Trottier remembers Gillies, Potvin, Bossy during Islanders Alumni Weekend

Bryan Trottier joined the

Trottier and other former Islanders players attended Alumni Weekend for the 2022 Alumni Classic between New York Islanders and New York Rangers on Saturday, where some retired players from both franchises competed in an exhibition match to raise money for the Northwell Health Foundation, and for the Islanders-Hurricanes game on Sunday.
"It's still really tender and raw," Trottier said of losing his former teammates. "It's really difficult to talk about but when we got together we had a toast. We raised a toast to them. They're still here in spirit."
Gillies died at age 67
on January 21 following a short battle with cancer. The forward was one of 17 Islanders players -- along with Bossy -- who won four straight Stanley Cup championships from 1980-83. Gillies' No. 9 was retired at Nassau Coliseum on Dec. 7, 1996 and he was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2002.
Potvin died at age 72 on March 15. He was a member of the Islanders from 1972-73 through 1977-78 and rejoined the club for the 1979-80 and 1980-81 seasons. He won back-to-back championships with the Islanders in 1980 and 1981, winning the Cup with his brother Denis.
Bossy died at age 65
on April 15 after being diagnosed with lung cancer in October 2021. Known as one of the most prolific goal-scorers in NHL history, Bossy is the only player in NHL history to score at least 50 goals in nine straight seasons and is tied with Wayne Gretzky for the most 60-goal seasons (five).

On the MSG broadcast, Trottier -- who played with the Islanders from the 1975-76 season to the 1989-90 season -- said his three late friends will always be in his heart.
"It's rough, but the strength of family, especially our hockey family, we gather, we rally really quick and we honor them by moving forward," he said. "So do hockey fans. The phone lights up all around the country. [When] Guy LaFleur passed, I called all the Montreal Canadiens who's phone number I had. It's just the way hockey people are and it's wonderful to see that kind of love and that kind of respect. As tough as it's been, it reflects well on my hockey world -- all our hockey world, rather. We rally together, we stay strong in spirit and support each other."