Pat LaFontaine

Patrick Michael LaFontaine (born February 22, 1965) is an American former professional ice hockey center who spent his entire NHL career with New York State teams. He played for the New York Islanders (1983–1991), Buffalo Sabres (1991–1997), and New York Rangers (1997–1998), totaling 468 goals and 1,013 points in 865 games before concussions forced his retirement. His 1.17 points per game is the highest among all American-born NHL players, active or retired. LaFontaine was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2003 and named one of the "100 Greatest NHL Players" in 2017. He also served as president of hockey operations for the Buffalo Sabres from November 2013 to March 2014.

Born in St. Louis, LaFontaine grew up in Waterford, Michigan, after his family moved there in 1972. He played in the 1977 Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament with a Waterford minor team and graduated from Waterford Kettering High School. In his only junior season (1982–83) with the Verdun Juniors of the QMJHL, he scored 104 goals and 130 assists for 234 points, leading the league and winning the Jean Béliveau Trophy as top scorer, outpacing future NHL star Mario Lemieux. His rookie season broke Guy Lafleur’s 40-game point streak and Mike Bossy’s rookie goal record. He also earned the Michel Brière Memorial Trophy (regular-season MVP), Guy Lafleur Trophy (playoff MVP), Michel Bergeron Trophy (offensive rookie of the year), Mike Bossy Trophy (best professional prospect), Frank J. Selke Memorial Trophy (most sportsmanlike), and was named CHL Player of the Year.

The New York Islanders acquired the draft pick used to select LaFontaine third overall in the 1983 NHL entry draft by trading Bob Lorimer and Dave Cameron to the Colorado Rockies on October 1, 1981. After playing for the U.S. at the 1984 Winter Olympics in Sarajevo, LaFontaine joined the Islanders for the 1984 Stanley Cup Final. The team, aging and at the end of its dynasty, lost to the Edmonton Oilers in five games, ending a four-year championship run. LaFontaine scored two third-period goals in the deciding 5–2 loss.

In the 1987 Stanley Cup playoffs, LaFontaine scored the winning goal in the fourth overtime of Game 7 against the Washington Capitals, a contest known as the "Easter Epic." The game began on Saturday, April 18, and ended just before 2 a.m. on Easter Sunday. LaFontaine called it the most memorable moment of his hockey life, noting that fans still tell him where they were during that game.

The Islanders missed the playoffs in 1988–89 for the first time since 1974. In the first game of their 1990 playoff series, LaFontaine suffered his first major concussion after a controversial open-ice hit by the Rangers’ James Patrick. He fell on his head and was unconscious when taken off the ice on a stretcher. The ambulance was delayed by Rangers fans who rocked and pounded it as it left Madison Square Garden, and he missed the rest of the series.

Frustrated with the struggling Islanders (25–45–10 in 1990–91), LaFontaine turned down a four-year, $6 million contract and refused to report for the 1991–92 season. On October 25, 1991, he and Randy Wood were traded to the Buffalo Sabres for four players, including former first overall pick Pierre Turgeon. In just 57 games that season, LaFontaine scored 46 goals and 93 points.

The next season, he set personal and team records with 148 points (53 goals, 95 assists)—the most points ever by an American-born player in a single season. His playmaking helped linemate Alexander Mogilny set a team record with 76 goals. As of 2020, LaFontaine’s 95 assists and 148 points, and Mogilny’s 76 goals, remain Sabres single-season records. LaFontaine finished second in the scoring race to Mario Lemieux, earned a spot on the NHL All-Star second team, and was a finalist for the Hart Memorial Trophy and Lady Byng Trophy. In 1994–95, he won the Bill Masterton Trophy for perseverance, sportsmanship, and dedication.

LaFontaine is one of six NHL players to have skated for all three New York State-based teams. The others are Mike Donnelly, Jason Dawe, Martin Biron, Chad Johnson, and Taylor Pyatt. LaFontaine is unique among them in that he played his entire career within New York State, while the others also played for teams outside it.