Butch Goring Turns 73: Most Important Islanders Acquisition of All Time?

Nowadays, everyone knows Butch Goring as the man beside broadcaster Brendan Burke when the New York Islanders are on MSG Networks. Since 2010, Goring has been giving his takes on Islanders games, mispronouncing names, showcasing his Islanders fandom, and coining phrases like ‘Toy department’ while also screaming at the referees.

He’s a passionate guy, and on Saturday, Butch Goring celebrated his 73rd birthday.

“Butchy’s awesome,” Matt Martin said. “He’s been a part of this [organization] now for a while, like a real long time, I guess, if you count the playing days. I always enjoy talking to Butchie, and now he’s just another Islanders legend that’s such a huge part of the community.”

“You know, I run into him at golf outings all the time. He loves being here. He loves being a part of this community.”

New York Islanders captain Anders Lee also spoke on the role Goring has played, being around the team.

“Butchy’s been a big part of our organization for a long time. It’s always great to hear his calls and his insights,” Lee said. “So, we wish him a great day.”

As much as he is beloved by the New York Islanders faithful today, that love started on March 10, 1980, a date that is up as one of the most important dates in New York Islanders franchise history.

That was the day that New York Islanders general manager Al Arbour sent forward Billy Harris and defenseman Dave Lewis to the Los Angeles Kings in exchange for 29-year-old center Butch Goring.

Butch Goring had played over 11 years with Los Angeles, potting 275 goals with 385 assists in 736 regular season games. He helped the Kings to six playoff appearances, scoring nine goals with nine assists in 30 games.

READ MORE: Islanders Players, Fans React to the Return of the Fisherman Jersey

He was a valuable piece of that franchise, and although he may not get the credit he deserves for what he brought to Long Island, Goring may have been the reason the Islanders went on to not just win the franchise’s first Stanley Cup back in 1980, but the next three as well.

He was the final piece of the puzzle.

Over his six-year career with the New York Islanders, Butch Goring scored 87 goals with 108 assists in 332 NHL games. In the postseason, which the Islanders played in, in five of his six years on Long Island, Goring collected 28 goals and 40 assists in 99 playoff games, including seven power-play goals, two shorthanded goals, along with two of the 28 being game-winners.

Following his playing days in 1984-85, Goring coached the Boston Bruins from 1985-87 and then years later was behind the Islanders bench from 1999-2001. In 2010, Butch Goring became the staple color commentator on MSG.