New York Islanders’ legend, a four-time Stanley Cup champion and NHL Hall of Famer, has died

Clark Gillies, center left, greets Denis Potvin, center right, as Bryan Trottier, right, and Bobby Nystrom, left, get a chuckle out of the encounter during introductions for "The Core of the Four" New York Islanders teams that won consecutive Stanley Cups from 1980-83, at Nassau Coliseum in Uniondale, N.Y., March 2, 2008. Gillies died on Friday. (AP/Kathy Willens)
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Talk about a great combination.

Clark Gillies was the starting left wing on the New York Islanders’ top line during their Stanley Cup dynasty years in the 1980s. The forward, in fact, scored 30-or-more goals in a season six different times.

The 6-foot-3 Gillies, meanwhile, wouldn’t hesitate to drop the gloves when the situation called for it as well.

The Islanders’ legend, whose No. 9 hangs from the rafters at UBS Arena, died suddenly on Friday, thus leaving the organization and the NHL in a state of shock.

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He was 67 and no cause of death was revealed.

“The entire Islanders community is devastated by the loss of Clark Gillies,” 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.”

Gillies, who was born in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, in Canada, played 12 of his 14 NHL season with the Islanders after being drafted 4th overall in the 1974 draft. He teamed with fellow Islander legends Mike Bossy and Bryan Trottier to form the famed Trio Grande Line for many season. During his tenure with the Isles, the franchise won four Stanley Cups between 1980-83.

He played his final two seasons with the Buffalo Sabres before retiring after the 1987-88 campaign.

The hard-nosed Gillies is still a mainstay in the Islanders’ career records. In fact, he’s fourth all time in goals (304), fifth in assists (359), fourth in total points (663) and fifth in games played (872). Gillies had his number retired in 1996 and he was inducted in the NHL Hall of Fame in 2002.

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