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Islanders Core of the Four: A deep dive into 4 time Stanley Cup winners

ByMichel Anderson|
UNIONDALE, NY - MARCH 02: Denis Potvin of the 'Core of the Four' New York Islanders Stanley Cup victories take part in a ceremony prior to the Islanders game against the Florida Panthers at the Nassau Coliseum March 2, 2008 in Uniondale, New York. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
UNIONDALE, NY - MARCH 02: Denis Potvin of the 'Core of the Four' New York Islanders Stanley Cup victories take part in a ceremony prior to the Islanders game against the Florida Panthers at the Nassau Coliseum March 2, 2008 in Uniondale, New York. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
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UNIONDALE – 1979: From left, Canadian ice hockey players Clark Gillies, Bryan Trottier, and Mike Bossy of the New York Islanders pose together on the ice in March of 1979 in Uniondale, New York. (Photo by Bruce Bennett Studios via Getty Images Studios/Getty Images)

The 17 Players

It’s a feat that hasn’t been replaced since and likely never will. Through four back-to-back Stanley Cup championships, the New York Islanders were able to keep a core of 17 players.

Think about that. With a 23-man active roster, that returning core represents almost three-quarters of the team. That’s insane to think about in modern terms.

With the salary cap, there’s no way that this can be replicated in the modern era. It’s not possible to keep three-quarters of a championship team together for at least four years.

Of those 17 players, five would go on to the Hockey Hall of Fame, eight would be named to the Islanders Hall of Fame, and eight would have their numbers retired by the Islanders.

Here are all seventeen players of the Core of the Four:

Forwards

Bryan Trottier (HOF 1997)
Mike Bossy (HOF 1991)
Clark Gillies (HOF 2002)
Butch Goring
Bob Nystrom
John Tonelli
Duane Sutter
Bob Bourne
Anders Kallur
Wayne Merrick
Lorne Henning

Defense

Denis Potvin (HOF 1991)
Dave Langevin
Stefan Persson
Ken Morrow
Gord Lane

Goaltending

Billy Smith (HOF 1993)

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