New York Islanders legend Clark Gillies dead at 67

Four-time Stanley Cup winner Clark Gillies has died at the age of 67, the New York Islanders announced Friday night.

Drafted by the Islanders fourth overall in the 1974 draft, Gillies stepped right into the NHL as a 20-year-old, and it didn’t take long for him to dominate. Known for not only his rough and tumble play, Gillies saw success as a point producer, too.

Gillies was one of the earliest versions of a true power forward. And after his third season, he was named captain after a locker-room vote. It was a role he eventually resigned to future Hall of Famer Denis Potvin.

The imposing Gillies stood at 6-3, 215 pounds and formed the “Trio Grande” line alongside Mike Bossy and Bryan Trottier — one of the league’s most lethal lines.

Gillies’ level of play always rose to that of his competitors, who at times, seemed virtually unstoppable on the ice. His rugged play opened space on the ice for his superstar linemates.

He was no slouch offensively, either.

In his 958-game career, Gillies scored 319 goals and 697 points while putting up 1025 PIM. With the Islanders alone, he played in 872 games (fifth all-time in franchise history), tallying 304 goals (fourth all-time in franchise history) and 359 assists (fifth all-time in franchise history) for 663 points (fourth all-time in franchise history).

Six times he scored 30 or more goals and he assisted on 30 or more goals five times.

“The entire Islanders community is devastated by the loss of Clark Gillies,” Islanders president and general manager Lou Lamoriello said in a statement. “He epitomized what it means to be a New York Islander. The pride he felt wearing the Islanders sweater on the ice was evident by his willingness to do anything to win. Off the ice, he was just as big of a presence, always taking the time to give back to the local community. The New York Islanders have four Stanley Cups because of the sacrifices he and the members of those dynasty teams made for the franchise. On behalf of the entire organization, we send our deepest condolences to the entire Gillies family.”

Lamoriello’s words were echoed by league commissioner Gary Bettman.

“The National Hockey League mourns the passing of Clark Gillies, a tower of strength on the ice for the dynastic New York Islanders of the early 1980s and a pillar of the Long Island community ever since,” said Bettman. “Gillies helped define the word ‘power forward’ during a 14-season, Hall of Fame career with the Islanders and Buffalo Sabres that was highlighted by winning four Stanley Cups with the Islanders.”

While Gillies retired in 1988, his contributions on the Island never ended. He founded the Clark Gillies Foundation, a non-profit corporation designed to help children who are physically, developmentally, and/or financially challenged. The Huntington Hospital Pediatric Unit was named after Gillies after he and his foundation helped raise $1 million to fund the unit’s construction.

His number 9 was raised to the rafters on Dec. 7, 1996, and six years later, Gillies was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame as part of the 2002 class.

Zach Laing is the Nation Network’s news director and senior columnist. He can be followed on Twitter at @zjlaing, or reached by email at zach@oilersnation.com.