Bill Torrey

Lore & Background

Torrey was born in Montreal and raised near the Montreal Forum. He tried out for the Montreal Canadiens and attended St. Lawrence University on a hockey scholarship, but lost depth perception after being hit in the left eye with a stick. He earned a degree in psychology and worked at a radio station in Barrie, Ontario, and as a tour guide for NBC at Rockefeller Center. He began his hockey executive career in the mid-1960s with the Pittsburgh Hornets of the American Hockey League, then became general manager of the Oakland Seals in 1969. After clashing with owner Charlie Finley, he left in 1971.

Torrey was named general manager of the expansion New York Islanders on February 15, 1972. He committed to building through the draft rather than trading for veterans, turning down a trade offer from Montreal's Sam Pollock for the first overall pick in 1973, which he used to select Denis Potvin. The Islanders finished last in their first two seasons, netting high draft picks. In 1977, coach Al Arbour persuaded Torrey to draft Mike Bossy over Dwight Foster. Torrey also traded for Butch Goring in 1980. Under his leadership, the Islanders won four straight Stanley Cups from 1980 to 1983 and 19 consecutive postseason series. After a rebuilding trade involving Pat LaFontaine in 1991–92, Torrey was forced to resign in 1992.

Torrey became president of the expansion Florida Panthers in 1993, building through young talent. The Panthers reached the 1996 Stanley Cup Final and made two more playoff appearances before his retirement in 2001. He remained as special advisor.

Reader's Guide

Bill Torrey's significance lies in his patient, draft-focused approach to building championship teams. As the first employee of the expansion New York Islanders, he resisted the temptation to trade for veteran players, instead committing to a long-term strategy of accumulating high draft picks through early last-place finishes. This yielded five future Hall of Fame players—Denis Potvin, Clark Gillies, Bryan Trottier, Mike Bossy, and Pat LaFontaine—plus Hall of Fame goalie Billy Smith from the expansion draft. His hiring of coach Al Arbour, also a Hall of Famer, completed the core that won four consecutive Stanley Cups and 19 straight playoff series. Torrey's later work with the Florida Panthers mirrored this approach, leading to a Stanley Cup Final appearance in 1996. He was elected to the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1995, and both the Islanders and Panthers have honored him with banners: the Islanders' banner features 'The Architect' and a bowtie, while the Panthers retired the number 93 representing the year the franchise joined the NHL.

Did You Know?

• Torrey lost depth perception in his left eye after being hit with a hockey stick, breaking his orbital bone.
• He was the New York Islanders' first employee, named general manager on February 15, 1972.
• The Florida Panthers honored Torrey by retiring the number 93, representing the year the franchise was incorporated into the NHL.