Top 10 Islanders tough guys of all time

Lifting four straight Stanley Cups as part of their NHL-record 19 straight playoff series wins from 1980-84 is unquestionably the top highlight of the Islanders’ existence.

But obviously there have been other memorable events since their birth in 1972.

And one frequently mentioned among league lore is “Fight Night,” as the Islanders’ 9-3 win over the Penguins at Nassau Coliseum on Feb. 11, 2011, devolved into a series of brawls and cheap hits.

So much so that Penguins Hall of Famer Mario Lemieux questioned the direction of the NHL for allowing fighting, saying via a statement, “If the events relating to Friday night reflect the state of the league, I need to rethink whether I want to be a part of it.”

The teams combined for 65 penalties — including 15 fighting majors and 11 game misconducts — and a total of 346 penalty minutes. The game, which included a goalie fight, made Micheal Haley a permanent fan favorite as he, Trevor Gillies, Matt Martin, Josh Bailey, Travis Hamonic, goalie Rick DiPietro and Andrew MacDonald all fought as did Craig Adams, Pascal Dupuis, Mike Rupp, Maxime Talbot, Joe Vitale, goalie Brent Johnson and ex-Islander Eric Godard for the Penguins.

On that note, here is a subjective list of the top 10 tough guys in Islanders’ history:

10. Ken Baumgartner

“The Bomber,” a 6-1, 205-pound left wing, spent parts of three seasons with the Islanders from 1989-92 protecting the likes of Hall of Famer Pat LaFontaine. He’s ninth in team history with 52 major penalties in 175 games, totaling 678 penalty minutes.

9. Duane Sutter

The four-time Cup winner with the on-ice reputation of being a pest was a gritty right wing who could contribute offensively — twice notching 53 points with the Islanders — while also being physical and fearless at 6-1, 190 pounds. He had 75 majors — sixth in team history — and 893 penalty minutes in 547 games.

8. Eric Cairns

As a 6-6, 230-pound defenseman, Cairns was an intimidating physical presence and willing fighter for six seasons, accumulating 60 majors and 814 penalty minutes in 327 games. His signature moment came in Game 6 of a contentious first-round playoff series against the Maple Leafs in 2002 as he saluted the Nassau Coliseum crowd after dropping Shayne Corson.

7. Denis Potvin

Being a tough guy is not only about dropping the gloves, though the Islanders captain through their Cup dynasty was more than willing to do so with 20 career majors and 1,356 penalty minutes — fourth in Islanders’ history — in 1,060 games. The 6-foot, 205-pound defenseman simply altered games with his bone-crunching checks and cutthroat attitude toward physically punishing opponents.

6. Rich Pilon

The 6-2, 220-pound defenseman was a prototype enforcer, with just six goals and 54 assists in 509 games for the Islanders across 12 seasons. In that span from 1988-99, he accumulated 1,525 penalty minutes — second in team history — and 77 majors, ranking him fifth in team history.

5. Matt Martin

The enforcer’s role decreased significantly during the 6-3, 215-pound Martin’s 16-season career from 2010-25, 14 of those spent with the Islanders. A left wing staple on the long-lived Identity Line with Cal Clutterbuck and Casey Cizikas, Martin’s 95 majors in his 855 games with the Islanders are fourth in team history and his 3,936 career hits are second all time in NHL history behind Clutterbuck’s 4,029.

4. Garry Howatt

“The Toy Tiger,” nicknamed for his diminutive 5-9, 175-pound frame and gritty on-ice tenacity, was an original Islander who was part of their first two Cup winners. The left wing provided both offensive production and physicality as an integral team member and his 152 majors are second in team history while his 1,466 penalty minutes are third.

3. Bob Nystrom

“Mr. Islander” came into the NHL with the team in 1972 and spent all 14 of his NHL seasons with the franchise, becoming an essential part of the Cup dynasty and scoring the most famous goal in club history, the Game 6 overtime winner against the Flyers to clinch the Islanders’ first Cup. But his uber-competitive nature and fierce grittiness made the 6-1, 200-pound right wing a feared physical presence with his 108 majors third in club history and his 1,248 penalty minutes fifth. The team established the Bob Nystrom Award in 1991 for the Islander who best exemplifies leadership, hustle and dedication.

2. Mick Vukota

The 6-1, 225-pound right wing accumulated 1,879 penalty minutes and 163 majors — both first in team history — in 509 games during his 10 seasons with the Islanders from 1988-97 (and only 16 goals and 29 assists) as he protected skilled players such as Ziggy Palffy, LaFontaine and fellow Hall of Famer Pierre Turgeon. In his Islanders debut against the Hartford Whalers, legendary enforcer Dave “Tiger” Williams challenged Vukota during a third-period stoppage. Vukota accepted and dropped his gloves only to have Williams skate away.

1. Clark Gillies

The left wing, a crucial member of the Islanders’ Cup dynasty and often linemates with fellow Hall of Famers Bryan Trottier and Mike Bossy on the “Trio Grande,” likely would have fought more but opponents were rightfully wary of the 6-3, 215-pound Gillies. “Jethro” had 41 majors in 872 games and 891 penalty minutes. Teammates cite Gillies’ multiple bouts against the Bruins’ Terry O’Reilly in the 1980 quarterfinals as a crucial turning point in the first Cup run as the Islanders showed the rest of the NHL — and themselves — just how tough they could be when needed.

Honorable mentions: Arron Asham, Eric Godard, Micheal Haley, Gerry Hart, Ross Johnston, Alan Kerr, Zenon Konopka, Gord Lane, Steve Webb.