Maven's Memories: The Great, Forgotten Torrey Deal

There was a time when the Islanders were pedaling on a treadmill to oblivion during the 1974-75 season, seemingly another non-playoff year.
Suddenly, an event took place that would forever change the face of the franchise -- the biggest and most significant back-to-back trades in the club's history to that point in time.
General Manager Bill Torrey got on the phone with his Minnesota North Stars counterpart Jack Gordon. Not once, but twice.

By the time Bow Tie Bill hung up for the second time, it was like Shazam! The Islanders universe glowed like the morning sun over Gardiners Bay.
Understandably, that Torrey exchange 46 years ago forever has been overshadowed by his 1980 acquisition of center Butch Goring -- also defenseman Gord Lane -- en route to the four-Cup Dynasty.
But what happened on January 5-7, 1975 -- by The Maven's estimation -- ranks on a par with the best all-time NHL trades. Here's how it happened:
"There was no doubt that we were improving," said Torrey. "We were doing a lot more winning at home, but not much on the road. I knew we had the makings of a playoff team, but I also knew I had to make a move or two."
For one thing, Bow Tie Bill needed a couple of road warriors. After his Nassaumen had beaten the Washington Capitals in the second road game of the season, they suffered through 15 road games without a triumph.
Associated Press hockey writer Barry Wilner agreed that Torrey had a possible playoff club for the first time.
"What Bill needed to make it happen, was as some experienced players to help all the young guys," wrote Wilner.
MAVEN'S MEMORIES
WRITTEN COVERAGE
From Long Island Arena to UBS Arena
Isles-Rangers Feud: Heating Up Into the 1990s
Isles Sweep Rangers in 1981
Road to 1981 Cup, Round 2
First Steps Towards 1981 Cup
From Viking to Uniondale, the Sutter Bros
Bob Bourne's End to End Rush
Mikko Makela: The Flying Finn
Stan's 17 Birthday Memories
Jason Blake Played Big
Shirley Fischler Breaks Gender Barriers
Jim Devellano, The Other Architect
The 2003-04 Season
Mike Bossy's Road to the Islanders
Maven's Haven
In Minnesota, North Stars GM Jack Gordon had been dissatisfied with his sextet and sought a trading partner and began chatting with Torrey.
"The Islanders had some young talent that could benefit us," said Gordon, "and I had some veterans that Bill felt could help his team."
One of them was J.P. Parise.
The native of Smooth Rock Falls, Ontario already had a world-wide reputation. Just three years earlier, he had starred for Team Canada in the Canada-Soviet Union Summit series. Plus, he was a solid NHL veteran.
In addition to Parise, Gordon was willing to add crafty center Jude Drouin who cut his puck teeth in the competitive Northern Ontario factories. Two days were needed to complete both deals wrapped in one biggie.
"I wanted both guys," said Torrey, "but what I didn't want was to hurt our club by unloading some good talent."
After reviewing his roster, Bow Tie Bill decided that a package of three young players with potential would tempt Gordon.
"Ernie Hicke was first on my list," Torrey explained. "His older brother, Billy, already had been a very bright Montreal Canadiens prospect and Ernie looked like he also could develop -- except not with us."
Feisty Craig Cameron and big Doug Rombough were added to the menu, and Gordon bit. Why not? He was receiving a complete forward line for -- what GM Jack believed -- would be an entire attacking unit.
Torrey: "The fact was that neither Hicke, Cameron nor Rombough figured in our plans, but Parise and Drouin sure did."
When the double-deal officially was announced, it stunned many in the hockey world because it seemed so tilted in the Islanders favor.
One rival general manager studied the exchange and then offered a perfect squelch: "Torrey must have had Jack Gordon under ether when they made that trade."
Al Arbour's players were just as astonished. Defenseman Denis Potvin did a double-take when he read about the deal in Newsday.
"This is wonderful," blurted Potvin. "We have a lot of talent that will eventually bloom. But J.P. and Jude will balance their experience with the younger fellows."
Parise allowed that he was just as stunned by the deal, but for different reasons. The North Stars had played in Boston the previous night. Chatting with some friends on the Bruins after the game, Parise got the idea he'd be playing in Beantown.
"I was buddies with Phil Esposito from our Team Canada days," Parise recalled. "He had heard rumors that I was heading to Boston. He said he wanted me to play alongside him again like we did against the Russians.
"It was obvious that the Bruins could have used me because they were hurting with Wayne Cashman out with an injury. I figured I could replace Wayne on Phil's line and have a shot at winning the Cup."
Parise later would confess that the last team he wanted to be traded to happened to be situated in Uniondale, Long Island. After seven-and-a-half years in Bloomington, Minnesota, New York had no appeal to J.P.
For a short time, it appeared that the deal would never happen. Parise balked and only the intervention of GM Gordon kept the trade from crumbling.
Parise: "Jack urged me to talk to Bill Torrey and I agreed. Right away, Bill said that the Islanders had some big games in the next few days. But I told him I needed time to think it over and pack and stuff.

