The entire hockey community is in mourning following the heartbreaking news Friday of the death of New York Islanders great and Hall of Famer Clark Gillies. Shortly after the Islanders defeated the Arizona Coyotes at home, head coach Barry Trotz spoke to the media and offered his thoughts on Gillies, who passed away at the age of 67.

Via Stefen Rosner of NYI Hockey Now:

As he shared his memory of Clarke Gillies, Islanders head coach Barry Trotz could not help but smile.

“He was bigger than life,” Trotz said. “When you saw Clark Gillies, you thought Islander.”

“There was no doubt. He played the right way, he was part of the community. Everything you think about being an Islander. My heart dropped when I was told. He will be missed. He really will.”

https://twitter.com/SNY_Islanders/status/1484731847108182017

Gillies, who was selected by the Islanders as the fourth-overall pick in the 1974 NHL Draft, is a true legend in every sense of the word. He was a key figure of the Islanders' dynastic Stanley Cup title runs in the 1980s. Gillies played all but two of his 12 years in the NHL with the Islanders, from the 1974-75 season to the 1985-86 campaign before closing out his career with the Buffalo Sabres with whom he spent two seasons. In his career, Gillies collected 319 goals, 378 assists, and 697 points in 958 games.

Rest in piece, Clark Gillies.