Isles dynasty defenseman Dave Langevin teases potential reunion with franchise

Ever since the Islanders’ current ownership group — led by Scott Malkin and Jon Ledecky — took control of the franchise in 2016, their mission has been clear: restore the team to world-class status, reminiscent of the dynasty years that produced four straight Stanley Cups in the early 1980s.

There have been major steps along the way, including deep playoff runs and the opening of UBS Arena in 2021. Another key part of that transformation has been reconnecting with former players who drifted from the franchise over the years, bringing them back as proud alumni and ambassadors.

Fans celebrated when John Tonelli reunited with the team and had his No. 27 retired in 2020. Pat LaFontaine also recently repaired his relationship with the organization and is set to be inducted into the Islanders Hall of Fame on Dec. 13.

But there’s one more name Islanders fans have long hoped to see back in the fold — Dave “Bammer” Langevin, the hard-hitting defenseman who played in all four Stanley Cup championships.

‘We were a good team. We had a lot of role players.’

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If you lived through the dynasty, you know how much Langevin meant to those teams.

“Well, it’s nice to hear,” an emotional Langevin said during a rare interview on my SportsBash podcast. “That was a long time ago for a lot of people. We were a good team. We had a lot of role players… I don’t think we would have won four cups if certain people weren’t there.”

Including himself — though he’d never say it that way.

Part of the Core of the Four

A seventh-round pick in 1974, Langevin initially chose to begin his pro career with the WHA’s Edmonton Oilers. When the WHA merged with the NHL, his rights reverted to the Islanders, and he arrived just in time for the 1979-80 championship run.

On a roster filled with Hall of Famers such as Denis Potvin, Mike Bossy, Bryan Trottier, Billy Smith and Clark Gillies, Langevin carved out a critical role with his physicality and defensive backbone.

“That was part of my makeup,” he said, choking up several times during the conversation. “I was told that I played with fire. I came out every game and gave 100%. I didn’t want to let my teammates down. This is difficult for me to talk about. It’s kind of like we’re all forgotten.”

Forgotten? Not even close. Younger generations of fans can rattle off names like Dave Langevin, Anders Kallur, Tomas Jonsson, Stefan Persson and Wayne Merrick — the glue guys who helped make the Islanders one of the greatest dynasties in sports history.

Putting the D in Defense

Those Islanders could beat opponents any way they wanted — overwhelming offense, lockdown defense, elite goaltending.

“When we had the 25-year reunion, Bob Bourne came up to me and said we would have never won without the defensemen that we had,” Langevin recalled. “I never thought of it that way. I just thought that no one really gives credit for the defensive game… it’s always the offensive game.

“I think that was the basis of our success. We made each other better. As great as Mike Bossy was and will always be, he couldn’t do what I did and I couldn’t do what he did.”

Langevin was inducted into the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame in 1993.

Still keeping an eye on the Isles — and Matthew Schaefer

After leaving Long Island, Langevin finished his NHL career with the Minnesota North Stars and Los Angeles Kings. He still lives in St. Paul, Minnesota, where he watches NHL games regularly and takes his grandchildren to Minnesota Wild games.

He continues to follow the Islanders — particularly 18-year-old rookie defenseman Matthew Schaefer, who has emerged as one of the NHL’s biggest early-season stories with 14 points through 17 games.

“I think the basis of a championship team… you start with goalies and defensemen,” Langevin said. “So it’s kind of like when they got Denis Potvin. They built around that. He’s a different type of player than Denis. Denis was more physical, but I think Schaefer has the skill and he has the knowhow.

“He’s young. He’s going to make mistakes. It takes two or three years to really become a good, solid defenseman. It’s a good start.”

Open to returning: “Maybe next year”

Langevin last returned to Long Island publicly in 2006, for the 25-year reunion of the 1980 championship team. The hope among fans is that he’ll be part of an Islanders alumni weekend soon — and it sounds like he’s open to it.

“They send us out something for alumni (weekend) but it just hasn’t been working out,” he said. “I will… maybe next year… it could be a special year.”

In 2027, UBS Arena will host NHL All-Star Weekend — the first All-Star Game on Long Island since 1983, when Langevin, Potvin, Trottier and Bossy all played.

“It was a fun time,” Langevin said. “I remember the game in front of our home fans. We got killed by the (Campbell Conference).”

Wayne Gretzky scored four goals in the third period to earn MVP honors in a 9-3 Campbell Conference win.

‘We were part of the community.’

Langevin’s memories of Long Island still shine. The championships were unforgettable, but what he treasures just as much was the bond between the team and its fans.

“It was a special fondness that we had with the fans and the players,” he said. “I can still remember outside of Nassau Coliseum after the game, we would walk out the side door and there would be fans lined up getting autographs. We were part of the community.”

He and his wife Deb lived in Fort Salonga and still stay in touch with old neighbors.

Are they due for a visit?

“We still have that connection out there,” he said. “We have to come out some day.”

All of Islanders Country would welcome it — and would no doubt erupt into chants of “Bammer!” if Dave Langevin ever dons No. 26 on Long Island again.