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Saturday, October 9, 1999
Lucky Pierre
Turgeon has had quite a career
It's been an interesting and eye-opening experience for one Pierre Turgeon, who looks and hopes to pot point No. 1,000 tonight against the Edmonton Oilers at Skyreach Centre.
"It goes quick, let me tell you," laughed Turgeon when asked of his career that has made stops in Buffalo, Long Island, Montreal and the last three years in St. Louis.
"It seems like a few years ago I was starting out at 18 and now I'm 30."
Thirty and soon to join quite a select group of 1,000-point men. It seems like yesterday that the Rouyn, Que., native was selected first overall by the Sabres in the 1987 NHL draft in Detroit.
A SHY GUY
"I was 17, couldn't really speak English at all," recalled Turgeon.
"I was shy, couldn't really express myself. I couldn't say anything. The only thing I could say was, 'Hi, how are you doing,' and that's about it.
'`That and `Thank you very much,' " he laughed. "All the basic stuff."
He signed on to a three-year deal in Buffalo that paid him $105,000, $115,000 and $125,000 respectively, with a signing bonus of $175,000.
That was then, this is now.
"You can't even compare," said Turgeon of the first three years of his original contract. This off-season he inked a two-year deal worth a reported $5 million a season.
He took time to share a part of his past yesterday after practice. Back in 1987 he rushed out to buy his first car, a Porsche 944.
"It was a small one. I bought it my first year and I'll be honest with you, that's all I bought, that and a Nintendo," he laughed.
"After that I tried to think about the future."
He and wife Elisabeth now haul their four children around in a van, complete with a TV for long-distance travelling. He drives a Mercedes as well.
"You look at the first few years, everything has changed to today," he admitted.
One constant, though, is he continues to turn in strong seasons.
He began 1999-2000 at 997 points and could break the magical 1,000-point barrier against Edmonton, a club he's had tremendous success against (33 points in 32 games).
"Right now I just want to win the hockey game.
'`Sure it would be nice to get it (tonight), but at the same time I just want to get the win.
"It's always exciting to get those numbers. You look at all the people who have done it and it's obviously something to be proud of," he said.
And his play is something head coach Joel Quenneville takes pleasure in watching.
"Late in the playoffs last year and early this year it seems like he has a little more fire in his game and his step is there," said Quenneville.
"His quickness is noticeable, he's hungry and it looks like he has a lot left.
"He took on more responsibility last year in the playoffs and he's continued in that trend. I see more willingness to be a leader and more willingness to get the job done as far as the goal is in the back of his mind, and that's to win the Stanley Cup."
A TREASURE
That is a treasure Turgeon would love to attain in what he believes will be another five years in the league.
"You look at the last 12 years of my life, there have been many changes, in hockey and life.
'`I'm happy with how the last 12 years have gone and I look forward to what's ahead, hopefully with a Stanley Cup," stressed the slick centre, whose biggest year was a 132-point campaign on Long Island back in 1992-93 when he toiled with linemates Steve Thomas and Derek King.
Turgeon finished with 58 goals and 74 assists that year and has averaged 83.08 points a season over his span.
"He's had a great career," said Quenneville.
"He's accomplished a lot of things, from setting out as an 18-year-old in Buffalo to where he is today."
And today, specifically, can be a big day with 1,000 points within his grasp.
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