Clark Gillies

Clark Gillies (April 7, 1954 – January 21, 2022) was a Canadian professional ice hockey player who competed in the National Hockey League between 1974 and 1988. He spent the bulk of his career with the New York Islanders before finishing with the Buffalo Sabres.

Raised in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, Gillies began skating at around the age of four. From 1975 to 1979 he posted four consecutive 30-goal seasons, and from 1977 to 1979 he served as captain of the Islanders before delegating the role to Denis Potvin. An aggressive playmaker who created scoring chances for his linemates, he anchored the "Trio Grande" line alongside right wing Mike Bossy and center Bryan Trottier. That unit was central to the Islander dynasty that won the Stanley Cup four consecutive times from 1980 to 1983. As his scoring output declined in 1986, Gillies left the Islanders and played his final two seasons in Buffalo.

Over 14 seasons and 958 games, he recorded 319 goals, 378 assists, and 1,023 penalty minutes. The Islanders retired his jersey in 1996, and he was elected to the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2002.