New York Islanders right winger and Hockey Hall of Famer Mike Bossy of Montreal, Quebec passed away at the age of 65 on Friday according to nhl.com. The cause of death was cancer.
Bossy played one decade from 1977 to 1987. In 752 regular season games, he had 573 goals, 553 assists, and 1126 points. Bossy also was a +380 with 210 penalty minutes, 378 power play points, nine shorthanded points, 80 game-winning goals, and 2709 shots on goal. In the playoffs, Bossy had 85 goals and 75 assists for 160 points in 129 games. He was a +34 with 38 penalty minutes, 35 power play goals, 17 game-winning goals, and 436 shots on goal.
During his NHL career, Bossy led the league in several offensive categories for a single season. They included goals (69 in 1978-79, and 68 in 1980-81), power-play goals (25 in 1977-78, 27 in 1978-79, and 28 in 1980-81), even strength goals (42 in 1978-79), game-winning goals (10 in 1980-81, and nine in 1985-86), playoff goals (17 in 1980-81, 17 in 1981-82, and 17 in 1982-83), playoff assists (18 in 1980-81), playoff points (35 in 1981-82), playoff even strength goals (11 in 1981-82), playoff power play goals (six in 1979-80, nine in 1980-81, six in 1981-82, six in 1982-83), playoff game-winning goals (three in 1981-82, and five in 1982-83), and playoff shots on goal (62 in 1981-82).
Bossy was also the Islanders single season all-time leader in goals (69 in 1978-79), points (147 in 1981-82), power-play goals (28 in 1980-81), game-winning goals (11 in 1983-84), shots on goal (315 in 1980-81), and hat tricks (nine in 1980-81). He also was the Islanders’ career leader in goals, even strength goals (385), power-play goals (180), game-winning goals, and regular season hat tricks (39). Of his 44 career-hat tricks (regular season and playoffs), he had nine four-goal games.
A four-time Stanley Cup champion, Bossy won his four Stanley Cups with the Islanders from 1980 to 1983. He won the Lady Byng Award in 1983, 1984, and 1986, the Calder Trophy in 1978, and the Conn Smythe Trophy in 1982. A seven-time All-Star (1978, 1980-1983, 1985, 1986), Bossy was a first-team NHL All Star in 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984 and 1986.
On the international side, the biggest goal Bossy ever scored came in the semifinal of the 1984 Canada Cup according to Peter Loubardias of the FAN 960. It was an overtime goal that helped Canada beat the Soviet Union 3-2 from the Olympic Saddledome in Calgary.
Bossy was inducted into Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame in 2007, and the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1991. He also holds the NHL record for most consecutive 50 goal seasons with nine.
