Mike Bossy

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Bossy was the fifth son among ten children, growing up in a family of Detroit Red Wings fans in Montreal. He started his junior career with the Laval National of the QMJHL at age 15. Despite scoring 309 goals in five seasons, he was considered 'not rugged enough' and defensively weak by NHL scouts. Twelve teams passed on him in the 1977 NHL amateur draft, including the New York Rangers and Toronto Maple Leafs, who each passed over him twice. The Islanders picked Bossy with the 15th overall selection. General manager Bill Torrey was torn between taking Bossy and Dwight Foster. One common story credits coach Al Arbour, who figured it would be easier to teach a scorer how to check. Bossy replaced Billy Harris on the Islanders' top line with Bryan Trottier and Clark Gillies, creating a combination known as The Trio Grande.

In Their Own Story

In the 1982 Stanley Cup Final, with the Islanders up three games to two against the Vancouver Canucks, Bossy scored the Cup-winning goal. The next year, in 1983, he did it again, becoming one of two players (Jack Darragh being the other) to score consecutive Stanley Cup-winning goals. During the 1983 Conference Final, Bossy recorded four game-winning goals in one series, a record he holds alone. Earlier, in the 1979-80 season, the Islanders got off to their worst start in six years. Down 3-0 to Chicago on October 27, Arbour reunited the Trio Grande linemates with explosive results — Trottier recorded a hat trick, and he, Gillies and Bossy all scored in a 49-second span (an Islanders team record) in a 6-4 victory. After acquiring Butch Goring on March 10, the Islanders went unbeaten for the rest of the season.

Reader's Guide

Bossy's NHL career lasted from 1977 to 1987, all with the New York Islanders. In his rookie season, he boldly told Bill Torrey before the season he would score 50 goals, and wound up with 53, setting a rookie record that stood until broken by Teemu Selanne in 1993. He led the league with 25 powerplay goals that year. In the 1978-79 season, Bossy led the league with 69 goals, at the time the second-highest single season total. On February 19, 1979, he recorded his 100th goal in his 129th game, becoming the fastest to reach that milestone. His two-year total of 122 goals was the most by any NHL player over his first two seasons. Bossy is the second of five players to score 50 goals in 50 games, being the first to accomplish this feat 36 years after Maurice Richard. He jointly holds the record for most 50-goal seasons with Wayne Gretzky and Alexander Ovechkin with nine, being the only player of the three whose 50-goal seasons ran consecutively.

Did You Know?

• Bossy is the only player to score the Stanley Cup-winning goal in two consecutive years (1982 and 1983).
• He is the only player to record four game-winning goals in one playoff series (1983 Conference Final).
• Bossy's 309 goals in major junior is not the all-time record; that mark belongs to others such as Guy Lafleur or Connor Bedard.
• Wayne Gretzky also had nine consecutive 50-goal seasons, so Bossy is not the only player among those with nine 50-goal seasons whose 50-goal seasons ran consecutively.
• Bossy broke his kneecap at age 12 while competing in long jump at school, leading to chronic knee problems during his hockey career.

Unlikely Draft Selection to Instant Stardom

Despite averaging 77 goals per season in junior with Laval, twelve teams passed on Bossy in the 1977 NHL amateur draft. The New York Islanders picked him 15th overall. General manager Bill Torrey was torn between Bossy and Dwight Foster. Various stories exist explaining who persuaded Torrey to select Bossy. One common story credits coach Al Arbour, who figured it would be easier to teach a scorer how to check. Another credits Islanders scout Harry Saraceno. Bossy replaced Billy Harris on the Islanders' top line with Bryan Trottier and Clark Gillies, creating The Trio Grande. He scored against Don Edwards of the Buffalo Sabres in his first career game, a 3-2 loss on October 13, 1977. On February 4, 1978, he collected his first career hat trick in a 6-1 win against the Washington Capitals. On February 25, Bossy scored his 45th goal to pass the previous rookie record of 44 held by Rick Martin. He had boldly told Bill Torrey before the season he would score 50 goals, and wound up with 53, setting a rookie record. He won the 1977-78 Calder Memorial Trophy as rookie of the year.

Unprecedented Scoring Consistency and Records

Bossy is the NHL's all-time leader in average goals scored per regular season game and holds the NHL's fourth-highest all-time average points scored per regular season game. He is the second of five players to score 50 goals in 50 games, being the first to accomplish this feat 36 years after Maurice Richard. He jointly holds the record for most 50-goal seasons with Wayne Gretzky and Alexander Ovechkin with nine, being the only player of the three whose 50-goal seasons ran consecutively. He led the NHL in goals twice and was second three other times. Bossy was voted to the league's first all-star team as right wing five times, with three further selections to the second all-star team. In the 1978-79 season, he led the league with 69 goals, at the time the second-highest single season total. On February 19, 1979, he recorded his 100th goal in his 129th game, becoming the fastest to reach that milestone. His two-year total of 122 goals was the most by any NHL player over his first two seasons.

The Heart of the Islanders' Dynasty

Bossy was a crucial part of the Islanders' four consecutive Stanley Cup championships in the early 1980s. He won the Conn Smythe Trophy in the 1982 Stanley Cup playoffs as the most valuable player. He is one of two players (Jack Darragh being the other) to score consecutive Stanley Cup-winning goals (1982 and 1983) and the only player to record four game-winning goals in one playoff series (1983 Conference Final). In the 1980 Stanley Cup Final, with the Islanders up three games to two against the Philadelphia Flyers, Bossy scored a power play goal in the second period of game 6, giving New York a 3-2 lead. He led all scorers in the Finals with 11 points, and finished second to teammate Butch Goring. In the 1979-80 season, after the Islanders got off to their worst start in six years, the acquisition of Butch Goring on March 10 helped the Islanders go unbeaten for the rest of the season. Bossy won the Lady Byng Trophy three times for combining high quality play with sportsmanship.

Enduring Legacy and Hall of Fame Recognition

Bossy was elected to the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1991. He was named one of the 100 Greatest NHL Players in history and is considered one of the greatest goal scorers in NHL history. His total of 532 points remains a QMJHL record, and his 309 goals is the record for all of major junior. Bossy's #17 is retired by the Acadie-Bathurst Titan, the current incarnation of the former Laval franchise. Despite chronic knee problems that developed after he broke a kneecap at age 12 while competing in long jump at school, Bossy's career statistics place him among the all-time elite. He holds the NHL's all-time lead in average goals scored per regular season game and is the only player to achieve nine consecutive 50-goal seasons.