Some thoughts on Bill Torrey, the legendary architect of the New York Islanders’ dynasty, who passed away Thursday at his home in West Palm Beach, Florida at the age of 83, culled from many conversations with “Bow-Tie” Bill over the years.



It was 1973 and the NHL draft was being held, for one year only, at the Mount Royal Hotel in downtown Montreal. Torrey was the second-year general manager of the New York Islanders and for weeks, he’d been hounded by Montreal Canadiens legendary GM Sam Pollock, trying to make him an offer he couldn’t refuse. Pollock was prepared to give Torrey enough players to make his Islanders’ team, coming off a 12-victory first season, instantly credible. On the morning of the draft, Pollock and Torrey walked around the hotel again and again. Each time, he passed, Torrey peered in the picture window and saw his scouts waiting anxiously in the lobby. In the end, Torrey turned Pollock down — one of the toughest...