On this date, 1990: Bryan Trottier's 500th goal
by Dominik on Feb 13, 2010 7:00 AM EST
in Islanders of Yesteryear
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PrintBryan Trottier could pass a puck through rush hour traffic without it being tipped, and he could find an open teammate with three opponents in his face. But his shot? Hardly legendary, as he's admitted himself.
So to note that he scored 500 NHL goals is to recognize his positioning, his subtle finishing hands in tight -- "I tried to take a goalie by surprise," he's said of his shot -- and of course, some great teammates who helped.
On this day in 1990, in front of home fans at Nassau Coliseum, the Islanders' heir apparent Pat LaFontaine's relentless pressure helped create the 500th goal by an Islanders legend who would soon be finishing his career with two more Cups -- just for good measure -- in Pittsburgh. Trottier's 500th goal came against Rick Wamsley and the Calgary Flames, another team that was unwittingly entering a decade of pain.
Besides LaFontaine, Randy Wood (who retrieved the puck), Gary Nylund and Marc Bergevin were on the ice. Seconds afterward, the mob of celebrants was joined by Brent Sutter, Doug Crossman, Jeff Norton and others who streamed off the bench to congratulate Trots. Let's roll the tape:
Were you there? Would you like to pretend you were there? Of the Islanders dynasty legends, Trots was the last to depart. This milestone feels like one final coda on that era, and watching it now is a little bittersweet with the knowledge of the pain that lay ahead.
Memories, tributes, who-cares-I-was-young ... all welcome in comments.
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Ahhh...Trots!
I was there for his first game. This guy was special from the start. A class act who made his teammates better every game.
Wow, that’s a long way!
It still makes me smile to see him back with the organization and in a role he likes. Seeing clips of him working with the kids is cool, one generation to the other.
Lighthouse Hockey: Under contract through 2021, knees and hips be damned.
Memories...
Actually I was 5 yrs old when this happened. I was most likely playing with my Ninja Turtles. Probably just becoming aware that the Islanders were a pro hockey team from L.I.
But i was in attendance for his number retirement at NVMC.
by Oleg Kvasha All Star on Feb 13, 2010 1:15 PM EST reply actions
Cool...
But i was in attendance for his number retirement at NVMC.
Nice. That one took a while, but I trust it was worth the wait.
Lighthouse Hockey: Under contract through 2021, knees and hips be damned.
knowledge of the pain that lay ahead
i became a fan soon after that year. and while islander fans love to wallow in misery… since 1990 it’s actually been a fun ride. while no cups have come our way… we’ve had fun teams, a number of playoff appearances, watched the rangers fail almost as often (sans one particularly painful year) and had crazy ownerships that adds to the character. most team’s fans think they are cursed or have the woe is me attitude… reality is… that’s the norm… so your “pain that lies ahead” bit seems a bit dramatic… but i guess that’s what die hard sports fans do best.
Ha, awesome. Fifteen seasons between playoff series wins (and counting), repeated absentee and/or fraudulent owners and the ’90s drought I think fairly qualifies as pain and beyond the norm (although I agree most fanbases are stuck with extended periods of disappointment). But your perspective on this is truly refreshing — and I appreciate you calling me on the “bit dramatic.” This is good to hear.
More formally: Welcome, thanks for joining.
Lighthouse Hockey: Under contract through 2021, knees and hips be damned.
1994 & Trots
The so called “one painful” year that the Isles fans had to so called “endure” with the strangers in retrospect wasn’t much as they were really either the NY Oilers or the Edmonton Strangers.
Trots was one of the best! Six cups proves that! And his 4 cup Isles teams are STILL the most underrated and underappreciated of all the dynasties! And THAT is a crime! The NEXT time a North American franchise wins 19 playoff series in a row or even 4 World Championships in a row you let me know.
by tell_it_to_dali_lama on Feb 13, 2010 7:38 PM EST reply actions
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