Tonelli, a forward, played a key role when the Islanders won four consecutive Stanley Cup championships from 1980-83. He was also inducted into their Hall of Fame during a 35-minute ceremony that was attended by former teammates Denis Potvin, Clark Gillies, Bryan Trottier, Bob Nystrom and Billy Smith.
The 62-year-old played eight seasons with the Islanders (1978-86) and had 206 goals and 338 assists in 594 regular-season games and 82 points (28 goals, 54 assists) in 113 playoff games for New York.
"I am thrilled and I am honored to share this honor with each and every one of you," he told the Coliseum crowd.
Tonelli had the primary assist on Bob Nystrom's overtime goal in Game 6 of the 1980 Stanley Cup Final that won the Islanders their first championship.
"We used to practice that play like religion, every practice," Tonelli said. "We always used to criss-cross in the neutral zone. We did that over and over and over again.
" … When he put that in the back of the net and our goal was accomplished, all I wanted to do was go to sleep."
In an agreement with Tonelli, No. 27 will continue to be worn by Islanders forward Anders Lee, who signed a seven-year contract on July 1, 2019 and is in his second season as team captain.
"Ever since he put on 27, I've been watching him like a hawk," Tonelli said of Lee. "But I'm so impressed. I'm so honored that he's going to continue to wear our number. I can just tell he's got character, he's a great leader. I want him to wear that, and hopefully one day we'll be up there together. I'm cheering big time for that."
"I'm so grateful and thankful for his blessing," Lee said. "He's the one that's made 27 for the New York Islanders so special, and I get to wear it and honor it and continue to wear it. It's really special to me too. We've found that common ground in the number, let alone just our jersey. It really embodies what it means to be an Islander and understand how blessed we really are to be in this position."
Tonelli is the seventh player to have his number retired by the Islanders; he joins Potvin (5), Gillies (9), Trottier (19), Mike Bossy (22) and Nystrom (23) and Smith (31).
"Ever since I got the call from (Islanders general manager) Lou (Lamoriello), I've been in a different mood," Tonelli said. "All upbeat. Nothing kind of stresses me out. It's just been a constant excitement and a great feeling."
It was the first of two jersey retirements by the Islanders this month. Center Butch Goring's No. 91 will be raised to the Nassau Coliseum rafters before their game against the Boston Bruins on Feb. 29.
