Phil Goyette, a Montreal Canadiens forward and the New York Islanders' first head coach, has died at 92. Goyette won four Stanley Cups as a player with Montreal in his initial seasons. He later transitioned into coaching, guiding the expansion Islanders during their inaugural 1972-73 campaign.

A native of Lachine, Quebec, Goyette debuted with the Canadiens in 1956 and went on to play 940 NHL games. He recorded 207 goals and 467 assists, adding 17 goals and 29 points in 94 playoff appearances. Goyette also suited up for the Rangers, Sabres, and Blues, winning the Lady Byng Trophy in 1970.

Goyette’s coaching tenure with the Islanders lasted just one season, ending with a 6-40-4 record. He was replaced by Earl Ingarfield after the team’s brutal expansion year. His impact, however, extended beyond wins and losses, laying early groundwork for a franchise that would later dominate the 1980s. Goyette’s death marks the passing of a direct link to the NHL’s foundational era.