Gillies Hopes the Islanders Return to Nassau Someday

With the Islanders closing out their final year on Long Island before moving to Barclays Center in Brooklyn next season, other recent honorees have included Denis Potvin and Billy Smith.

For younger Islanders fans, it’s an introduction to the dynasty that won the Stanley Cup four straight times in the early 1980s. For longtime fans, it’s a prolonged farewell to one of the NHL’s oldest arenas.

The honor is particularly special for Gillies, who remained in the area long after he hung up his skates. Still a Long Island resident to this day, the product of Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, currently serves as a senior vice president at Hilton Capital Management, a local boutique investment firm.

“For me, this has been home since 1974, other than a couple of years I played in Buffalo,” Gillies said. “We’ve developed some really good friendships with a lot of different people, which has helped me stay here.”