Torrey, who died on May 2, 2018 at the age of 83, was named the first general manager in Islanders history on Feb. 15, 1972. He built a roster that went on to win four straight Stanley Cup championships from 1980-83 and 19 consecutive playoff series, a run that ended in the 1984 Stanley Cup Final.
The Islanders (39-21-7), now led by GM Lou Lamoriello and coach Barry Trotz, hosted the Philadelphia Flyers on Bill Torrey Appreciation Night with a chance to move back into a tie for first place in the Metropolitan Division with the Washington Capitals.
"Just an outstanding human being and a great friend of mine," Lamoriello said of Torrey on Friday. "Without question, he was the best in what we did. When you can win four in a row, it's without question a testament to the players, testament to the coach, but the relationship that he had with his coach and how things were handled and how people spoke of him, it's just incredible.
"It's very difficult to find anyone who would say anything but positive things about Bill Torrey. It's been a pleasure for me and an honor. There are three types of people that we come to know; there are people that we like, but we don't respect. There are people that we respect, but we don't like. And then there are people that we both like and respect, and that's Bill Torrey."
After a video tribute, Torrey's four sons - William, Richard, Peter and Arthur - walked a blue carpet to center ice for the ceremonial face-off. Dressed in Islanders jerseys and bowties, a Torrrey signature, they were joined by Islanders captain Anders Lee and Flyers captain Claude Giroux.
The Islanders dedicated one of their two sheets of ice at their practice facility the Bill Torrey Rink on Friday. The other rink is dedicated to former coach Al Arbour.
