I’ve discovered over the last 20 hours or so that it’s hard to describe to outsiders exactly what Clark Gillies meant to the New York Islanders franchise and why his loss, in the context of so many dynasty greats, hits so hard. (Dan captured it magnificently and perfectly here, and you should read it whether you’re a longtime fan or someone just drifting by.)
We’d already lost The Architect and Al Arbour, but they were older and had long since left Long Island, so their loss was devastating but a little more distant and, frankly, more in the natural order of things.