Today, we
learned of the passing of Isles legend, Bill Torrey. Torrey was the “Architect”
of the Islanders Dynasty and built a team so well and so skilled, they may
never be duplicated in the modern age of the NHL. Torrey went from the AHL and
later served as GM for the NHL Oakland Seals, New York Islanders and Florida
Panthers, who until the Vegas Golden Knights, showed what a model expansion
team could do by making their way to the Stanley Cup finals in 1996 before
losing to the Colorado Avalanche in four games.
Known for his
bow ties and eye for talent, Torrey brought on Isles Legendary Coach, Al Arbour
and took “the other team from New York” and forging them into an instrument of
brute force and talent. Cory Wright wrote, “He was the first man in the door,
becoming the team's first general manager on Feb. 15, 1972.” After Arbour,
Torrey added Potvin, Trottier, Morrow and the immortal Billy Smith to the Islanders
organization and knew the way to win was to build through the draft and add key
pieces at the right time. Torrey surrounded his future star players with a team
Arbour could mold and hone into the legacy that became Long Island’s team. Torrey
and Arbour challenged each other and pushed each other to create the dynasty. Their friendship was evident two years ago when Torrey gave a moving speech at Arbour's memorial service. "He choked up at the end saying how much he missed his close friend and confidant a year after his passing. On this day, the hockey world is mourning Torrey." Mr. Islander, Bob Nystrom said, "They had a partnership there,"
Nystrom said. "It was a partnership. They got along so well and Bill was
just one hell of a great guy.”
"He
certainly led a charmed life and a meaningful life with all that he did,"
Morrow said. "I looked forward to when I would see him to catch up and
thank him for all that he did for me." After he was
named team President in 1980, Torrey even had the foresight to add the final
piece of the puzzle, trading popular players Billy Harris and Dave Lewis for a 29-year-old
veteran center named Butch Goring. What followed was 19 consecutive playoff
series wins (a pro record that still stands) and four straight Stanley Cups from 1980-83. Torrey even engineered
the loss of LaFontaine into a trade for Turgeon, Hogue, Krupp and McLlwain and
eventually added Thomas and Creighton. Even though he resigned in 92, those
players became the nucleus for the Isles surge in the 93 playoffs when they dethroned
the 2-time Stanley Cup Champion, Pittsburgh Penguins and came close to
contending for the cup that season.
Nystrom said of
Torrey, "He was the guy who gave me a chance to play in the NHL and for
that I owe him a debt of gratitude," Nystrom said. "He saw something
in me and was willing to give me an opportunity. He did that for a lot of
players. Had a real good way of reading character and what was really inside a
person. He's going to go down as one of the greatest GMs that every worked in
the NHL."
Islanders
President and General Manger, Garth Snow said, "Bill set the model for how
to build a franchise with the leadership he instilled through his coaching
staff, his innovative drafting methods and the trades he executed," Snow
said. "He was a pioneer, who became a mentor and even better friend, to so
many in the industry. The teams he constructed set records that may never be
broken, including the four straight Stanley Cup Championships and 19 straight
playoff series wins. On behalf of the entire organization, we send our deepest
condolences to Bill's family."
The tales of Mr.Torrey’s
respect and earned loyalty were much like those that were spoken of Mr. Arbour. Like
the legendary Jiggs McDonald, Bill Torrey always seemed to be a special part of
my fandom. And based on the words of his players and those around the
organization, the tributes speak to the kind of man others saw in him. Torrey’s
legend will live forever and deservedly so. He helped build some of the
greatest hockey memories of my life time. The team he built took a kid born in
Yonkers and who grew up just above Westchester, right in the middle of Ranger’s
country to become a die-hard fan of our New York Islanders. He was inducted
into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1995.
Mr. Torrey was 83.
R.I.P. Bill Torrey "The Architect"
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