Forty-four years ago today, the New York Islanders acquired Butch Goring before the 1980 NHL Trade Deadline.
Forty-four years ago today, the New York Islanders acquired Butch Goring before the 1980 NHL Trade Deadline.
Anytime the NHL Trade Deadline rolls around, the name Butch Goring gets thrown around.
Forty-four years ago today, on March 10, 1980, New York Islanders general manager Bill Torey acquired Goring from the Los Angeles Kings in exchange for Dave Lewis and Billy Harris.
It would be a franchise-altering trade, as Goring served as the final piece of a winning puzzle, with New York capturing their first of four straight Stanley Cup Championships that summer:
The Night The Mave Had Dinner With Goring After He Became An Islander
Shortly after the Goring acquisition, the Islanders and their media crew held their annual dinner.
I was there with my wife, Shirley, and just by chance, the guest player at our table was none other than the newest of the Nassaumen -- Butch, himself.
In those days, Butch's fashion ran toward the hayseed style -- he's very up-to-date these days -- and there was a lot of the Manitoba farmer in him that night.
Of course, we talked about the trade, and it was clear that he still was trying to get his Long Island bearings.
Just from that initial meeting, there was no way to know how good he would be and what effect Goring would have on the dynasty to be.
But to say the least, Shirley and I were astonished at what was to come. I mean 19 points in the playoffs and -- later on a Smythe Trophy and his eternal designation as "The Final Piece."
No, we could never have imagined what bounties Butch would bring to the team.
But I do recall I was admiring his jeans. Very Manitoba.
What bugs me and will bug me until it happens is trying to figure out why Butch Goring is not in the Hockey Hall of Fame.