TTM Success: Butch Goring

  Butch Goring is often considered the key piece of the puzzle that pushed the New York Islanders from play-off contenders to a Stanley Cup dynasty.  In the previous five seasons before acquiring Goring, the Islanders had lost in the Stanley Cup Semi-Finals four times.  After acquiring Goring from the Los Angeles Kings at the trade deadline in 1980, the New York Islanders would win four straight Stanley Cups and Goring would win the Conn Smythe trophy as play-off MVP in the 1981 play-offs.  Goring is also credited, by Mike Bossy, as being the originator of the play-off beard.  The New York Islanders were the first team to grow play-off beards. 
  Goring is also noted for being one of the least penalized players in NHL History.  He has the least career PIM, 102, for any player who has played over 1000 NHL games.  He is also shares the record for most games in a NHL season while also having zero PIM.  Both Goring and Craig Ramsey had zero PIM in 78 games.  Goring is also the first NHL player on record to have worn the number 91.  Goring was briefly the NHL record holder for most career short-handed goals.  He over took Derek Sanderson during the 1983-84 season but then passed by Wayne Gretzky, early in the 1985-86 season.  The helmets Goring wore in the NHL was the same helmets he had wore since he was twelve years old, which his dad had bought him.  For a while, the helmet he wore for Islanders road games was not painted, but covered in blue tape.