Buffalo, N.Y. (WGR 550) - The hockey world mourns the passing of Hall of Fame winger Clark Gillies, who died on Friday at the age of 67.
It was shortly after the New York Islanders' 4-0 win over the Arizona Coyotes on Friday night when the team announced the passing of their long-time legend.
"The entire Islanders community is devastated by the loss of Clark Gillies," said Islanders' President and general manager Lou Lamoriello in a team 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."
Gillies was part of the memorable New York Islanders dynasty that won four-straight Stanley Cup championships from 1980 to 1983. After a memorable 12-year run with the Islanders from 1974 to 1986, the, then, 32-year-old was claimed by the Sabres in the NHL Waiver Draft.
The left winger went on to spend two seasons with the Sabres, appearing in just 86 games with 15 goals and 19 assists for 34 points.
His best season in Buffalo came in the 1986-87 campaign, when he scored 10 goals and added 17 assists for 27 points in 61 games.
The next season saw Gillies only play in 25 games with five goals and two assists, while also adding an assist in five playoff games. The Sabres ended up losing that year in the Adams Division Semifinal Round to the Boston Bruins in six games.
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In 958 career games over a 14-year span in the NHL, Gillies went on to score 319 goals and compile 378 assists for 697 points. In the playoffs, Gillies was phenomenal with 47 goals and 47 assists for 94 points in 164 games.
With the Islanders, Gillies finished fifth in franchise history with 872 games played, fourth with 304 goals, fifth with 359 assists, and fourth with 663 points. He was selected fourth overall in the first round of the 1974 NHL Draft by the Islanders.
Gillies was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2002. He had his No. 9 retired by the Islanders in 1996.
***Photo: Buffalo Sabres (@BuffaloSabres)
