Clark Gillies

His first professional sports experience was in baseball. In 1970, at 16, Gillies signed with the Houston Astros and moved to Covington, Virginia where he played three years of minor league baseball in the Appalachian League. He hit .241 in 86 games as a catcher/first baseman.[2] He platooned at first base in 1972 with Bob Bourne who would also enjoy a successful NHL career.[3] Bourne suffered from home sickness and continued to play hockey during the off season.[4] He eventually moved on to play in the Western Hockey League with the Regina Pats. During his tenure with the Pats, Giles accrued 570 penalty minutes in 201 games. [5] In 1974, his final season for Regina, Giles had 46 goals and 66 assists, was named to the league's first (highest rated) All-Star team, and the team won the 1974 Memorial Cup as league champion.[1]

Later in 1974, the Islanders made Gilles their first-round selection in the 1974 NHL draft, taking him fourth overall. Gillies was also selected by the World Hockey Association's Edmonton Oilers in the WHA draft, but signed with the Islanders, making the team out of training camp.[6] It was during his rookie season of 1974–75, in the playoffs, that Gillies established himself as one of the toughest players in the National Hockey League (NHL), pummeling Philadelphia Flyers enforcer Dave Schultz.[7][8]

In the latter half of the 1976-77 NHL season, Gillies was named team captain; however, in spite of Gillies' articulate speaking manner and amiable nature, he never felt completely comfortable as captain. Gillies captained the Islanders through two disappointing seasons, in part because the Islanders appeared to lack team toughness. During the pre-season of 1979–80 Gillies allowed Denis Potvin to take over as captain.[9]

During the 1980 playoffs, Gillies got the best of Terry O'Reilly, one of the Boston Bruins' toughest players, several times, helping to fuel the Islanders' drive to the Stanley Cup. Gillies was used during this series as the Islanders' chief protector and enforcer, and in taking on this role, Gillies allowed his team to battle through a violent series with the Bruins. Gillies, now totally comfortable with his role with the team, prospered individually and collectively, as the Islanders won four consecutive Stanley Cups during Gillies' tenure.

Gillies scored over 30 goals for four straight seasons (starting in 1975-76) as part of the "Trio Grande", the Islanders' top forward line with Mike Bossy and Bryan Trottier, and again in 1980-81 and '81-82. In 1977 he finished tenth in the voting for the Hart Trophy for most valuable player in the NHL. In 1978 and 1979 he led all left-wingers for most votes for the All-Star game.[7] In 1981, he played for Team Canada in the 1981 Canada Cup, scoring 7 points in 7 games.

After scoring only four goals in 55 games in 1985–86, Gillies was left unprotected in the NHL waiver draft, and was claimed by the Buffalo Sabres.[10] While wearing number 9 in Buffalo, Gillies retired after playing a season and a half with the Sabres. On December 7, 1996, Gillies' No. 9 was retired by the Islanders.[11]

In 2002 Gillies was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame.[12] He was also inducted into the Saskatchewan Sports Hall of Fame.[13]