 After 18 games with the Tigers and accumulating 123 penalty minutes, Gillies was signed by NHL affiliate, the New York Islanders on January 28, 2010.On March 14, 2010, Gillies scored his first NHL point, when he assisted on a Tim Jackman goal in a 4-2 victory over the Toronto Maple Leafs.Gillies re-signed with the Islanders on a one-year contract through to the end of the 2010–2011 season on April 15, 2010.