Turgeon's induction into Hockey Hall of Fame is long time coming

Pierre Turgeon had been the only retired player in NHL history with at least 1,300 points to have never received a call from the Hockey Hall of Fame.

That all changed Wednesday.

"When you stop and you look back when you're young, but then you go through what you go through and the people that help you get there, it has been a great journey and a privilege to be a part of that journey," said Turgeon, who amassed 1,327 points (515 goals, 812 assists) in 1,294 games over 19 NHL seasons with the Buffalo Sabres, New York Islanders, Montreal Canadiens, St. Louis Blues, Dallas Stars and Colorado Avalanche.

Candidates had to receive at least 75 percent of the vote from the selection committee to be inducted. A maximum of four former male players, two former female players, two builders or one builder and one retired official may be inducted in a single year.

Turgeon will be entering the Hall alongside a class that includes former NHL goalies Henrik Lundqvist, Tom Barrasso and Mike Vernon, and former Canada women's national team forward Caroline Ouellette. Former coach Ken Hitchcock and former general manager Pierre Lacroix were voted in in the Builders category.

The induction ceremony will be held at the Hall in Toronto on Nov. 13.

Turgeon's NHL career began when he was selected by the Sabres with the No. 1 pick in the 1987 NHL Draft, and it didn't take long for him to make an impact. He had 88 points (34 goals, 54 assists) in 80 games as a 19-year-old in 1988-89, and 106 points (40 goals, 66 assists) in 80 games the following season.

Turgeon's most productive season in the NHL came in 1992-93 with the Islanders, who acquired him in a trade with the Sabres for future Hall of Fame forward Pat LaFontaine on Oct. 25, 1991. Turgeon finished tied for fifth in the League that season with 132 points (58 goals, 74 assists) in 83 games and won the Lady Byng Trophy, which is given annually to the player voted best to combine sportsmanship, gentlemanly conduct and ability.

Turgeon continued to produce during his first full season with the Canadiens in 1995-96, when he had 96 points (38 goals, 58 assists) in 80 games, but he would be traded to the Blues on Oct. 29, 1996.

Although Turgeon's time in St. Louis was limited because of injuries, which caused him to miss 67 games from 1997-2000, he still averaged more than a point per game in his five seasons with the Blues (355 points in 327 games).

Following stints with the Stars and Avalanche, Turgeon retired from the NHL on Sept. 5, 2007, after groin and calf injuries limited him to 17 games in 2006-07.

Sixteen years later, it's been quite the wait for Turgeon to get into the Hall, but he doesn't look at it that way.

"You know, if you look at the selection of the committee, there are a number of people they're looking at and there are a lot of great players that had great careers," Turgeon said. "So, it's got to be tough for them to decide. For me, it's just a privilege to be a part of this.

"It's crazy. I played hockey for a living, and I still play and I still go out there twice a week because I love the game so much. So, it is definitely an honor and a privilege to be part of this."