Mike Bossy flopped to the ice because the puck went in, then scrambled to his ft and leaped into the air to have fun scoring one other aim. It was a well-known sight because the New York Islanders have been on their technique to their third of 4 consecutive Stanley Cup titles.
Bossy danced on his skates the identical approach after his fiftieth aim in 50 video games, however so many different occasions, his response was extra muted just because he scored a lot and so usually, greater than nearly anybody within the lengthy historical past of the NHL.
The Hockey Corridor of Famer died Thursday night time of lung most cancers. Bossy was 65.
“Although containing him was the obsession of opposing coaches and checking him the main focus of opposing gamers, Bossy’s brilliance was unstoppable and his manufacturing relentless all through his whole profession,” NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman mentioned Friday. “He thrilled followers like few others.”
An Islanders spokesman mentioned Bossy was in his native Montreal, the place the staff performed Friday night time towards the Canadiens. Earlier than taking the ice on an emotional night time at Bell Centre, Islanders ahead Anthony Beauvillier shared what Bossy meant to his household and profession.
“Mike Bossy was a reputation usually talked about in my family rising up as my father idolized him,” Beauvillier wrote on Instagram. “He would inform tales about how good of a aim scorer he's and the way he would make it [look] really easy. Once I first put the [Islanders] jersey on… it’s the very first thing my dad informed me, ‘Similar staff as Mike.’ It’s at all times been an honor for me sporting the identical jersey as Mike.”
Bossy helped the Islanders win the Stanley Cup 4 straight years from 1980 to 1983, incomes the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff Most worthy participant in 1982. He scored the Cup-winning aim in 1982 and 1983 — certainly one of simply two gamers to take action in back-to-back seasons.
“That’s actually one thing I’m happy with,” Bossy mentioned in 1983 after scoring the second Cup-winning aim.
Bossy was a first-round decide in 1977 and performed his whole 10-year NHL profession with New York. He received the Calder Trophy as rookie of the yr, bought the Girl Byng Trophy for gentlemanly conduct 3 times, and led the league in targets twice.
Bossy scored 50 or extra targets in every of his first 9 seasons — the NHL’s longest streak. He and Wayne Gretzky are the one gamers in hockey historical past with 9 50-goal seasons.
“The New York Islanders group mourns the lack of Mike Bossy, an icon not solely on Lengthy Island however your complete hockey world,” Islanders president and basic supervisor Lou Lamoriello mentioned. ”His drive to be one of the best each time he stepped on the ice was second to none. Alongside together with his teammates, he helped win 4 straight Stanley Cup championships, shaping the historical past of this franchise perpetually.”
Bossy was simply the second participant to attain 50 targets in 50 video games — a feat that has solely been matched 3 times since. He stays the all-time chief in targets per recreation within the common season at 0.762, and solely two gamers have recorded extra hat methods than Bossy’s 39.
He ranks third in factors per recreation and seventh on the all-time scoring checklist. These are all within the common season, when Bossy put up a number of the greatest numbers within the historical past of the NHL. Within the playoffs, Bossy was much more clutch. He's the one participant with 4 game-winners in the identical playoff sequence, and he scored three playoff time beyond regulation targets.
Led by Bossy, Clark Gillies, Bryan Trottier and defenseman Denis Potvin, the Islanders succeeded Scotty Bowman’s Seventies Montreal Canadiens because the NHL’s subsequent dynasty earlier than Gretzky’s Edmonton Oilers took over the game.
Bossy was an eight-time All-Star and completed with 573 targets and 553 assists for 1,126 factors in 752 regular-season video games. He was the quickest participant to succeed in the 100-goal mark and ranks twenty second on the profession targets checklist. Within the playoffs, Bossy had 160 factors in 129 video games.
Again and knee accidents finally ended his profession in 1987. He was restricted to 38 targets in 63 video games and unable to return for an eleventh season.
Bossy revealed his most cancers prognosis in October in a letter to TVA Sports activities. He wrote in French: “It's with loads of unhappiness that I must step away out of your screens, for a crucial pause. I intend to struggle with all of the dedication and hearth you’ve seen me present on the ice.”
It’s the third loss from that Islanders period this yr. Fellow Corridor of Famer Gillies died in January, and Jean Potvin died in March.
Daughter Tanya Bossy mentioned her father was “now not in ache.”
“My dad cherished hockey, certain, however firstly he cherished life,” she mentioned in an announcement in French on behalf of the Bossy household. “Till the top of his journey, he held on. He wished to reside greater than something.”
Bossy was inducted into the Corridor of Fame in 1991 and in 2017 was named one of many NHL’s 100 best gamers.
Earlier than reaching the NHL, Bossy performed 5 seasons within the Quebec Main Junior Hockey League with the Laval Nationwide. He had 602 factors in 298 QMJHL video games. Bossy additionally represented Canada on the Canada Cup in 1981 and 1984, lengthy earlier than NHL gamers started competing on the Winter Olympics.
Funeral preparations have been pending.
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