LaFontaine played for the New York Islanders from 1983 until 1991, the Buffalo Sabres from 1991 until 1997, and the New York Rangers from 1997 until his retirement in 1998, scoring 468 goals and 1,013 points along the way before his career was ended by concussions. His 1.17 points per game (1,013 points over 865 games) is the best among American-born ice hockey players, active or retired. In 2017, LaFontaine was named one of the "100 Greatest NHL Players" in history.[1] LaFontaine served as an executive of the Buffalo Sabres as the president of hockey operations until March 2014.
On October 1, 1981, the New York Islanders traded Bob Lorimer and Dave Cameron to the Colorado Rockies for the Rockies' (later market rival New Jersey Devils') first-round draft pick in 1983; LaFontaine was selected by the Islanders in the first round as the third pick overall in the 1983 NHL Entry Draft with that pick. After representing the United States in the 1984 Winter Olympics in Sarajevo, Yugoslavia, LaFontaine joined the Islanders in time for the Stanley Cup Finals. His arrival was concurrent with the beginning of the end of the Islanders' dynasty, as the team was steeped deep in aging veterans. The Islanders lost in the finals that year to the Edmonton Oilers, ending the team's run of consecutive Stanley Cup championships at four. LaFontaine had a strong performance, scoring two third-period goals during the Islanders' 5–2 loss to the Oilers in the fifth and deciding game of the series.
In the 1987 Stanley Cup playoffs, LaFontaine scored the winning goal in the fourth overtime period of the seventh and decisive game between the Islanders and Washington Capitals, known as the "Easter Epic". The game was started on Saturday, April 18, and concluded just before 2 a.m. on the 19th, Easter Sunday. "It was the most memorable moment in my hockey life," he later recalled. "Even today, wherever I go, people come up to me and start telling me where they were during the Easter Epic."[citation needed]
The Islanders continued to struggle and in 1989, they missed the playoffs for the first time since 1974. In the first game of the Islanders' next playoff series, in 1990, LaFontaine suffered the first of many concussions, after a controversial, open-ice hit by James Patrick of the New York Rangers. He fell on his head and was unconscious while being taken off the ice on a stretcher. The ambulance he took was delayed en route to the hospital by Ranger fans who rocked and pounded it as it left Madison Square Garden.[5] He was lost for the remainder of the series.
The 1990–91 season was a successful season for LaFontaine, but not the Islanders, who finished with a record of 25–45–10. LaFontaine, frustrated with his situation on Long Island, turned down a four-year, $6 million contract offer and refused to report to the Islanders for the start of the 1991–92 NHL season.[6] Three weeks into the season, on October 25, 1991, LaFontaine was traded, along with Randy Wood, to the Buffalo Sabres for four players, including former first overall pick Pierre Turgeon.[6] In only 57 games in 1991–92, LaFontaine scored 46 goals and 93 points.
The following season, LaFontaine recorded a personal-best and team-record 148 points (53 goals and 95 assists). The 148 points are also the most points scored by an American-born player in one season.[7] His play-making ability helped his linemate Alexander Mogilny set a team season record with 76 goals (as of 2020, both LaFontaine's 95 assists, 148 points and Mogilny's 76 goals still stand as the Sabres' team records for a single season). LaFontaine finished as runner-up to Mario Lemieux in the scoring race and earned a spot on the postseason NHL All-Star second team. He was also a finalist for the Hart Memorial Trophy as NHL MVP and the Lady Byng Trophy as the most sportsmanlike player. In 1994–95 he was awarded the Bill Masterton Trophy as the player who best exemplified the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship, and dedication to ice hockey.
LaFontaine is one of six players in NHL history to skate for all three teams based in the state of New York. The others were Mike Donnelly, Jason Dawe, Martin Biron, Chad Johnson, and Taylor Pyatt. Unique amongst them, LaFontaine played his entire career in the state of New York, while the others all played for additional teams outside the state in their careers. LaFontaine once joked about it, saying "I think I'm the only player in history who has been traded twice and hasn't had to change his license plate."[8]
International play
LaFontaine was selected to play for the United States national team in the 1984 Winter Olympics. LaFontaine scored five goals and three assists as the US finished in seventh place. He also played in the 1998 Winter Olympics, where he scored one goal and one assist as the US finished sixth.
LaFontaine played in the Canada Cup tournament twice, first in 1987 and then 1991, where he helped the US reach the finals but lost to Canada.
In the 1996 World Cup of Hockey, LaFontaine scored two goals and two assists as the US beat Canada 5–2 in the final, earning him his first international championship win.
Retirement
The 1996–97 season was the beginning of the end of his career. In a game against the Pittsburgh Penguins, LaFontaine was hammered by François Leroux with a high hit to the head, knocking him out with a concussion, and resulted in post-concussion syndrome.[9] He was determined to return, even though the doctors advised against such an attempt. Sabres management, in conjunction with team doctors and specialists, refused to clear LaFontaine to return, and recommended he retire. LaFontaine, still believing he could play, was traded to the New York Rangers in a cost-cutting measure[10] for a second round draft choice in the 1998 NHL Entry Draft and future considerations on September 29, 1997.[11] During his one season with the Rangers, he tied for the team lead in goals scored,[11] and recorded his 1,000th career NHL point.
In a game against the Ottawa Senators on March 16, 1998, LaFontaine accidentally collided with teammate Mike Keane and suffered another concussion. LaFontaine missed the remainder of the season and all of the next season, announcing his retirement formally on October 12, 1999.[9]
Announced in 2001, the Pat LaFontaine Trophy was awarded to the winner of the Islanders–Rangers regular season series, with money paid by the losing team to the charity of LaFontaine's choice.[12] It is unclear whether the trophy is still awarded or acknowledged by either team.
