Islanders color commentator and four-time Stanley Cup champion, Robert “Butch” Goring, is having his number retired by the organization today against the Boston Bruins. Back in December, Goring received a call from Lou Lamoriello that the team and fanbase will be celebrating his legacy along with fellow Islander legend Jon Tonelli. The ceremony begins at 11:40 a.m. and puck drop is around 1 p.m.

Goring started his early years by playing in multiple junior hockey leagues. After his departure from the Manitoba Junior Hockey League, he eventually ended up in the 1969 NHL Draft. The Los Angeles Kings picked up Goring and he quickly began his NHL career.

Through his beginning years, Goring went back and fourth from the AHL to the NHL. He played for the Springfield Kings when in the AHL and led in playoff goals, assists and points. He spent nine seasons with the NHL team, the L.A. Kings, and accumulated 659 points in 736 games. Goring won the Bill Masterton Trophy and the Lady Byng Trophy. The Bill Masterton Trophy is awarded to the player with the most perseverance, sportsmanship and dedication to hockey and the Lady Byng Trophy is another type of sportsmanship award that is given to the player who displays positive character. 

In March of 1980, Goring was traded to the New York Islanders and was the “final piece of the puzzle” for the team to raise a cup. Goring scored 19 points in the playoffs and lead his team to a their first Stanley Cup win in franchise history. As Butch continued his NHL career with the Islanders, he continuously improved within the seasons that followed.

Within his time with the Islanders in the playoffs, he was awarded the Conn Smythe Trophy as the most valuable player during the Islanders second straight cup win. After his second season on the team, Goring and his teammates won the cup the following two years as well.

Eventually, Goring retired with the Boston Bruins in 1985. When he retired from the NHL, he ended his career with 1,107 games and 888 points. He currently has the fifth most shorthanded goals scored in his career throughout NHL history.

Goring was not only known for his amazing knowledge and unconditional love for hockey. He was easily recognized on the ice by the Sven Tumba helmet he had worn throughout his childhood career and his professional career. 

After his NHL career came to an end, Goring started coaching the Boston Bruins for one and a half seasons and shortly after coached the Islanders during their 1999-2000 season. He also coached multiple minor league teams like the Capital District Islanders, Las Vegas Thunder, Utah Grizzlies, Anchorage Aces and the Denver Grizzlies. He won two championships in his time as a minor league coach.

In 2007, Butch Goring joined MSG Networks. He was eventually promoted as a full time analyst and color commentator in 2010 for the Islanders. He currently works alongside Brendan Burke while commentating games.

He is most known on his broadcasts for his phrases used to describe the play that is taking place. A good example of one of Butch’s lines is the “toy department.” Goring defines the “toy department” as the top portion of the net and frequently uses this phrase after an Islander scores a goal and the puck enters that area. 

Butch Goring is over qualified as an Islanders legend and without a doubt deserves his jersey retired. His legacy will forever live on within the organization as the best 91 to ever skate in blue and orange.

John Smark