Mike Bossy officially announced his retirement from the game of hockey 33 years ago today. Despite playing his last game in 1987, it wasn’t until Oct. 24, 1988 that his retirement became official. His permanent departure from hockey was the result of a serious back injury that he could not play through. He played a total of 752 regular-season games at the NHL level, registering a tremendous 1126 points. 

Bossy made an announcement earlier this week that he has been diagnosed with lung cancer and will step aside from his position at TVA Sports to undergo treatment. He is celebrated by Islanders’ fans as the greatest goal-scorer in franchise history, and perhaps in NHL history as well. Drafted 15th overall in 1977, his dominance began in his first season and he registered more than 50 goals in each of his first nine seasons. His play helped the Islanders win four straight cups, establishing them as a legitimate NHL franchise that no longer resembled the pathetic expansion team that won just 12 games in their first season.

50 in 50

One of the most memorable regular-season moments in Isles history was when Mike Bossy became just the second player in NHL history to score 50 goals in 50 games. He netted 48 through his first 49 games and needed two goals in his 50th game against Quebec in order to reach the milestone. Through the first 55 minutes of the game, he had yet to register a point. Things looked unpromising until Bossy, with just over four minutes remaining in a tied game, received a pass from defenseman Stefan Persson and backhanded it past Ron Grahame of the Nordiques to put the Isles up 5-4. The fans at Nassau Coliseum were loaded up like jack-in-the-boxes, ready to spring to their feet if Bossy managed to find the back of the net once more. They weren’t kept waiting long. After a failed first pass attempt to Bossy in the offensive zone, Bryan Trottier fortunately got the puck back and put it right on Bossy’s stick to the right of the Nordiques’ netminder. Bossy released the puck as soon as he got it and put it home with just 89 seconds remaining in regulation. The fans erupted with more might than Mt. Vesuvius, and his teammates all jumped onto the ice to congratulate him on his amazing feat that has only been replicated by three players since. 

Legacy of Mike Bossy

Bossy spent his entire 10-season career with the Islanders and his number 22 was retired by the team in 1992, a year after he was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame. He is the all-time franchise leader in goals scored and it isn’t close. He has the highest goals-per-game total in NHL history, above legends like Mario Lemieux, Wayne Gretzky, Maurice Richard, and Alex Ovechkin. 

We here at Drive4Five wish Mike Bossy the best in his recovery.

John Smark