David Leggio's awesome goalie mask honors Islanders Cup years

Chances are David Leggio won't play a game for the New York Islanders this season, but his mask is incredible. Designed by David Gunnarsson, the paint job honors the Golden Years of the Islanders as they enter their last season in Nassau Coliseum.

In one year the New York Islanders will move from Nassau Coliseum into the Barclays Center in Brooklyn. They'll leave the only home they've ever known, where they enjoyed dynastic success in the early-1980s. But ever since those Golden Years, life as an Islanders fan hasn't always been easy. There have been plenty of years worth forgetting about. So let's remember the good ol' days, shall we? That's what Islanders goalie David Leggio is doing with his new goalie mask this season, designed by paint master David Gunnarsson. Leggio's mask includes Mike Bossy and Al Arbour, two staples of the Islanders Cup teams. Here's how

Gunnarsson describes the mask on his Facebook page:

"It was such a pleasure to paint and create this piece. David wanted to pay tribute to New York Islanders on his new mask. So on the mask you will find Islanders legends Mike Bossy and the coach Al Arbour. All created in a classic old school style, using a brush and blue paint.

The paintings are built into the design which is created in and old school style with the awesome colors and logos of Islanders in focus. The four horizontal lines on each sides symbolize the 4 cups of the club.

The closer you come to the design the more details will open up and the mask transforms in front of your eyes. It´s all in the details."



This is a fantastic nod to the best days of the Islanders in Nassau Coliseum. Unfortunately, it's a long shot that Leggio will play for the team this year. The 30-year-old journeyman minor leaguer has never played an NHL game and spent 45 games with the AHL's Hershey Bears last season, posting a .913 save percentage and 2.63 GAA. The Islanders' starter this season will be Jaroslav Halak and Chad Johnson the most likely backup. Still, this is a damn fine mask. What do you think?

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