Back again for part three of the best New York Islanders by jersey number series. The last part featured the current teams best player. It also included some key members from the dynasty-era teams in the 80s and current-era teams from the 2010s.
This edition of the list will feature mostly players from older teams. Sprinkled with a hint of players from recent memory including one current Islander. One thing is for sure, all the players listed had a lasting impact on the franchise and will always be remembered.
Best Islanders by Jersey Number: 21-30
#21- Brent Sutter
The first Islanders jersey number on this list is a challenge. This was a tough call between Sutter and Kyle Okposo, who many current fans should remember. Okposo came up in the dark 2000s and was apart of the teams turnaround into a solid unit. Brent Sutter from the Islanders first round pick in the 1980 NHL draft gets the nod this time. The edge comes from him being apart of two of the Stanley Cup teams in 1982 and 1983. Additionally it comes from him playing a few more seasons than Okposo and Sutter being named the captain in 1987 when Denis Potvin relinquished his position. In Sutter’s 12 season with the Islanders he played in 694 games scoring 610 points (287 goals 323 assists) and leaving a lasting mark.
Honourable mention: Kyle Okposo (Right wing) Nine seasons 529 games 369 points (139 goals 230 assists).
#22- Mike Bossy
This is an easy pick, Bossy might even be the best player to ever wear this number in league history in some circles. The Islanders first round pick from the 1977 NHL amateur draft spent his entire career on the Island. He was a crucial member of the four consecutive Stanley Cup teams. Bossy won the Calder Memorial Trophy for rookie of the year in 1978 when he scored 53 goals. In 1982 he won the Conn Smythe Trophy for playoff MVP as the Islanders took home their third consecutive cup. Bossy was elected to the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1991. In 1992, the Islanders made sure nobody would wear 22 again, raising it up to the rafters. He sits number one as the Islanders all time goals leader, number three in assists and number two in points. In his 10 year career he played in 752 games scoring 1126 points (573 goals 553 assists).
Honourable mention: None
#23- Bob Nystrom
Another number that won’t be worn again in Islanders history. The Islanders selected Nystrom in the third round of the 1972 NHL amateur draft. He was on all four Islander Stanley Cup teams and had a knack for producing points when it mattered most. Nystrom recorded 39 goals and 83 points in 157 playoff games. On May 24, 1980 Nystrom scored the game winning goal in game six of the Stanley Cup final against the Philadelphia Flyers to secure the franchises first Stanley Cup. He even has an award named after him. In 1991 the Islanders began presenting the Bob Nystrom Award to the player on the team “who best exemplifies leadership, hustle, and dedication.” In 14 seasons with the team he played in 900 games which ranks fourth all time in Islanders history, scoring 510 points (235 goals 278 assists).
Honourable mention: None
#24- Gord Lane
This Islanders jersey number didn’t have many options. Not many strong options for the number 24. This was a toss up between Lane and Mikko Makela. Makela had a few productive seasons for the Islanders from 1986-88, then fell off the map. Lane gets the nod here, he was originally drafted to the Pittsburgh Penguins in 1973 then traded to the Washington Capitals. He spent the first five seasons of his career there and then traded again to the Islanders. He stayed with the Islanders the rest of his career and was a steady stay at home defensive force during the teams four straight Stanley Cup championships (1980, 1981, 1982, and 1983). In six seasons with the team he played in 304 games scoring 60 points (9 goals 51 assists).
Honourable mention: Mikko Makela (Right wing) five seasons 307 games 219 points (95 goals 124 assists).
#25- David Volek
This is another number that has been worn a lot but a lot of one off wearers and not a lot of memorable players. Volek was a 10th round pick for the Islanders in the 1984 NHL draft. He spent a lot of years in the minors before finally coming up in the 1988-89 season, and was named to the NHL All-Rookie Team that year. His most memorable moment for the team came in 1993 when he scored the overtime winner that knocked the two-time defending Stanley Cup champion Pittsburgh Penguins out of the playoffs. The next year, a herniated disc forced Volek to retire from the NHL. He got a corrective surgery and tried to come back the next year but only lasted five games before he had to retire for good. In his six seasons he played in 396 games scoring 249 points (95 goals 154 assists).
Honourable mention: Dave Lewis (Defenceman) Seven seasons 514 games played 141 points (24 goals 117 assists).
