The Hockey Legacy of Mike Bossy
Born on January 22, 1957, in Montreal, Quebec, Mike Bossy grew up in a hockey-obsessed family. His father, a factory worker, built a backyard rink where young Mike honed his shooting skills for hours. Drafted 15th overall by the New York Islanders in 1977, Bossy quickly silenced critics who doubted his physicality by scoring 53 goals in his rookie season, winning the Calder Trophy. His partnership with Bryan Trottier and Clark Gillies formed the famed 'Trio Grande,' the engine of the Islanders' dynasty.
Bossy's peak came during the Islanders' four consecutive Stanley Cup wins from 1980 to 1983. In the 1982 playoffs, he scored a record 17 goals in 19 games, including a Game 7 overtime winner against the Rangers. His 1980-81 season was historic: 50 goals in 50 games, joining Maurice Richard and Wayne Gretzky in this exclusive club. Bossy’s ability to elevate his play in critical moments, like his 1983 Finals performance (8 goals in 4 games), cemented his reputation as a big-game player.
Chronic back injuries forced Bossy to retire at just 30 years old in 1987, robbing hockey of more prime years. Post-retirement, he became a broadcaster and advocate for player health. His #22 was retired by the Islanders in 1992, and he was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1991. Today, Bossy’s name is synonymous with scoring efficiency; his career shooting percentage (21.2%) remains the highest in NHL history among players with 500+ goals.
- Milestone 1: Scored 50+ goals in 9 consecutive seasons (1977–78 to 1985–86), an NHL record.
- Milestone 2: Won the Conn Smythe Trophy in 1982 as playoff MVP after leading all scorers with 17 goals.
- Milestone 3: Recorded five hat tricks in the 1983 playoffs, still a single-postseason record.
- Milestone 4: Became the second-fastest player to reach 500 goals (647 games), trailing only Wayne Gretzky.
- Milestone 5: His 147 playoff goals rank 10th all-time despite playing only 129 postseason games.
- Milestone 6: Named a First-Team All-Star five times (1981–1985).
- Milestone 7: Scored the Cup-clinching goal in Game 5 of the 1982 Finals against Vancouver.
- Milestone 8: Holds the Islanders’ franchise records for goals (573) and points per game (1.50).