Over the storied history of the New York Islanders, many great players rocked the jersey number. This article will rank the best from numbers 1-10. With four straight Stanley Cups from 1980-83, there will be some recognizable names from those teams in this range. Featuring some players from the current era and some whose numbers hang in the rafters at UBS arena.
Best Islanders by the Jersey Number: 1-10
#1- Glenn Resch
Of all the Islanders goalies who have worn the number 1 this seems like the straightforward answer. Resch’s tenure with the Islanders was longer than any other player to wear this number. He made two all star games with the team and was a member of the 1980 Islanders Stanley Cup team. He served as the primary backup to Billy Smith and his numbers as an Islander over the 8-year tenure with the team were very solid as well. 57-69 with a .911 save percentage and a 2.56 goals against average.
Honourable mention: Thomas Greiss (goalie) 5 seasons as an Islander. 101-60 with .950 save percentage and 2.70 goals against average.
#2- Mark Streit
The #2 is usually a prime number for defenceman, but has bounced around the Islanders for the teams history. The top two contenders come from the last decade of Islanders history. This one is kind of a toss up and if anyone wanted to say Nick Leddy that would be fair too. Streit only spent five seasons with the team and missed one due to injury. Although, he severed as the 13th captain in franchise history and helped the team achieve modest success after a lot of down years in the early 2000s. He did put up some respectable stats in his time however, in the 4 seasons he played in 286 games scoring 179 points (40 goals 139 assists) and 24:31 of ice time as a top pairing defenceman.
Honourable mention: Nick Leddy (defenceman) 7 seasons as an Islander. 518 games 243 points (45 goals 198 assists)
#3- Tomas Jonsson
For the next Islanders jersey number, it’s another man on the blueline. The #3 is also a number that is typically given to defenceman. That’s what Jonsoon was for the Islanders as a second round pick in the 1979 NHL entry draft. He spent 8 seasons as an Islander and was one of the more underrated players of the cup era. He was apart of the back to back 1982 and 1983 Islander Stanley Cup teams. His 333 points (84 goals and 249 assists) in eight Islander seasons places him 19th all time, third among defensemen behind Denis Potvin and Stefan Persson. The current wearer of the number Adam Pelech who has played 9 seasons and counting as the Islanders top defensemen could eventually overtake him as the best to wear the number. But for now it is Jonsson
Honourable mentions: Travis Hamonic (defenceman) 7 seasons 444 games 146 points (26 goals 120 assists). Adam Pelech (defenceman) 9 seasons 500 games 140 points (26 goals 114 assists)
#4- Jean Potvin
A long list of Islanders have worn the number 4 including the honourable mention to Potvin in Roman Hamrlik. However Jean Potvin played for four more seasons on the Island than Hamrlik with and his name is more notable. Potvin lead the league in games played with 78 in the 1973-74 seasons with the Islanders. Two seasons later, he was the second-highest-scoring defenceman in the NHL with 72 points (17 goals and 55 assists). His brother Denis was the only other defenceman with more points. He then left the team and came back to play on the first two Islanders Stanley Cup teams in 1980 and 1981. In his eight seasons with the team he played in 402 games with 213 points (46 goals 167 assists)
Honourable mention: Roman Hamrlik (defenceman) 4 seasons 300 games 153 points (43 goals 110 assists)
#5- Denis Potvin
The next Islanders jersey number is a no-brainer. One of the easiest calls on the list. Once the former number one overall pick in the 1973 NHL entry draft put the number 5 on to start the 1973-74 season, no one else wore it again. The NHL hall of famers resume speaks for itself. 15 seasons all with the Islanders 4 time Stanley Cup winner, 7 time all star, 3 time norris trophy winner, 1973-74 calder trophy winner and he appears on 2017-18 NHL’s 100 greatest players. He is not only one of the best players in Islanders history, he’s one of the best players in NHL history.
