Gerry Hart, a member of first Islanders group, useless at age 75

Former Islanders defenseman Gerry Hart, a member of the inaugural 1972 group, died Saturday, the group mentioned in a launch.

He was 75.

Hart, who performed for the Islanders from 1972-79, returned to Lengthy Island after his taking part in profession to launch an ice rink in Hauppage.

The Islanders reached the playoffs 5 instances in seven seasons with Hart, however misplaced him to the Nordiques within the growth draft earlier than their first Stanley Cup title in 1979-80.

An undersized and gritty defenseman, the Flin Flon, Manitoba native performed 15 NHL seasons, additionally with the Purple Wings and Blues.

Hart is the fourth Islander from the group’s glory days to die since Jan. 2022, following Clark Gillies, Jean Potvin and Mike Bossy.

Gillies’ basis was amongst these to whom the Hart household requested donations, together with the Unsung Siblings Basis and Pat LaFontaine’s Champions in Braveness Basis.