Pierre Turgeon is a former professional ice hockey player from Canada who played in the National Hockey League (NHL) for 19 seasons. He was born on August 28, 1969, in Rouyn-Noranda, Quebec, and began his hockey career in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) with the Hull Olympiques.
Turgeon was selected first overall by the Buffalo Sabres in the 1987 NHL Entry Draft and made his NHL debut in the same year. He quickly established himself as a top scorer in the league, recording 42 goals and 70 assists in his second season with the Sabres. He played for the Sabres for five seasons before being traded to the New York Islanders in 1991.
Turgeon had a successful stint with the Islanders, leading the team in scoring for four consecutive seasons and being named team captain in 1995. He was also named to the NHL All-Star Game four times during his time with the Islanders.
In 1995, Turgeon was involved in a controversial incident during the playoffs when he was injured by a hit from Dale Hunter of the Washington Capitals. Hunter received a suspension for the hit, but Turgeon was unable to play for the remainder of the playoffs.
Turgeon was traded to the Montreal Canadiens in 1995 and played for the team for two seasons before being traded to the St. Louis Blues in 1996. He had a successful stint with the Blues, recording 58 goals and 79 assists in his first two seasons with the team.
Turgeon played for several other teams during his career, including the Dallas Stars, Colorado Avalanche, and the Los Angeles Kings. He retired from the NHL in 2007 with a career total of 515 goals and 812 assists in 1,294 games.
Throughout his career, Turgeon was known for his offensive skills and his ability to score goals. He was also a skilled playmaker and was known for his ability to set up his teammates for scoring opportunities.
Turgeon was inducted into the Buffalo Sabres Hall of Fame in 2011 and the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League Hall of Fame in 2012. He currently works as an assistant coach for the Los Angeles Kings.
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