Honourable mentions: None
#6- Ken Morrow
There are two players who could be up for this. Ken Morrow who is in the teams hall of fame and current top defenceman Ryan Pulock. If Pulock who has already played nine seasons with the Islanders continues to play well he could overtake him. Pulock who has played one less season already has more points than Morrow who was never really a goal scorer. Morrow who was a former 4th round pick of the Islanders back in the 1976 NHL amateur draft. He went on to have one of the best stretches of hockey maybe ever. Morrow played on the 1980 “Miracle on ice” team who won gold at Lake Placid, went straight into the Islanders in March of 1980 then won four consecutive Stanley Cups with the team. Morrow spent 10 years with the Islanders and had 105 points (17 goals 88 assists) in 550 games played.
Honorable mentions: Ryan Pulock (defenceman) 9 seasons 486 games 191 points (48 goals 143 assists)
#7- Stefan Persson
A former 14th round pick by the Islanders in 1974 NHL amateur draft. Persson was a regular on the Islanders blueline for the cup era, he was apart of all four Islanders Stanley Cup teams. He scored five goals in the 1980 playoffs, and had serious consideration to become the first Swedish player to capture the Conn Smythe Trophy for playoff MVP. Persson was part of the first NHL team 1979–80 New York Islanders to win a Stanley Cup with Europeans on its roster. He set a record at the time for the most games played out of any Swedish born player. While he might not be the first player you think of, he played a big role during the teams dynasty with 369 points (52 goals 317 assists) in his nine seasons with the team.
Honourable mention: Trent Hunter ( right wing) 8 seasons 459 games played 229 points (99 goals 130 assists)
#8- Garry Howatt
A former 10th round pick by the Islanders in the 1972 NHL amateur draft. Howatt was a key member of two Islander Stanley Cup teams in 1980 and 1981. The scrappy forward was a fan favourite, so much so that him and Bob Nystrom were called the “Dynamic duo.” Leading fans to establish a Howatt-Nystrom booster club, called the “Dynamic Duo Fan Club.” Howatt played 9 seasons on the Island and in 596 games had 213 points (93 goals 120 assists). Howatt also lead the NHL in games played in 1973-74 and 1975-76.
Honourable mention: Jeff Norton (defenceman) 6 seasons 282 games played 188 points (22 goals 166 assists)
#9- Clark Gillies
The next Islanders jersey number is another no-brainer. This is another obvious one for a player who got his number hung in the rafters for the Islanders. The NHL hall of famer spent 12 seasons with the Islanders and was the fourth overall selection in the first round of the 1974 NHL Amateur Draft. He went on to have a legendary career with the Islanders scoring 663 points (304 goals 359 assists) in 872 games. He was selected to two all star games in 1977-78 and 1978-79, scored over 30 goals for four straight seasons (starting in 1975–76) and again in 1980–81 and 1981–82. Gillies was a key member of all four islanders Stanley Cups.
Honourable mention: None
#10- Lorne Henning
This one was a toss up between Henning and Alan Kerr. But the edge went to Henning because he played on the Island a little longer than Kerr. Being apart of two Stanley Cup teams in 1980 and 1981 also helped his case a little. Henning holds a spot in the hearts of fans as he earned the assist on the winning 1980 goal by Bobby Nystrom that earned the Islanders their first of four consecutive Stanley Cups. Another cool bit of history about Henning came the next season when he became an assistant coach for the Islanders. He played nine regular season games, and one playoff game in that season becoming the last player-coach for a Stanley Cup-winning team. He would retire as a player for good after that but kept his coaching job. In 9 seasons with the Islanders Henning played in 543 games and scored 184 points (73 goals 111 assists).
Honourable mention: Alan Kerr ( Right wing) 7 seasons 326 games 154 points (69 goals 85 assists)
Conclusion
The #1-10 range for the Islanders features a lot of significant players in the teams history. Including multiple Stanley Cup champions, fan favorites and a pair of NHL hall of famers. Players who made a lasting impact on the team, some who have their jerseys retired hanging from the rafters and are immortalized forever.
Main Photo: James Guillory-USA TODAY Sports
