One of the most prolific goal scorers in hockey left us as Mike Bossy lost his battle with lung cancer.  He was 75 years old.

From Montreal, Bossy was a First Round Pick of the New York Islanders in 1977, and he made the team immediately, scoring 53 Goals and winning the Calder Trophy.  Bossy continued to light the lamp at a lightning-like pace, leading the NHL twice, and exceeding the 50-Goal mark in his first nine seasons, and cracking 60 five times.  

A five-time First Team All-Star and three-time Second Team All-Star, Bossy led the Islanders to four consecutive Stanley Cups (1980-83), and won the Conn Smythe in 1982.  The sniper was also known for his classy play, winning three Lady Byng Trophies.

Bossy dealt with back problems causing his premature retirement at the age of 30 and he left the game with 573 Goals and 1,126 Points.

Bossy entered the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1991, his first year of eligibility.

We here at Notinhalloffame.com would like to extend our condolences to the fans, friends, and family of Mike Bossy.

The Islanders lost one of their great ones.

Last night, Clark Gillies passed away.  He was 67 Years old.

Gillies played most of his with the New York Islanders, first debuting in the 1974/75 Season, where he would be a two-time First Team All-Star and four-time Stanley Cup Champion.  A former captain for the Isles, Gillies was a do-it-all player, who scored, playmaked, and grinded, selflessly opened the ice for his other skill playing teammates.    

Finishing his career with the Buffalo Sabres, the Left Wing had 697 career NHL Points.

Internationally, he represented Canada in the 1981 Canada Cup.

Gillies entered the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2002.

We here at Notinhalloffame.com would like to extend our condolences o the fans, friends and family of Clark Gillies.

Regular visitors of Notinhalloffame.com know that we are slowly working on the top 50 of every major team in the NHL, NBA, NFL and MLB. Once that is done, we intend to look at how each team honor their past players, coaches and executives.  As such, it is news to us that the New York Islanders will be retiring the numbers of John Tonelli and Butch Goring this year.

John Tonelli played his first three seasons in pro hockey with the Houston Aeros of the World Hockey Association, and he debuted on Long Island for the 1978-79 season.  The Left Wing played there for seven and a half seasons, and was a member of all four of New York’s Stanley Cup wins, and he was named a Second Team All-Star twice. For the Islanders, Tonelli would accumulate 544 Points in 594 Games.  Currently, his number 27 is being worn by Anders Lee, the current captain of the Islanders.  Tonelli has asked that Lee continue to wear that number as long as he is in New York.  His number will go up the rafter on their February 21 home game against the Detroit Red Wings.  He is currently ranked #39 on our Notinhalloffame.com hockey list of those to consider for the Hockey Hall of Fame.

Butch Goring was traded from the Los Angeles Kings during the 1979-80 season, and he was the final piece of the puzzle that would help the Islanders win their first Stanley Cup.  He would play with New York until 1985, and like Tonelli, he was also a member of all four Stanley Cup wins.  Goring was especially valuable in the 1981 Championship, when he won the Conn Smythe Trophy.  He played 332 Games, scoring 195 Points for New York.  Goring’s number 91 will be officially retired on February 29, at their home game against the Buffalo Sabres.  He is currently ranked #38 on our Notinhalloffame.com hockey list.

We here at Notinhalloffame.com would like to congratulate Butch Goring and John Tonelli for earning this honor.

Normally if you are considered the best hockey player in your family it isn’t much of an accolade.  This was not the case for Brent Sutter who may have been the most talented of what could be the most storied siblings of professional hockey.  The Sutters were known for their work ethic and Brent was no exception. Brent Sutter was known for doing all the small intangibles to make a team successful, and yet he was still able to achieve over 800 points in his career. He likely won’t get in, but should he slip in it might be a celebration of the Sutter family as a whole.

A major contributor to the Los Angeles Kings in the ’70s, Butch Goring tasted his greatest success when he was traded to the New York Islanders and became the “final piece of the puzzle”. Goring was a part of the Islander dynasty that won four consecutive Stanley Cup Championships and his performances in the first two championships were vital reasons to the Islanders' success. Goring was a multi-faceted hockey player (and one of the games more colorful characters to boot). Goring was labeled by some as a reckless player, which made it all the more impressive that he was able to remain largely injury-free throughout his career. Goring’s 888 career points were impressive, but that was only a part of what made him a special player.

Possibly the best player of the New York Islanders dynasty not yet in the Hall of Fame, John Tonelli traveled where others feared to tread. Tonelli was a grinder and was one of the few players who were just as comfortable chasing an open puck as he was digging for it in the corner. Usually, players defined by grit were not known for their scoring touch but John Tonelli was able to rack 834 NHL career points. Had he gone to the NHL right away odds are he would have hit that four-digit plateau.