio show on AM 640, and had recently been working with former NHL great Phil Esposito as part of a bi-weekly broadcasting program online.
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Watters also left Toronto media personalities and contemporaries with a lot of memories - including some wise words hidden within:
One colourful phrase I learned from Bill Watters (and he had many), was “If ‘if and buts' were candies and nuts, we'd all have a merry old Christmas.”
Meaning, stop making excuses for what happened and what could have happened. I still use it today.
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We here at HockeyPatrol would like to offer our sincere condolences to the friends, family, and colleagues of Bill Watters as they navigate this difficult time.
RIP Bill Watters
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