Former Islander Great Mike Bossy Passes Away

UNDATED (AP) – Mike Bossy continues continues to own the greatest goal-per-game average in NHL history, netting 573 in just 752 contests. That doesn’t include the 61 goals he provided in 72 playoff games while the New York Islanders were winning four straight Stanley Cups from 1980-83. Bossy died Thursday night at age 65, about six months after being diagnosed with lung cancer. Bossy won the Calder Trophy as the league’s top rookie in 1978 after falling to 15th in the draft. He had five 60-goal seasons and was the first player ever to score at least 50 in his first nine seasons. Bossy developed into an outstanding two-way player who was an eight-time All-Star. He is the second member of the Islanders’ “Trio Grande Line” to die this year, three months after fellow Hockey Hall of famer Clark Gillies passed away.