"But he insisted that this was an important week for his club. He insisted that after the next couple of games I could go home, straighten things out, and then come back to the Island.
"Quite frankly, my conversation with Bill was what sold me on the team and his attitude was so positive about my future. All of a sudden I felt good about being an Islander."
Drouin had no second thoughts. He liked the idea of centering a line with his pal Parise and veteran Ed Westfall on the other side.
"Al was glad to get our experience," said Drouin. "He promised that I'd get a lot of ice time. He made me feel like a big shot."
So did the Islanders fans. Instinctively, the Faithful knew that Torrey had pulled off a hockey "steal," but all of the good feelings that accompanied completion of the trade had to be fortified on the ice.
In his first game wearing Isles colors, Parise set up two goals. The fans then supplied a chorus of "J.P. J.P." The newcomer was surprised beyond all reason.
"I never heard those chants before," Parise smiled. "It was very thrilling and -- I must admit -- I'd never seen that side of New York crowds."
Meanwhile, teammates were surprised at the fun side of their new teammates. Pat Calabria, who covered the Islanders for Newsday, said that the two French-Canadians added spice to the dressing room ambience.
"Drouin became known for hiding his teammates' underwear in the freezer during practice," chuckled Calaberia. "Meanwhile, Parise often lectured teammates on how good they could be."
In his first night as an Islander, Drouin scored the game-winner. That was one encouraging note and the other was for his teammate from Minny.
"Mind you," Drouin went on, "It was our first night and already there were banners in the stands." Then, a pause and a smile: "They had J.P.'s name on them."
Torrey was both ecstatic and surprised.
"I had no way of knowing that the fans would start hollering 'J.P. J.P.' all the time, or the interest the two new guys would create. And they fit in so well in the locker room."
One Islander who most benefited from the new additions wore the number 18. Captain Ed Westfall couldn't curb his enthusiasm.
"We've given those two guys a new life," said 18, "And they've given us a good shot at the playoffs."
Aside from his experience, Parise gave the Islanders added strength in the corners. Drouin immediately distinguished himself as the strongest center on the team.
Needless to say, all the kudos and more would have little value if coach Al Arbour took a dim view of Jude and Jeep. But like his boss, Torrey, Radar couldn't get over how lucky he had become.
"Jean-Paul is a real hard-nosed player and he's got the experience we needed for the left side," said Arbour. "I remember playing against him and how he used to come down my side when I was playing right defense. He's a real hard worker."

Drouin did his basic training in Montreal with the Canadiens. But the Habs had been loaded with Hall of Famers such as Henri Richard, Jean Beliveau and Jacques Lemaire -- and that made Jude expendable.
What doubled Torrey's pleasure was Parise's ability to automatically provide two ingredients -- offense and instruction.
J.P.: "As an experienced player. I tried to help out the younger guys. But some of them were so talented that they'd teach me a lot, too. This was an unselfish team where everybody rooted for the other guy."
Jude: "The guys here made me feel right at home."
One of those guys was a compact forward named Andre St. Laurent who occasionally played with J.P. and Jude.
"Andre was small but strong," added Drouin. "And a pain in the butt to play against. Turned out that me, Andre and J.P. had a special bond."
That bond and how it transcended to the entire squad played a part in what became a drive for a playoff berth. This became evident when the Isles began winning on the road.
Jude and J.P. powered the Islanders to a solid 18-10-13 finish that included a nine-game unbeaten streak (4-0-5). The curtain came down on this passion play with a 1-1 tie on April 1, 1975, against the Atlanta Flames.
Three days later, a Rangers win over the Flames clinched the Islanders first playoff berth.
In 40 regular season games, Drouin delivered 14 goals. Parise had the identical total. Now that the Nassaumen were confronted with the challenge of their first postseason tourney, J.P. offered his teammates hope in his deep, rich baritone:
"We're as good as they are!"
The "they" being the Isles first-round opponents, the hated Rangers!
Parise proved his point by scoring the most important goal in Islanders history up until that season. For those who may have forgotten, the play began in the decisive third game of the best-of-three series against the Rangers. And it was at The Garden, no less.
Jude won the faceoff to open the sudden-death overtime period with the score tied 3-3. The puck was dumped into the left corner of the Rangers zone by Isles defenseman Dave Lewis.
With that, Drouin got on his horse and galloped toward the rubber. Meanwhile, J.P. jumped into action by instinctively skating toward the net.
"Who knew?" said J.P. "But I was hoping for a pass."
Good thinking.
Jude got to the puck before any Ranger could fetch the biscuit and slid it across the goal mouth. Meanwhile, Jeep had deftly outmaneuvered defenseman Brad Park.
In an instant, the puck was behind goalie Ed Giacomin.
The Rangers were eliminated and the invigorated Islanders went on to make more beautiful playoff music together.
Watch: Youtube Video
With Jude and J.P. at the forefront they faced an 0-3 deficit in games during the next playoff series against Pittsburgh when Parise said, "We can beat these guys, too."
The Arbourmen then won four in a row. It was only the second time in NHL history that feat had been accomplished.
The script was exactly the same for six games against Philadelphia except that this time the Flyers won Game Seven.
Nonetheless, the Islanders had become the talk of the NHL, winners of the Metropolitan New York Area bragging rights and were off and flying toward a remarkably bright future.
During that summer of 1975 Bow Tie Bill and his scouting sidekick, Jim Devellano, sat in the team office and recalled the twin deals that brought J.P. Parise and Jude Drouin to the Island.
"We did pretty well with that one, didn't we, Boss?" said Jimmy D.
Then, with his understatement of the half-century, Torrey shot back: "Sure looks like we did."
A few enthusiastic chuckles followed.