Mike Bossy, a member of the Hockey Hall of Fame and a former member of the New York Islanders, died on Friday, according to the franchise. He was 65 years old at the time. Bossy died of lung cancer, according to the Associated Press. In October, he made a public announcement about his initial diagnosis.
Bossy helped the Islanders win four Stanley Cup victories in a row in the early 1980s, and he is still considered one of the best goal scorers in NHL history.
In a statement, Islanders President and General Manager Lou Lamoriello said, “The New York Islanders organization mourns the death of Mike Bossy, an icon not only on Long Island but across the whole hockey world.” “His desire to be the best each time he walked onto the ice was unrivaled. He and his colleagues helped the team win four straight Stanley Cup championships, forever changing the franchise’s history.
“On behalf of the whole organization, we extend our heartfelt sympathies to the Bossy family and all those who have been affected by this awful loss.”
Bossy was a member of the Islanders dynasty that won Stanley Cup victories from 1980 through 1983 after being taken 15th overall in the 1977 NHL Draft. Bossy still has the most goals (573) in Islander history, as well as 1,126 points (third highest in team history) and 553 assists (third-most in franchise history). The Islanders veteran spent ten seasons with the team before retiring in 1987 due to a back injury.
Mike Bossy, an Islanders icon, died of cancer at the age of 65.
In October, the famed right-winger revealed that he had lung cancer.
From 1977 to 1987, Bossy was a crucial player on each of the Islanders’ four Stanley Cup teams. During that span, he recorded 573 goals and 553 assists. He has the most goals in the team’s history.
In 1978, Bossy was named the league’s top rookie, winning the Calder Memorial Trophy. In 1982, he was awarded the Conn Smythe Trophy, which is given to the Stanley Cup playoff MVP.
In the 1980-81 season, Bossy became the second player in NHL history to score 50 goals in 50 games.
He was also the three-time winner of the Lady Byng Memorial Trophy for sportsmanship and gentlemanly play.
His No. 22 was retired by the Islanders in 1992, and he was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1991.
“Mike Bossy, an icon not only on Long Island but across the hockey world, has passed away. The New York Islanders organization mourns his passing. His desire to be the best every time he took to the rink was unrivaled “Lou Lamoriello, the Islanders’ president and general manager, stated as much. He and his colleagues helped the team win four straight Stanley Cup championships, forever changing the franchise’s history. We express our heartfelt condolences to the whole Bossy family and all those who are mourning this awful loss on behalf of the entire organization.”
“Though rival coaches were obsessed with containing him and opposing players were obsessed with checking him, Bossy’s brilliance was irresistible and his productivity was unstoppable during his whole career.” In 1977-78, he scored 53 goals and won the Calder Trophy, and his goal-scoring continued until injuries ended his career prematurely, limiting him to 38 goals in his final season of 1986-87 — the only season he didn’t reach 50 goals. He was a five-time First Team All-Star and three-time winner of the Lady Byng Trophy, as well as the Conn Smythe Trophy in 1982. Bossy was one of our game’s all-time greats, inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1991 and named one of the NHL’s Top 100 Players in 2017 “In a statement, NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman said. “Our hearts go out to his wife, Lucie, and their children, Josiane and Tanya, as well as his former Islanders teammates and his legions of fans on Long Island, in the New York metropolitan area, and throughout the world.” He enthralled fans in a way that few others have.”
Only Wayne Gretzky and Mario Lemieux were faster to 500 goals than Bossy. His 573 goals put him in 22nd place on the league’s all-time scoring list. He’s won a lot of awards, but that’s not the only one.
The Islanders winger also had a nine-year string of scoring 50 goals or more, which is still the longest in NHL history. Bossy and Gretzky are the only players in league history to record nine seasons with at least 50 goals. Bossy is also the only player in NHL history to score four game-winning goals in the same playoff series, which he did in the 1983 Stanley Cup Finals against the Boston Bruins.
During the 1981-82 season, Bossy earned the Conn Smythe Trophy, which is given to the postseason MVP. During the 1978-79 and 1980-81 seasons, the Islanders’ star scored the most points in the league.
Bossy still owns the Islanders and NHL records for the most postseason goals (85) and consecutive playoff series wins (19). On March 3, 1992, the Islanders retired the number 22 of the seven-time All-Star.
In each of New York’s final three Cup runs, he scored a league-high 17 goals, receiving the 1982 Conn Smythe Trophy for postseason MVP.
He still owns Islanders team records with 573 goals, 180 power-play goals, 80 game-winning goals, and 85 playoff goals despite retiring in 1987. He also has 553 assists and 1,126 points, which puts him in third place in team history.
His goal-per-game average of 0.762 is an NHL record.
Before his induction into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1991, the Islanders retired Bossy’s number in 1988.
After the tragic death of Bossy’s linemate, fellow dynasty member, and Hall of Famer Clark Gillies in late January at the age of 67, this has been an extremely tough year for the Islanders and their fan base.
