Glenn Healy was always my favorite Islander.  As you saw in yesterday’s post, I kept my Isles 35 license plate.  Gotta love a hockey player that plays bagpipes.

However, there were a bunch of unsung players that I really liked over my Islander watching career.  I will dedicate a paragraph or so to some of them.  So here we go.

1. Anders Kallur - when you look at the Islanders dynasty over the years, you think of Trots, Boss, Potvin, Smitty, etc.  Usually the name Anders Kallur does not come up.  However, in my opinion, he was critical to the overall success of the team.  He played from 1979 to 1985 - and was a pivotal part of the 4 cup victories.  A offensive stalwart in Sweden, he joined the team during cup 1 and scored 36 goals in that season.  Over the rest of his career, he became a checking center, and was crucial in winning faceoffs, and penalty killing.  He left after the 1985 season.  Him and Stefan Persson were the first European trained players to have their name etched on the Stanley Cup.  Anders is now a European scout for the Islanders.  I had the honor of carrying his banner on the 1980 anniversary of the Stanley Cup team.  A nice man, so many people had such nice things to say about him, when we walked to the arena.
2. Steve Thomas - Alias “STUMPY”, this solid player born in the UK, made an immediate fan impact, when he was acquired from the Blackhawks in 1991 with Adam Creighton for Brent Sutter.  Before that, the Toronto raised centerman, came to the NHL through the Maple Leaf System.  It was during his years wearing #32 for the Islanders that he had his best years.  In the magical run of 1992-1993 he had 87 points for the Isles, and took the top line responsilbility when Pierre Turgeon was knocked out by Dale Hunter.  In the next season, he had a career high 42 goals.  After the 1995 season, he went to New Jersey, and his numbers never equaled his years in New York.  He was a key face off guy, the one that would deliver a big blow, or tussle in front of the net.  He did it all, and definitely was a fan fave.  Also - he was in the movie Youngblood, and got a towel whacking from Patrick Swayze.
3. David Volek - A large enigma from now the Czech reublic, Volek burst onto the NHL scene in 1989.  In his rookie season, he made the NHL All Rookie team, scoring 25 goals and 59 points.  Although his numbers stayed consistent, he just never became that player the Isles expected him to be, when he was a late round draft pick in 1984.  However, Volek will be forever remembered by just one goal.  At a time where his play was extremely limited, and in constant bickering with Islander management, Volek was placed back in the lineup with the Turgeon situation.  Then at Game 7 of the Penguin series, he received a pass from Ray Ferraro in overtime, and put the puck past Tom Barrasso to lift the Islanders past the two-time Stanley Cup Champions.  It would be his defining moment as an Islander, because a herniated disk basically ended his career the next season.  He was a scout in the Buffalo system, until becoming a coach in his native Czech republic.

That is it for today.  I will do some more tomorrow.  Have a great day!

If you can, the NYI Booster Club has a meeting tonight, and Shawn Bates is our guest.  Should be a fun night tonight.  Hope to see you there.

Posted under Booster Club, Ramblings