Mike Murphy, the NHL's vice-president of operations, revealed Friday he has cancer.

The 59-year-old Murphy told Toronto sports radio station Fan 590 he was diagnosed six weeks ago with Hodgkin's lymphoma.

Murphy, who coached the Maple Leafs and Los Angeles Kings, said he is undergoing chemotherapy to be followed by radiation treatment.

"If I'm blessed, I will be cancer-free come playoff time," Murphy said.

Anaheim Ducks forward Saku Koivu beat the disease, a cancer of the blood, in 2001. Former Pittsburgh Penguin Mario Lemieux also successfully fought off the disease, which has a 90 per cent cure rate.