An immensely talented offensive centre, Pierre Turgeon entered the NHL in 1987-88, and almost instantaneously became one of the most skilled players in the league.
Turgeon entered the 1986-87 season as the top rated Canadian junior prospect and he did not wilt under the immense expectations. He accumulated 154 points in only 58 games with the QMJHL's Granby Bisons and represented Canada at the World Junior championships. He would go on to be the first overall pick in the 1987 NHL Entry Draft by the Buffalo Sabres and post 42 points on a squad that made the playoffs for the first time in three seasons. Turgeon broke through as a bonafide NHL star with 88 points as a sophomore and 106 points in 1989-90.
Early in 1991-92, Turgeon was the key to the package sent by the Sabres to the New York Islanders to acquire Pat Lafontaine. In his first season with the Islanders, Turgeon registered 87 points in 67 games.
The next year Turgeon experienced highs and lows. During the regular season he established personal standards with 58 goals and 132 points while capturing the Lady Byng Memorial Trophy. Turgeon continued to excel in the post-season and led the Islanders to a first round upset over the Washington Capitals. Unfortunately, the young star suffered a shoulder injury late in the series-clinching game against Washington. Even though New York went all the way to the semifinal, Turgeon was clearly hampered by this injury when he returned to the lineup.
Turgeon continued to produce for the Islanders but the team never built on its success of 1992-93. In 1994-95 he lived out a childhood fantasy when a trade sent him to the Montreal Canadiens. The highlight of his time with the Habs came in 1995-96 when he recorded 96 points and he served as the team's captain during the last game at the Montreal Forum.
Early in the 1996-97 season, Turgeon was traded to the St. Louis Blues where he functioned as a solid point-per-game forward. In 1999-00, Turgeon began playing his most inspired hockey since the shoulder injury in the 1993 playoffs. Through most of the regular season he was among the NHL's leading scorers before he was felled by injuries. In the end he scored 66 points in 52 games and helped the Blues set a franchise record with 115 points and earn the President's trophy for finishing at the top of the NHL's standings. Turgeon went on to play one more season with the Blues before signing as a free agent with Dallas Stars in the summer of 2001.
Following a lockout season in 2004-05, Turgeon was acquired by the Colorado Avalanche in the summer of 2005. He went on to appear in 62 games during the 2005-06 season but was limited to only 17 the following season due to groin and calf injuries.
After 19 years in the NHL, the 38-year-old former Montreal Canadiens captain announced his retirement on September 5, 2007. When all was said and done, Turgeon had suited up in 1,294 NHL games, recorded more than 500 goals and 800 assists and finished his career with 1,327 points.
