Gilles Leger, who worked as a pro scout in the Rangers organization for 20 years, has passed away, the NHL reported. It was announced in a statement on Wednesday.
He was 83 years old.
“The hockey world is mourning the loss of Gilles Leger, who played professional hockey for six decades and served as a coach, general manager, pro scout and other hockey administration roles with teams in the NHL, AHL and WHA,” the league said in a statement. “Our deepest condolences go out to his family and the many friends he dedicated so much to the hockey game he loved so much over the years.”
The cause of death has not been revealed.
Leger worked as a scout for the Rangers from 2000-2020 after serving three seasons as a scout in the Oilers organization.
Previously, Leger worked for the Quebec Nordiques, starting his career as director of player development in 1979 and moving to assistant general manager in 1984, a role he held for 11 seasons.
“The #NYR family mourns the loss of longtime scout Gilles Leger,” the Rangers said. I wrote in X’s postShe ended the post by adding two heart emojis: “My deepest condolences to the Leger family.”
The Cornwall, Ontario native also coached the hockey team at St. Francis Xavier University in Antigonish, Nova Scotia from 1967-1972 and also played in the World Hockey Association with Ottawa (assistant), Toronto (assistant) and Birmingham (head coach and general manager).
Ledger then moved to the NHL, where he remained until the end of his 60-year playing career.
In 2008, Leger estimated to the Hamilton Spectator that he scouted 150 games a year.
“The job is fundamentally about evaluating talent,” Leger said. He told the media. “I do most of my work at the NHL level, but I go and evaluate young players when they ask me to. I send them reports on all the players. If someone calls the GM about a trade, the GM has that player’s information right away. Sometimes I do a special analysis of a player and evaluate them against players I might trade for.”
