Mike Bossy: Pure goal scorer

Mike Bossy was one of the purest, most prolific goal scorers in the 1980s and of all time.
Source: https://eyesonisles.com/posts/islanders-legend-mike-bossy-made-history-35-years-ago-today
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The first time I really remember Mike Bossy was when he was pursuing this elusive goal only the legendary Maurice “Rocket” Richard had achieved – 50 goals in 50 games.

The next thing I knew it was 1988, almost a year after he last played an NHL game, and he was announcing his retirement because of chronic back problems.

Through his career from 1977 to 1987, Bossy was a prolific goal scorer, and one of the best of the ‘80s.

A few years ago I read his autobiography and was reminded of it earlier this month when I heard Mike Bossy had died.

He was 65 years old.

Rookie sensation
Long before I started watching hockey, Mike Bossy was already making his mark.

He was taken 15th overall in the 1977 NHL Entry Draft after a sensational junior career, averaging 77 goals a year with the Laval National of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League.

Bossy stepped onto the Islanders’ top line with Bryan Trottier and Clark Gillies, which was later dubbed the Long Island Electric Company. He would set a record for goals by a rookie with 53 and win the Calder Trophy for rookie of the year in 1978.

He followed that up with 69 goals and 57 assists for 126 points in 1978-1979

Then in 1979-1980 he had 51 goals and 41 assists for 92 points. He added 10 goals and 13 assists in 16 playoff games to help lead the Islanders to their first ever Stanley Cup, a six-game victory over the Philadelphia Flyers.

As the 1980s began, the Islanders were coming into their own as a champion and Mike Bossy would continue to be an important part of that.

Three more and the “Drive for Five”
Mike Bossy would continue to be one of the league’s elite goal scorers. In the 1980-1981 season he scored 68 goals and added 51 assists for 119 points. He contributed 17 goals and 18 assists for 35 points in 18 playoff games as the Islanders beat Minnesota for their second straight Stanley Cup.

In 1981-1982, the Islanders won their third straight Stanley Cup, defeating Vancouver in the final. Bossy had 17 goals and 10 assists for 27 points in 19 playoff games. He also earned the Conn Smythe Trophy as most valuable player to his team during the playoffs. On top of all that he had 64 goals and 83 assists for 147 points in the regular season.

New York would earn their fourth straight Stanley Cup in 1982-1983, defeating the Edmonton Oilers in the final, as Bossy again had 17 goals and nine assists for 26 points in 19 playoff games.

The 1983-1984 playoffs were dubbed New York’s “Drive for Five” Stanley Cups. They again met the Oilers in the final but this time Edmonton triumphed. Still, Bossy had eight goals and 10 assists for 18 points in 21 playoff games. He also scored 51 goals and 67 assists for 118 points in the regular season.

The Islanders would never experience that level of success again, but Mike Bossy wasn’t quite done yet.

The end
Mike Bossy scored 58 goals and 59 assists for 117 points in 1984-1985 and five goals and six assists for 11 points in 10 playoff games.

The next season, 1985-1986, he had 61 goals and 62 assists for 123 points, as well as a goal and two assists for three points in the playoffs.

His back troubles would finally get to him in 1986-1987. He only played in 63 games, but still notched 38 goals and 37 assists for 75 points, and two goals and three assists for five points in six playoff games.

He entertained the idea of playing again, but ultimately announced his retirement in October of 1988.

That #22 jersey

I have some personal memories about that #22 jersey Mike Bossy wore.

I had this friend named Mike who idolized his brother. Mike's brother loved the Islanders, so Mike did too. We played floor hockey together, and one day Mike shows up wearing an Islanders jersey. This was back in the day when jerseys were nothing like the ones the pros actually wore, but more kind of a sweater with a felt crest. Mike said, "I'm Mike Bossy." On the back was #22.

A few years later, in Grade 7, there was this cartoon "Raccoons On Ice" on CBC that involved evil developer Cyril Sneer trying to put a dome over the entire lake everyone lived on. Ultimately through various twists and turns a hockey game will decide the fate of the lake. Cyril's son Cedric sides with the other team, and ultimately helps them carry the day. It was in school the next day that another friend, Peter, pointed out during the big game, the play by play is done by Danny Gallivan, who was the CBC's Montreal canadiens real play-by-play man. Pete also said Cedric was wearing a blue and orange Islanders' sweater and on the back – #22.

Mike Bossy was everywhere.

One of the best
Mike Bossy scored a career total of 573 goals and 553 assists for 1,126 points in 752 games. He also added 85 goals and 75 assists for 160 points in 129 playoff games.

He holds or shares the records for most consecutive 50-plus goal seasons with nine; most 50-plus goal seasons with nine; most 60-plus goal seasons with five; highest goals-per-game average with .762; most power-play goals in one playoff season with nine; most consecutive hat tricks with three. He also led the league in goals twice.

And, he did become the second player in NHL history to score 50 goals in 50 games.

In addition to winning the Calder Memorial Trophy for rookie of the year, he won the Lady Byng Memorial Trophy for sportsmanship in 1983, 1984, and 1986. He was a First Team All-Star in 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, and 1986; and a Second Team All-Star in 1978, 1979, and 1985. He also played in the 1978, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1985, and 1986 all-star games.

He suited up for his country in the 1981 and 1984 Canada Cups. In 1981, he had eight goals and three assists for 11 points in seven games, as Canada lost to the Soviet Union in the final. In 1984, he played in eight games, scoring five goals and four assists for nine points as Canada beat the Swedes in the final for gold.

He was inducted into the Hockey Hall Of Fame in 1991, and the New York Islanders retired Mike Bossy’s Number 22 jersey in 1992.

He died on April 15, 2022.

Parting thoughts
It was the 1982 Stanley Cup final and the underdog Vancouver Canucks were hanging with the defending champion Islanders in Game 1. The Canucks led the Islanders late, but Bossy tied the game after defenceman Harold Snepsts collided with goaltender Richard Brodeur who was trying to freeze the puck.

Then, in the dying seconds of the first overtime, Snepsts passed the puck straight to Mike Bossy who made no mistake, scoring the overtime winner and essentially breaking Vancouver’s will. The Islanders would sweep the Canucks in four games.

Five years later one of my best friends, a staunch Canuck fan, recounted that series and said, “Of all the people to pass to, why did it have to be Mike Bossy.

“He’s automatic.”

That summed up the essence of Mike Bossy. He was a pure goal scorer who made no mistake when he had a shot on goal.

There was non one like him.