Clark Gillies Autographed Card

I was very happy to find this Clark Gillies autographed card when going through my ''unused'' cards, seeing as it features him sporting the New York Islanders' white (then-home) uniform from one of Upper Deck's best hockey sets ever, the 2008-09 Masterpieces collection, of which this is card #43:

I'd featured Gillies three years ago as a member of the Buffalo Sabres from UD's 2002-03 Foundations set, but it felt kind of wrong seeing as how he'd been such a huge part of the Isles' success, providing a power forward-type of presence for their run of four straight Stanley Cups, finishing with 663 points in 872 games with New York, making the end-of-season First All-Star Team in both 1977-78 and 1978-79.

His career plus/minus rating of +241 ranks in the top-40 among all NHL alumni.

I didn't remember how expensive his signatures were from my first meeting with him (honestly, I didn't even remember he charged for them), so it was a bit of a shock when I got to a store signing and he was charging $50 per item two years ago! That meant I didn't purchase of box of cards, but I did end up having him sign this card because, well, I wanted one of his with the Islanders, and it is a great card.

But apart from one jersey card I've yet to feature, this should be it when it comes to Clark Gillies.

Clark Gillies Autographed Card

It's a weird choice to feature Clark Gillies in Upper Deck's 2002-03 Foundations set and picture him as a member of the Buffalo Sabres rather than the New York Islanders, the team with whom he spent the better part of his Hall Of Fame-worthy career.

As a matter of fact, Gillies even captained the Islanders just a couple of seasons after winning the Memorial Cup with the Regina Pats - before relinquishing it to star defenseman Denis Potvin right before winning the Stanley Cup 4 straight times.

While he scored 30 goals or more in 6 of 7 seasons during his heyday, Gillies' 697 points in 958 career games pales in comparison with other Hall Of Fame statistics. Then again, he was inducted in 2002, alongside Rod Langway and Bernie Federko - star players in the 1980s, sure, but not indispensable players. After all, it isn't the Hall Of All Star Game Representatives, it's a place to immortalize, well, immortals.

Still, he was affable and fan-friendly when I met him at a HoF function in 2005 or 2006, where he took the time to sign my card in black sharpie and shake my hand.

He isn't related to Islanders enforcer Trevor Gillies but is the Minnesota Wild's Colton Gillies' uncle.