Great great player. Perfect fit on that 1st line which was one go the greatest in NHL history. Toughest player of his era. But I was so much older then I’m younger than that now.
I grew up in the city with all Rangers fans...something happened with Bossy...Trots...Gillies...Potvin...Al ARBOR....Ken Morrow...etc...I became an Isles fan in NYC.....What great battles vs. the Barry Beck Rangers...Butch....Bobby Bourne...Eddie Westphal Ron Dugay and those tough Rangers teams and all the great MSG VS. coliseum BATTLES... I am getting too old
I went to an Islander’s practice back in the 80s and then hung around the exit afterwards trying to get some autographs. All the players were happy to sign and were really nice. But when Gillies came out he told me to wait there and went back into the room and came back with a stick that he autographed and gave to me. He was a really great guy.
And the funny thing about the stick he gave me? It is stamped with the #4 and Paul Boutillier’s name. I call it my Clark Gillies stick but guess it never really was his.
Imo, 67 is too young …..and yes, he was a complete hockey player and team player. I always knew the Broad Street Bullies wouldn’t bully the Isles with CG out there.
Someone mentioned Terry Oreilly….I’m not sure those two got into it…they probably did. I’ll go look on YouTube.
when the Flyers and Schultz thought they were the still the toughest guys in the league. I was a Ranger fan and I loved it.
He beat up Terry O'Reilly so many times I felt bad for O'Reilly. He had no chance. Gillies was not to be messed with.
Unlike the Jets, Mets and ABA Nets, who I rooted for even though I was a fan of the Giants, Yankees and Knicks because they played in different leagues and I had family on LI and attended a lot of their games, I didn't root for those Islander teams because they were direct competition to the Rangers.
But there was no way not admire them. They were an amazing team. A lot of them stayed on LI when they retired and become a big part of the community and great ambassadors for hockey.
Along with the Canadians before them and Oilers after them 1 of the 3 greatest teams of the post expansion NHL IMO. It makes me feel my age and it hurts when iconic players who were so much of my day to day life when I was young pass.
It is hard to imagine any team doing that in today’s NHL with greater parity and free agency.
To put it in perspective, Tampa Bay has now won 8 playoff series in a row. The are not even half way there. They need to win the cup agains this year and next to just have a shot at it the following year.
like many here, big Rangers' fan since the '60s, but I just couldn't help admire the all 'round skill and balance of those Islanders' teams. Once NYR were out of (or never in) SCP, it was easy to root for them.
Still remember listening in awe to 1975 Game 7 after the Islanders were down 3-0 to the Pens, and they came back to win the series (lost in 7 next round, again going down 3-0 to Flyers). It was a hoot, and an appetizer to those phenomenal teams of the early '80s.
Just looked it up: Gillies had 25 goals and 22 assists in that '75 season, as a rookie.
when the Flyers and Schultz thought they were the still the toughest guys in the league. I was a Ranger fan and I loved it.
He beat up Terry O'Reilly so many times I felt bad for O'Reilly. He had no chance. Gillies was not to be messed with.
Unlike the Jets, Mets and ABA Nets, who I rooted for even though I was a fan of the Giants, Yankees and Knicks because they played in different leagues and I had family on LI and attended a lot of their games, I didn't root for those Islander teams because they were direct competition to the Rangers.
But there was no way not admire them. They were an amazing team. A lot of them stayed on LI when they retired and become a big part of the community and great ambassadors for hockey.
Along with the Canadians before them and Oilers after them 1 of the 3 greatest teams of the post expansion NHL IMO. It makes me feel my age and it hurts when iconic players who were so much of my day to day life when I was young pass.
The clip is in black & white and it's a little rough but this was a really big deal back in the day. Clark Gillies vs Dave Schultz Round 2 - ( New Window )
Remember also when Ed Hospodar foolishly challenged him? I think he ended up with a broken jaw.
ugly as hell but Islanders themed. Something that would have been tasteful when they first built the place but hideous 20 years later. In hindsight it was a really good joke.
