There are a lot of builders in the Hockey Hall of Fame, but there's only one architect.
That title belongs to Bill Torrey, the first general manager of the New York Islanders, the man who turned a ragtag expansion team into a hockey dynasty in a little over a decade and delivered four straight Stanley Cups to Long Island.
Bow Tie Bill's historic contributions left a lasting legacy on Long Island and on Wednesday, the Islanders legend passed away. He was 83.
Heartfelt condolences poured in from across the NHL landscape. Former Islanders Denis Potvin, Bob Nystrom, Ken Morrow and Hall of Fame Broadcaster Jiggs McDonald were three men who knew Torrey well and took time to celebrate the life of "The Architect."
Remembering Bill Torrey
Denis Potvin, Bob Nystrom, Ken Morrow and Jiggs McDonald share their memories of Bill Torrey
© B Bennett/Getty Images
© B Bennett/Getty Images