Mike Bossy Passes Away at 65

New York Islanders legend and Montreal, Quebec native, Mike Bossy, has passed away at the age of 65 today, his family announced early Friday morning.

Mike Bossy had been diagnosed with lung cancer in late 2021 and had fought as hard as he could through the adversity, just as he did in his hockey career, but unfortunately passed Friday morning. Bossy, who was an analyst for TVA Sports up until this year, announced in October 2021 that he would be stepping away from his on-air duties to receive treatment for his cancer. Earlier this month, it was reported that he had been moved to palliative care, prompting a well-deserved outpouring of love for him and his family from the hockey community. Bossy was a hero for Islanders fans, but also for his home province of Quebec, and will go down in time as one of Quebec’s most prominent goal scorers of all time.

His goal-scoring prowess doesn’t just put him near the top for Quebec-born players; Bossy sits 22nd all-time for goals in the NHL with 573 in just 752 games. In fact, Mike Bossy’s effectiveness as a goal scorer will likely never be beaten, as the prolific forward notched an incredible average of .752 goals-per-game, which trumps Mario Lemieux’s .754 and Wayne Gretzky’s .601 goals-per-game ratios. Bossy should and will go down as the most effective goal scorer the NHL has ever seen. Unfortunately, a chronic back issue forced him to retire after the end of the 1986-1987 season.

Initially drafted by the New York Islanders 15th overall in the 1977 NHL Draft, Bossy went on to help the Islanders win four-straight Stanley Cups from 1980 to 1983. He won three Lady Bing awards and led the NHL in goal-scoring during the 1978-1979 and 1980-1981 seasons, before the inception of the Maurice Richard Trophy. He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1991, while also having his #22 retired by the New York Islanders on March 3, 1992.

Our deepest condolences go out to his family and loved ones.