Pat LaFontaine was one of the first great American-born players in the NHL. Instead of playing college hockey, LaFontaine played in the Canadian major junior system, with the Verdun Juniors of the Québec Major Junior Hockey League in 1982-83. He was then drafted by the New York Islanders in the first round, #3 overall, in the 1983 NHL entry draft. LaFontaine would play for 16 years in the NHL. He started out with the Islanders, playing with them through 1991, then spent six seasons with the Buffalo Sabres, and finishing out his career with one year with the New York Rangers. In his career he scored 468 goals and 1,013 points. He twice scored over 50 goals in a season, in 1989-90, with 54, and 1992-93, with 53. LaFontaine played in five NHL All-Star Games, and in 1995, won the Bill Masterton Trophy in honor of his comeback from a severe knee injury. His career was eventually ended by several hard hits and concussions, which caused post-concussion syndrome. LaFontaine then moved into the front office, serving as a senior advisor to the Islanders President. He is one of the only three players to have played for all three New York-based teams, and the only one who played only for them. In his honor, the winner of the Rangers-Islanders season series receives the Pat LaFontaine Trophy. He is a member of the International Hockey Hall of Fame and the US Hockey Hall of Fame. LaFontaine played internationally for the US at the 1987 and 1991 Canada Cups in addition to his two Winter Olympic appearances.
United States