Selected 15th overall in the 1977 draft by the Islanders, Bossy was overlooked for the previous fourteen selections because he was considered too skinny and ne dimensional to make it in the NHL. By the time his playing career had ended, he was in the hockey hall of fame and had become a pretty good defensive player to match his offensive skillset. 553 goals in the NHL, in just 723 games. 50 goals in 50 games, and 50 goals in his first nine years in the NHL, including four of those years scoring 60 or more goals. A back injury cut his career way too short, but the numbers speak for themselves.
He had the ability to be able to change the game with a single shot, a pure sniper. That's what drew the Islanders to grabbing him with the 15th overall pick in 1977. He was the sniper on the Isles Le Trio Grande line with Brian Trottier and the late Clark Gillies. The three of them were the top line for the Islanders and powered them during their glory days of the early 1980s.
The numbers speak for themselves what he could do as a goal scorer. Him and Bryan Trottier made for one of the most dynamic one-two punches that the game of hockey has ever seen. Both guys have said it in past interviews that there were times where one would just know what the other was thinking and make magic happen on the ice without even trying.
He meant so much to so many Islanders fans who grew up watching him play. And not just Islanders fans but hockey fans in general. The guy could do it all when it came to shooting a puck. If he saw room to let a shot go, he took it. And usually hit his mark taking his shots, as evident by his 573 goals. Which are still the most in Islanders history.
Its been a rough year for the Islanders, having now lost three members of their championship teams. First Clark Gillies, then Jean Potvin and now Bossy.
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