Pat LaFontaine

American ice hockey center who scored 468 NHL goals in 865 games, known for his speed, skill and clutch playoff performances before concussion-forced retirement

Pat LaFontaine was born in St. Louis, Missouri in 1965. New York Islanders selected him third overall in the 1983 NHL Draft. His career produced 468 goals and 545 assists for 1,013 career points — the most by an American-born player at his retirement. He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2003 and named one of the 100 Greatest NHL Players in 2017. His finest season — 148 points for the Buffalo Sabres in 1992-93 — placed him second only to Wayne Gretzky in a scoring race that season. A series of severe concussions — including one in 1996 that caused him to retire, return and then suffer another in 1998 forcing permanent retirement — cut short what would otherwise have been a 1,500-point career. He won the Bill Masterton Award for perseverance and dedication. He became President of the Buffalo Sabres after his career. He is one of the most dramatic cases in hockey history of exceptional talent whose full expression was denied by head injuries.

LaFontaine was an explosive offensive center with exceptional speed and acceleration that allowed him to create scoring chances. He possessed excellent hands and vision, making him equally dangerous as a goal scorer and playmaker. His ability to change direction quickly and find open ice made him one of the most dynamic offensive players of his era.

LaFontaine helped pave the way for future generations of American hockey players and remains one of the most successful U.S.-born players in NHL history. His offensive prowess and exciting style of play helped grow hockey's popularity in the United States during the 1980s and 1990s.

• Hall of Fame (2003)
• NHL 100 Greatest Players
• Bill Masterton Award

Team Career

Team	Period	GP	Goals
New York Islanders	1983–1991	530	287
Buffalo Sabres	1991–1997	416	148
New York Rangers	1997–1998	67	23
USA	—	16	13