On March 10, 1980, the Los Angeles Kings traded Butch Goring to the New York Islanders for Billy Harris and Dave Lewis. This trade is widely considered the “missing piece of the puzzle” for the Islanders just prior to the four year domination of the Stanley Cup from 1979-80 to 1981-82.
Goring made an immediate impact, finishing up the 1979-80 regular season with eleven points in 12 games for the Isles. In the post season, he scored seven and assisted on 12 for 19 points in 21 games. The following year, the playoff numbers increased to ten goals and 20 points in 18 games. He was the 1980-81 recipient of the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP.
Originally a fifth round pick by the Kings at the 1969 NHL Amateur Draft, Butch went on to play 1,107 regular season and 134 playoff games in the National Hockey League with the Kings, Islanders and Boston Bruins. He reached the 20 goal plateau in eleven seasons, four of those 30+. Goring topped out with a career best 37 with the Kings in 1977-78.
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