#26- Patrick Flatley
Flatley was one of those players that came up just after the dynasty-era. Drafted in the first round by the Islanders in the 1982 NHL draft. Flatley became a productive player playing on a line with the previously mentioned players Sutter and Clark Gillies. He scored nine goals through the first three rounds of the 1985 playoffs. He helped the Islanders make it back to the Stanley Cup finals looking for five in a row but they fell short to the Edmonton Oilers. Flatley was never a top scorer, but he was a very effective role player and in 1991 he was named the Islanders’ fifth captain. In 13 seasons with the Islanders he played in 712 games scoring 488 points (160 goals 328 assists).
Honourable mention: Matt Moulson (Left Wing) Five seasons 304 games 223 points (118 goals 105 assists).
#27- John Tonelli
The number 27 might be the most decorated numbers in Islanders history. Featuring two captains in Anders Lee and Michael Peca. It also features 3 players who scored 200 goals in Tonelli, Lee and Derek King. Tonelli, who had this number retired in 2020, gave current captain Lee permission to keep wearing it until his Islanders career ends. He was apart of all four Stanley Cup teams, he assisted Nystrom’s overtime winning goal that gave the Islanders their first of four cups. Moreover, Tonelli ranks seventh on the all-time Islanders assist leaders and ninth on the all-time points leaders. In his eight seasons with the Islanders he played 594 games scoring 544 points (206 goals 338 assists).
Honourable mention: Anders Lee (Left Wing) 12 seasons 759 games 453 points (260 goals 193 assists).
#28- Anders Kallur
The first player in the teams history to wear the number 28. 23 players came after Kallur but the three-time Stanley Cup champion gets the nod over any of them. He played a handful of professional seasons in his home country of Sweden before signing to the Islanders in 1979. Kallur was part of the first NHL team (1979-80 New York Islanders) to win a Stanley Cup with European-trained players on its roster. Only playing in six NHL seasons as his career was cut short by injury, but he was a solid depth forward in his time. In those six seasons he played in 383 games scoring 211 points (101 goals 110 assists).
Honourable mention: Tom Kurvers (Defenceman) three seasons 192 games 134 points ( 26 goals 108 assists).
#29- Brock Nelson
The best number 29 goes to one of the core members of this current Islanders team. Nelson was drafted in the first round by the Islanders in the 2010 NHL draft. He has become one of the better players on the Islanders roster as he has scored 30 plus goals for the last three seasons. Nelson has also been a solid contributor whenever the team has gotten to the playoffs, he has 50 points in 78 career playoff games. If Nelson stays with the team and continues to play well he could get his number in the rafters. In Islanders history Nelson sits sixth in games, seventh in goals, and just off the top 10 in points but he should be there after next season. In 11 years with the team he’s played in 840 games scoring 531 points (275 goals, 256 assists).
Honourable mention: Kenny Jönsson (Defenceman) Nine seasons 597 games 232 points (57 goals 175 assists).
#30- Ilya Sorokin
The Islanders jersey number 30 goes to the teams current goaltender. Sorokin was drafted to the Islanders in the third round of the 2014 NHL draft. He spent a long time playing in the KHL in Russia before coming over to the NHL in 2020. Since coming over he has been a solid force in net for the Islanders. In his first four seasons he has already made an all star game and got Vezina trophy votes for leagues best goalie in three of them. This past season was one to forget for Sorokin but from what we have seen from him he is too good to be that bad again. If he plays up to his standard he will one of the best goalies for years to come. In four seasons he is 95-65 with a .919 save percentage and a 2.54 goals against average.
Honourable mention: Kelly Hrudey (Goalie) Six seasons 106-90 .889 save percentage 3.47 goals against average.
Conclusion
In the 21-30 Islanders jersey number range, you will find a few franchise changing players for both the past and present. Including a handful of players who helped carry the team to championships (Bossy, Sutter, Nystrom, Tonelli). Along with underrated role players who also helped the team make those championships (Lane and Kallur). Sprinkled in with some current players who are trying to cement their name in history along those greats (Nelson, Sorokin). They all come from different times but their impact on the Islanders team history cannot be understated. You can’t tell the story of the Islanders history without these names.
Main Photo: James Guillory-USA TODAY Sports
