Pierre Turgeon recalls his best season and special NY Islanders group in HOF speech

If you were too young to enjoy the New York Islanders dynasty, there's a good chance that Mike Bossy, Denis Potvin, Bryan Trottier or Clark Gillies weren't your favorite player growing up. That designation may have been bestowed upon Pat LaFontaine or for a generation of Islanders fans, the player he was traded for - Pierre Turgeon.

It's hard to believe that he only played two full seasons on Long Island, but his numbers were prolific as, along with linemates Steve Thomas and Derek King, the trio formed one of the most productive lines in the NHL during the early 1990s. Turgeon was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame on Monday night and, in a speech recounting his career, reflected on his time with the Islanders, which included his best individual season in a career that spanned 1,294 games and six teams.

"In 1991, I moved forward to the New York Islanders playing for Bill Torrey and the legend Al Arbour. Wow, did we learn a lot on and off the ice, great men, and Al was a dad to all of us."

Turgeon was acquired in October 1991 from the Buffalo Sabres, the team that drafted him No. 1 overall in the 1987 NHL Draft, in a blockbuster package that centered around Pat LaFontaine. He went on to score 147 goals and 193 assists in 255 games on Long Island, including a career-best 58 during the 1992-93 season.

"I had my best season in 1993 while wearing the islanders uniform. And tonight, I greet my two partners, Derek King and Steve Thomas, and the special, special group we had that year in '93.''

Turgeon represented the team in the 1993 and 1994 All-Star Games and was awarded the Lady Byng Trophy after the 1992-93 season. He scored 147 goals and 193 assists in 255 games with the Isles.