He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame on November 3, 2003.[13] "I am truly thrilled to receive this tremendous honor," said LaFontaine upon receiving the news. "Growing up in St. Louis, I always played for the love of the game and never dreamed this could ever lead to my being a member of the Hockey Hall of Fame." He was inducted into the United States Hockey Hall of Fame in that same year.[14]
On March 3, 2006, the Buffalo Sabres retired LaFontaine's number 16.[15] He was also inducted into the Buffalo Sabres Hall of Fame in 2004.[16] LaFontaine was voted the 3rd greatest Buffalo Sabre in the team's 40-year history.
Post-hockey
In 1997, LaFontaine founded the Companions in Courage Foundation, an organization that builds interactive game rooms in children's hospitals throughout North America.[17]
In 2000, the Congressional Medal of Honor Society bestowed the Patriot Award on LaFontaine in recognition of his contribution to military morale throughout his career.[18] In 2002, LaFontaine was given an honorary Goal! Award, sponsored by the Points of Light Foundation, for having overcome depression, living in the community and performing volunteer work.[19] In 1998 he was honored with the Public Leadership in Neurology Award for his work in Public Awareness of Concussion In Sports.
In April 2003, LaFontaine was recognized with the International Humanitarian Award by the Gift of Life Foundation, an organization promoting the cure and treatment of children suffering from heart disease in third world countries.[20]
In March 2004, LaFontaine was inducted into the Michigan Sports Hall of Fame at a ceremony in Detroit.[19] In March 2005, he was named recipient of the James Keller Award by The Christophers organization.[21] Since 1987, the Award has recognized individuals who have contributed in a meaningful way to the well-being of young people.[22]
In 2007, LaFontaine was inducted into the Nassau County Sports Hall of Fame.[23]
The Heisman Trophy Trust recognized LaFontaine with their Humanitarian of the Year Award in 2008. The hockey star joked that he never played football, and he never even went to college. But the Trust recognized him as an exemplary selfless individual, who gives of himself to improve the plight of those less fortunate or afflicted.
In November 2008, Pat participated in his sixth career Ironman Triathlon event in Panama City, Florida. He swam 2.4 miles, rode a bike 112 miles and then ran a 26-mile marathon as a fundraiser for his charity. In March 2012, LaFontaine coached his son and a group of teenagers from Long Island, to the U-16 National Championship in Buffalo, New York. The Long Island Royals became just the second youth hockey team from Long Island to ever win a national championship. Their exploits were followed throughout the season by the NHL.com series, "Making of a Royal".
LaFontaine was recognized with a national Jefferson Award at a ceremony in Washington D.C. in June 2012. The Jefferson Awards (www.jeffersonawards.org) are a prestigious national recognition honoring community service in America. He was recognized for his work with the Companions in Courage Foundation. The 40th Annual Jefferson National Ceremony took place at Constitution Hall in Washington DC. Additional 2012 winners included General David Petraeus, musicians Harry Connick, Jr. and Branford Marsalis, former Buffalo Bills quarterback Jim Kelly and Indy race driver Charlie Kimball.
LaFontaine was invited to the Vatican and participated in Sport at the Service of Humanity: The First Global Conference on Faith & Sport as a guest of Pope Francis in October 2016.[citation needed]
Back to the NHL
On June 7, 2006, the Islanders announced that Pat LaFontaine would return to the Islanders as Senior Advisor to the Owner. This was short-lived, however, as LaFontaine resigned in protest only six weeks later on July 18, the same day that Neil Smith was fired by the Islanders.[24]
In March 2006, Pat LaFontaine's #16 was retired by the Buffalo Sabres and raised to the rafters of the First Niagara Center (formerly HSBC Arena), joining other Sabre legends Gilbert Perreault, Rick Martin, and Rene Robert (a.k.a. The French Connection), Tim Horton and Danny Gare.
As of 2010, LaFontaine works as a commentator for MSG Network Rangers broadcasts.[25]
On November 13, 2013, LaFontaine was announced to be the new President of Hockey Operations for the Buffalo Sabres.[26][27] On March 1, 2014, Pat LaFontaine resigned his position as President of Hockey Operations with the club on Saturday after just over three months on the job to resume his previous role with the National Hockey League.[28]
The Buffalo Sabres are a professional ice hockey team based in Buffalo, New York. The Sabres compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Atlantic Division in the Eastern Conference. The team was established in 1970, along with the Vancouver Canucks, when the league expanded to 14 teams. The Sabres have played their home games at KeyBank Center since 1996, having previously played at the Buffalo Memorial Auditorium since their inception. The Sabres are owned by Terry Pegula, who purchased the club in 2011 from Tom Golisano.
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The 1994–95 Buffalo Sabres season was the Sabres' 25th season in the National Hockey League. The season was marked by injuries to star forwards Dale Hawerchuk and Pat LaFontaine, who each missed over half of the lockout-shortened season. Donald Audette, Alexander Mogilny and Wayne Presley filled the offensive hole left by the absence of LaFontaine and Hawerchuk, as Audette led the team in goals (24), Mogilny led in assists (28) and points (47) and Presley led in shorthanded goals (5). Thanks to Presley's contribution in this offensive category, the Sabres tied the Washington Capitals with the most shorthanded goals scored by any team during the regular season (13). Dominik Hasek led all goaltenders in save percentage with .930, goals against average with 2.11 and shutouts with 5. The Sabres were one of only three teams not to be shut out in any of their regular season games or playoff games.
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Note: Ramsey resigned his captaincy during the 1992–93 NHL season, in favor of LaFontaine. Mogilny served as captain during most of the 1993–94 NHL season, while LaFontaine was injured and out of the line-up.
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