Where Are They Now

Mike Bossy retired in 1987 due to chronic back problems that had plagued him for years. He remained close to the Islanders organization and hockey community, working as a TV analyst for French-language broadcasts in Quebec. He was a passionate advocate for the game and a regular presence at alumni events. In his later years he battled lung cancer with the same quiet determination he brought to hockey. He passed away on April 15, 2022, at the age of 65, mourned across the hockey world as one of its greatest gentlemen and most gifted players.

Bryan Trottier went on to win two more Stanley Cups as a player with the Pittsburgh Penguins in 1991 and 1992, giving him six championships in total. After retiring, he moved into coaching, serving as an assistant coach with several NHL teams including the Penguins, Colorado Avalanche, and New York Rangers. He also served briefly as head coach of the Pittsburgh Penguins. Trottier has remained active in hockey circles and alumni events, and is remembered as one of the most complete players of his generation.

Clark Gillies remained a beloved presence in the Islanders community long after his retirement in 1988. He was a regular at alumni games and fan events, and famously appeared on the Nassau Coliseum video board in the 2021 playoffs chugging a beer and crushing the can — delighting a new generation of fans. He worked in business on Long Island after hockey. Gillies passed away on January 22, 2022, at the age of 67, just months before his longtime linemate Mike Bossy. The loss of both men in 2022 was deeply felt across the hockey world.

Bob Bourne retired in 1988 after a career spent entirely with the Islanders. He settled in Long Island after hockey and remained connected to the franchise. Known for his speed and reliability, he has appeared at various Islanders alumni events over the years and is remembered fondly by fans of the dynasty era.

Butch Goring had a lengthy post-playing career in hockey. He served as head coach of the New York Islanders from 1984 to 1987 and later worked as a coach at various levels. For many years he has served as the Islanders' television color commentator, bringing his intelligence and championship experience to broadcasts. His voice and perspective have introduced a new generation of fans to what made the dynasty so special. He is one of the most beloved figures associated with the franchise.

Bob Nystrom, the man who scored the first Stanley Cup winner in Islanders history, retired in 1986 after 14 seasons on Long Island. He stayed in the New York area and has remained deeply connected to the Islanders community. The scorer of the most famous goal in franchise history, Nystrom is a fixture at alumni events and fan gatherings. His overtime winner against Philadelphia in 1980 is as fresh in the minds of Islander fans today as it was the night it happened.

John Tonelli was traded to the Calgary Flames in 1986 in one of the first painful signs that the dynasty era was ending. He played for several more teams before retiring in 1992. After hockey he pursued business interests and remained active in the hockey community. His overtime winner against Pittsburgh in 1982 — which saved the dynasty — and his assist on the 1980 Cup winner cement his place in Islanders history.

Denis Potvin retired in 1988 as the all-time scoring leader among NHL defensemen, a record he held until Ray Bourque surpassed him years later. After hockey he worked as a television broadcaster for the Florida Panthers, bringing his expertise and championship experience to a new audience in South Florida. He is a regular presence at Islanders alumni events and remains one of the most respected figures in franchise history. His retired number 5 hangs in the rafters at every arena the Islanders have called home.

Billy Smith retired as a player in 1989 after 17 seasons with the Islanders — the only NHL team he ever played for. He transitioned immediately into a goaltending coach role, working with the Islanders' goaltenders for years. "Battlin' Billy" has remained connected to the franchise and is a regular at alumni events. His four Stanley Cup rings and Conn Smythe Trophy are a testament to a career defined by fierce competitiveness and championship excellence.

Ken Morrow retired in 1989 after a career defined by quiet excellence and historic achievement. The Olympic gold medalist and four-time Stanley Cup champion moved into scouting and management work with the Islanders organization, eventually becoming Director of Pro Scouting. He has spent much of his post-playing career serving the franchise that gave him the chance to build a dynasty legacy to match his Olympic one.

Roland Melanson played for several NHL teams after leaving the Islanders, including Minnesota, LA Kings, and New Jersey. He later transitioned into goaltending coaching and has had a long career in that role, working with the Montreal Canadiens organization among others. His three Stanley Cup rings with the Islanders remain the centerpiece of a career defined by solid professionalism.

Glenn "Chico" Resch was traded to the Colorado Rockies in 1981, missing out on three of the four Cup championships. He played for several more teams, including New Jersey and Philadelphia, before retiring in 1987. After hockey, Resch became a beloved broadcaster, serving as TV color commentator for the New Jersey Devils for many years. His warm personality and deep knowledge of the game made him one of the most popular voices in hockey broadcasting.

After stepping down from the Islanders in 1992, Bill Torrey was named president and general manager of the Florida Panthers, a brand new expansion team, in 1993. True to form, he built Florida the same way he had built the Islanders — through patient drafting and smart development. In just three years, the Panthers were in the Stanley Cup Finals, becoming the fastest post-1967 expansion team to reach the championship round. The bow tie was back in business. Torrey retired from the Panthers in 2001 but remained with the organization as a special advisor. The Panthers honored him by retiring the number 93 — the year the franchise entered the NHL — and raising a banner in his honor. He received the NHL's Lester Patrick Award for outstanding service to hockey in 1983 and was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame as a Builder in 1995. He remained a beloved presence at Islanders alumni events and a respected figure across the hockey world until his death. Former players, coaches, and executives consistently cited him as the standard against which all NHL general managers should be measured. Denis Potvin, the man Torrey drafted first overall in 1973 and refused to trade away despite enormous pressure, spoke for an entire generation of Islanders when he said that without Bill Torrey, none of it happens. William Arthur Torrey passed away on May 2, 2018, in West Palm Beach, Florida, at the age of 83. His banner at UBS Arena reads "The Architect." It is the perfect description of a man who designed and built one of the greatest dynasties in the history of professional sports, one careful decision at a time.

Al Arbour retired as head coach in 1994 with 782 regular season wins — one of the highest totals in NHL history at the time. He remained connected to the Islanders organization as an advisor and ambassador. In November 2007, the Islanders convinced the 75-year-old Arbour to come out of retirement and coach one final game, giving him exactly 1,500 career regular season games behind an NHL bench. He accepted a standing ovation from the Nassau Coliseum crowd that night and won the game. Arbour passed away on August 28, 2015, at the age of 82, leaving behind a legacy as one of the greatest coaches in hockey history.