Maven's Memories: Turning Points in 1979-80

It's easy to pinpoint the immediate events leading to Bob Nystrom's 1980 Stanley Cup-winning goal. All you had to do was follow the puck.
From Lorne Henning to John Tonelli to Ny -- STANLEYCUP!
But what about those near-forgotten events from October 1979 through March 1980 that enabled coach Al Arbour's heroes to win their first championship?

My objective in this essay is to pinpoint the near-forgotten episodes that -- taken altogether -- turned Uniondale into The Home of Champions. Without the following "Turning Points," who knows what might have happened.

TURNING POINT ONE: THE CAPTAINCY

Heartbreaking playoff losses to the Maple Leafs in 1978 and then Rangers a year later inspired re-thinking by the general staff up and down the line. That included the captaincy.
Clark Gillies had worn the Captain's "C" but he did so reluctantly.."I didn't particularly like it," Jethro candidly allowed. "I decided to talk to Bill (Torrey) and Al (Abour) about giving it up.
By September 1979 there were popular replacement candidates, including Bryan Trottier and Mike Bossy. But Gillies had made up his mind on the eventual choice.
Gillies: "I told Al and Bill that Denis Potvin would be the natural. He had the type of personality that could handle the mental pressures of being the captain. He'd been around."
Nobody could be sure about Potvin's thinking on the matter. But once Torrey and Arbour unanimously wanted him, Denis obliged with a big smile.
"I knew the captaincy was a burden for Clarkie," Potvin explained. "But for me it's not a burden; it's an honor and I'm proud that management wanted me to have it going forward."
Why It Was A Turning Point: Goalie Glenn (Chico) Resch put it perfectly. "We couldn't have had a better captain than Potvin. Leadership is what Denis had and we all understood and appreciated that. His appointment was a big step forward."
Video: Bryan Trottier was mainstay on six Cup-winning teams

TURNING POINT TWO: RADAR PLAYS NO FAVORITES

Bryan Trottier arguably was the club's most valuable player and star center. But after the Isles launched the 1979-80 season in a mediocre manner, Arbour stunned the Islanders community by benching Trottier.
Trots got the message; his I.Q. (Intensity Quotient) was off and the benching helped pump up that old I.Q. But the Trots case was not unique. Potvin was the first to admit that.
"Time and again Radar would be after me," the captain explained. "He figured that by being tough on me -- one of his top players -- it would set a good example for the whole team. I might not have liked it but I understood where Al was coming from."
Why It Was A Turning Point: Had there been any doubt that every single Islander was being held accountable, that doubt was erased by Radar's handling of his two future Hall of Famers.

TURNING POINT THREE: THE EMERGENCE OF DAVE LANGEVIN

Drafted 112th in 1974, the St.Paul, Minnesota product was claimed by Torrey when the NHL-WHA merger allowed the Isles to claim former WHA players. Few knew much about the player who came to be known as "Bam Bam." But then the hulking defenseman showed up at training camp in September 1979. Everyone would learn fast.
"The Islanders needed a physical defenseman," Langevin remembered, "and I had the enthusiasm for the job. I think they expected an average player. They got more than they expected."
Truer words never were spoken. Langevin rounded out a blue line corps that included captain Potvin, Stefan Persson, Bob Lorimer and Denis' older brother, Jean Potvin. Of the group, only Denis had been a robust hitter.
Langevin was Arbour's kind of blue liner, apart from Bam Bam's hitting ability, he played a smart defensive D. "Dave knows how to take care of his end of the ice," said Radar, "and that's a priority with me."
Why It Was A Turning Point: Torrey's defense was undergoing a season-long rebuilding. The acquisition of Langevin was part of the new foundation that would continue to grow through the campaign.

TURNING POINT FOUR: THE REORGANIZED DEFENSE

The Isles foundered during the wintry absence of injured captain Potvin. Meanwhile, Torrey continued to fill in and smooth out the potholes. "I knew that we needed still more toughness on defense and I kept looking for one more guy to help in that department."
When the Washington Capitals put D-man Gord Lane on the block, Bow Tie Bill offered little-used forward Mike Kaszycki and a deal was clinched. "Gord was intimidating in the way he played," enthused Arbour. "He's got an element we were missing."
But that wasn't all; once the 1980 Gold Medal-winning Team USA completed its Miracle On Ice, Torrey snatched defenseman Ken Morrow and signed him to an NHL contract. Many observers thought Morrow needed a year of minor league seasoning. That was an error. The moment Ken made his debut, he proved to be the perfect defensemate of Denis Potvin, or anyone else for that matter.
Why These Were Turning Points: The acquisitions of Lane and Morrow once and for all rounded out the revised -- and very much improved -- defense. Additionally, Potvin -- recovered from injury -- returned to his post, well-rested, fresh and eager for the playoff challenge ahead.

TURNING POINT FIVE: THE BUTCH GORING DEAL

While just about everyone knows the details of arguably the most decisive playoff deal of all-time, some nuances are worth noting here.
For starters, the two-for-one exchange was unexpected and -- at least at first -- not entirely welcome. In fact, just before the Trade Deadline, Torrey, himself, stated, "We're settled now."
But they weren't and Bow Tie wasn't. No question, they needed a center to take the pressure off Trottier. "As a rule," said Torrey's aide Jim Devellano,"we would not trade for an older player. Plus, the guys that Los Angeles wanted were in their primes."
That was the obstacle. Right wing Billy Harris and defenseman Dave Lewis were both competent and fan favorites. Teammates, such as Bob Bourne, were very fond of Harry and Davey. "When I heard about the deal," said Bourne, "it shook me."
Ah, but the final turning point was negotiated by Torrey with Goring becoming an Islander. And, as the bromide goes, the rest is history.
Or, translated to reality -- four consecutive Stanley Cups and 19 consecutive playoff series wins.
Yet it could safely be said, the dynastic accomplishments might never have been achieved without those five turning points that fully jelled.
It started with the new captain in September and concluded with the arrival of Goring in March.
"Getting Butch was the spark," Arbour concluded. "It finished off the product."