Louie Anderson
Clark Gillies
RIP
Why?????
Was it Terry O'Reilly?
I grew up in the city with all Rangers fans...something happened with Bossy...Trots...Gillies...Potvin...Al ARBOR....Ken Morrow...etc...I became an Isles fan in NYC.....What great battles vs. the Barry Beck Rangers...Butch....Bobby Bourne...Eddie Westphal Ron Dugay and those tough Rangers teams and all the great MSG VS. coliseum BATTLES... I am getting too old
not an Islanders fan but he was good
And the funny thing about the stick he gave me? It is stamped with the #4 and Paul Boutillier’s name. I call it my Clark Gillies stick but guess it never really was his.
RIP to an Islander legend and a good man.
Nice guy. Met him at Bethpage Golf Course once. HUGE hands. My hand was like a twig in his.
I was back then, and always have been, a Rangers fan, but it was hard not to admire those Islander teams....
At one point (I think I have this right) they won 17 play-off series in a row. Yup, you read that right.
RIP, way too young.
I was back then, and always have been, a Rangers fan, but it was hard not to admire those Islander teams....
At one point (I think I have this right) they won 17 play-off series in a row. Yup, you read that right.
RIP, way too young.
it was 19. they lost the 20th to Edmonton in the '84 Finals
Someone mentioned Terry Oreilly….I’m not sure those two got into it…they probably did. I’ll go look on YouTube.
He beat up Terry O'Reilly so many times I felt bad for O'Reilly. He had no chance. Gillies was not to be messed with.
Unlike the Jets, Mets and ABA Nets, who I rooted for even though I was a fan of the Giants, Yankees and Knicks because they played in different leagues and I had family on LI and attended a lot of their games, I didn't root for those Islander teams because they were direct competition to the Rangers.
But there was no way not admire them. They were an amazing team. A lot of them stayed on LI when they retired and become a big part of the community and great ambassadors for hockey.
Along with the Canadians before them and Oilers after them 1 of the 3 greatest teams of the post expansion NHL IMO. It makes me feel my age and it hurts when iconic players who were so much of my day to day life when I was young pass.
The clip is in black & white and it's a little rough but this was a really big deal back in the day.
Clark Gillies vs Dave Schultz Round 2 - ( New Window )
To put it in perspective, Tampa Bay has now won 8 playoff series in a row. The are not even half way there. They need to win the cup agains this year and next to just have a shot at it the following year.
Still remember listening in awe to 1975 Game 7 after the Islanders were down 3-0 to the Pens, and they came back to win the series (lost in 7 next round, again going down 3-0 to Flyers). It was a hoot, and an appetizer to those phenomenal teams of the early '80s.
Just looked it up: Gillies had 25 goals and 22 assists in that '75 season, as a rookie.
RIP, what a stud.
He beat up Terry O'Reilly so many times I felt bad for O'Reilly. He had no chance. Gillies was not to be messed with.
Unlike the Jets, Mets and ABA Nets, who I rooted for even though I was a fan of the Giants, Yankees and Knicks because they played in different leagues and I had family on LI and attended a lot of their games, I didn't root for those Islander teams because they were direct competition to the Rangers.
But there was no way not admire them. They were an amazing team. A lot of them stayed on LI when they retired and become a big part of the community and great ambassadors for hockey.
Along with the Canadians before them and Oilers after them 1 of the 3 greatest teams of the post expansion NHL IMO. It makes me feel my age and it hurts when iconic players who were so much of my day to day life when I was young pass.
The clip is in black & white and it's a little rough but this was a really big deal back in the day. Clark Gillies vs Dave Schultz Round 2 - ( New Window )
Remember also when Ed Hospodar foolishly challenged him? I think he ended up with a broken jaw.
That is interesting. Mets and Jets were considered LI teams.