New York Islanders Player History: Where are they all from?

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UNIONDALE, NY – JANUARY 29: Former New York Islandes Mike Bossy waves to the crowd prior to the game duing Mike Bossy tribute Night at the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum on January 29, 2015 in Uniondale, New York. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images) /

Canada

Of the 547 players that have played for the New York Islanders, Canada has been the origin of over 61% of them. 335 total players have come from Canada to play for the Islanders. This is broken up into 302 skaters and 33 goalies.

Islanders Top 5 Canadians

Denis Potvin, D

Potvin is considered the best defenseman that has ever played for the Islanders and one of the best defenseman that has ever played in the NHL. He played for the Isles from the time the organization drafted him first overall in 1973 until he retired in 1988.

In his 15-year career with the Islanders, Potvin would play in 1,060 games and rack up 1,052 points. Potvin’s 0.99 point-per-game rate is only second among defenseman, only behind Bobby Orr.

Out of his 15 seasons with the team, Potvin was captain for eight of them, from 1979 until 1987. This is the longest tenured captaincy in the organization’s history.

Potvin has been awarded the Norris Trophy three times in his career. First, for the 1975-76 season and then back-to-back for the 1977-78 and 1978-79 seasons. Additionally, Potvin would be recognized as an NHL all-star seven times.

Bryan Trottier, C

Being a second-round pick (22nd overall) by the Islanders in 1974, Trottier definitely exceeded the organization’s expectations for him. Trottier would spend 15 years of his 18-year career with the Isles, playing 1123 games and setting multiple season and career records for the team.

As the organization’s leader in points (1,353), assists (853), and plus/minus (470), it is not a surprise that Trottier falls in the top three of Islanders that come from the Great White North. Trottier also holds Islanders season records of assists and +/- with 87 and 76, respectively.

Furthermore, Trottier was awarded the Calder Trophy for the 1975-76 season. Other awards that Trottier has won include the Hart Memorial Trophy (1978-79), Art Ross Trophy (1978-79), Conn Smythe Trophy (1979-80), and the King Clancy Memorial Trophy (1988-89). Additionally, Trottier was recognized as an NHL all-star four times.

Mike Bossy, RW

Drafted 15th overall by the Islanders, Bossy was held to high standards. He would reach those expectations and more and become the Isles all-time goal leader, despite only playing for ten seasons due to back injuries.

Bossy holds several season and franchise goal records. These include all-time goals (573), all-time powerplay goals (181), all-time game-winning goals (81), goals in a season (69), powerplay goals in a season (28), and game-winning goals in a season (11). Additionally, Bossy holds the Islanders record for points in a season with 146.

Furthermore, Bossy won several awards during his career. First, Bossy won the Calder Trophy in 1977-78. Bossy would win the Lady Byng Memorial Trophy three times in his career (1982-83, 1983-84, 1985-86). In 1981-82, Bossy was awarded the Conn Smythe trophy for his performance in the playoffs that season. Bossy was also selected to the NHL all-star team eight times.

Billy Smith, G

Smith is considered the greatest goalie in New York Islanders history. Over his 17 seasons with the Isles, Smith would rack up 304 wins, which leads all goalies that have played for the franchise.

Over his career, Smith would collect the Vezina Trophy (1981-82), William M. Jennings Trophy (1982-83), and the Conn Smythe Trophy for his performance in the 1982-82 playoffs. However, Smith would only be selected as an all-star one time.

Clark Gillies, LW

In 1974, Gillies was taken fourth overall by the Isles. He would spend 12 seasons with the organization, acting as captain from 1976 until 1979, and scoring 663 points in 872 games.

Although Gillies did not provide the same offensive production as that of Trottier and Bossy, he provided much-needed strength and grit to the play style of the team.

Gillies would be selected as an all-star two times in his career with the Islanders.

Common Ground

All five of these men have been enshrined in the Hockey Hall of Fame – Potvin and Bossy in 1991, Smith in 1993, Trottier in 1997, and Gillies in 2002. Additionally, all five of these men were a part of the team that won four straight Stanley Cups from 1979 to 1983. Furthermore, all of these men have had their jerseys retired by the Islanders organization.