Today is the day. John Tonelli will be joining the Islanders organization before puck drop tonight against the Detroit Red Wings for his jersey retirement. Tonelli is an Islanders legend and deserves this ceremony.

Besides the Islanders, Tonelli also had previous success on teams such as the Calgary Flames, Los Angeles Kings, Chicago Blackhawks and the Quebec Nordiques.

In Tonelli’s early years, he was the first 16-year-old to be signed by the OHA team the Toronto Marlboros. He played center for the team for two seasons. In the 1974-75 season he played in 69 games and gathered 55 points. In the 1975-76 season he played 70 games and nearly tripled his points the previous season at 135.

When Tonelli turned 18, he was offered a contract with the WHA Houston Aeros but the contract that was previously signed in the OHA locked him into remain with the Ontario Hockey Association. Eventually, Tonelli signed with the Houston Aeros to continue his hockey career. He played three seasons with the Aeros and within 258 games he collected 181 points. After the Aeros 1977-78 season, John Tonelli was ready to enter the NHL.

The New York Islanders drafted the #33 overall forward John Tonelli in the second round during the 1977 Amateur Draft. He kicked off his NHL career by playing in 73 out of 82 games in the regular season and collected a total of 56 points. During the playoffs, he played in all of the 10 games and collected seven points.

The following season, Tonelli played in 77 regular season games. His effort on the ice during regular season earned him a spot in all 21 games in the playoffs which eventually lead the Islanders organization to their first Stanley Cup since the franchise started in 1972. Tonelli and Islanders entered a dynasty era from the start of the 1980s. Tonelli and his teammates won fours straight Stanley Cups.

He was always known for putting the team before himself. He would work diligently at practice and even stay late to improve his skill on the ice. Eventually that time paid off for close games.

During the 1981-82 playoffs, the Islanders were down 3-1 with five minutes from being eliminated from their cup run by the Pittsburgh Penguins. Tonelli provided the assist on Mike McEwen’s goal and closed the Penguins lead to one. With 2:21 left in the third, Tonelli took it upon himself and scored the goal that tied the game at three. And to give the Islanders redemption in their race for the cup, he won the game in overtime.

Tonelli was not only a key player on the ice for the Isles four straight cups. In the fall of 1984 he accepted an invitation to play for team Canada in the Labatt Canada Cup. The Labatt Canada Cup is a professional international ice hockey tournament played in the beginning of September.

The team was mostly dominated of the “two NHL powerhouse teams,” the New York Islanders and the Edmonton Oilers. Within the roster, players had to grow chemistry with others and put their history in the NHL aside. Even with the crazy feuds in the past, this team managed to take the champion title.

John Tonelli accumulated nine points which included an assist on Mike Bossy’s overtime winning goal in the semifinals. He was also named the 1984 Canada Cup MVP award. Then in the following 1984-85 NHL season he had his highest scoring year with 42 goals and reached a milestone of 100 points.

The Islanders ended up trading Tonelli in March of 1986 to the Calgary Flames. Thanks to Tonelli’s experience, the Flames reached the Stanley Cup Final for the first time in franchise history. Tonelli became a free agent in 1988 and was offered a termination contract by the Flames but he turned down the contract and signed with the Los Angeles Kings.

Six weeks after the Kings acquired Tonelli, they received Wayne Gretzky. The two skilled forwards shared the ice multiple times during the season. Eventually Tonelli became a free agent in 1991 and signed with the Chicago Blackhawks. Mid-season he was traded to the Quebec Nordiques where he would finish his NHL career.

The New York Islanders decided back in December that number 27 will be raised into the rafters. His biggest highlight of his Islanders career is setting up Bob Nystom for his Stanley Cup winning goal in 1980 leading the Islanders to their first Cup in franchise history.

The Islanders current captain Anders Lee wears number 27 on the ice. John Tonelli spoke to Anders Lee and commented on his admirable leadership and mentioned how he would be honored if he continued to wear 27 through the retirement.

John Tonelli is an Islanders legend. It is time for his day.