Hockey Legend Turned Innovative Businessman  

Credit Bossy as a true business visionary. He understood there should be more for professional sports team backers than just good seat selection. Credit him with attacking “added value” by introducing business networking on game nights prior to Islander home games. During the 2008-09 season Mike organized 14 exclusive pre-game networking sessions, providing pertinent speakers at many. One highly successful event featured former Islander all-star Clark Gillies and New York Ranger vice president Don Maloney discussing the exciting marketing possibilities from the intense Islander/Ranger rivalry. 

 Also credit Bossy with developing the “Speed Networking” concept where on a rotating basis, 100 selected companies are brought together and encouraged to concentrate on just 10, possible, business partners. Between the scrutinized-before-selection, guests - and the ability to pinpoint a company pitch to only 10 captive prospects, positive things happen quickly. The success of this concept already has fellow sports franchises making inquiries.

Mike Bossy’s Islander career was a storied tale of worldwide success, but it could not have happened without former coach and fellow hockey Hall of Famer Al Arbour. In the 1977 NHL amateur draft, Bossy, a prolific scorer in the Juniors but weak defensively, was passed over by 12 teams, including the Rangers and Toronto – not once, but twice! When Islander general manager Bill Torrey was unsure about picking a scorer or a defensive stalwart, he asked “Radar.” Arbour immediately stated, “Get me the scorer!”

“I had a fantastic relationship with Al,” comments Bossy. “He expected his players to play hard every game, all game. And he demanded that you learn and follow the team system. After that, he let you do your own thing. Al was a great motivator, had great savvy and was a fabulous psychoanalyst. He was just plain great.”

Mike first caught the media’s eye when, as a rookie, he remarked about a desire to score 50 goals in his first season. A reporter turned the comment into a prediction and had many of hockey’s insiders and pundits wondering, “ Who does this kid think he is?” Of course, the hockey world soon found out, as “Boss” scored 53 goals in the 1977-78 campaign. He was named the Calder Trophy winner as Rookie of the Year.

With a basketful of awards, trophies and memories, it is not easy for

Bossy to pick his greatest hockey thrill. For sure, he says, the incredible accomplishment of scoring 50 goals in 50 games in1981 was the “most exciting.” The feat had not been accomplished since Maurice Richard (the Rocket) did it 36 years earlier. Mike admits his “proudest personal achievement” came from scoring 50 goals in nine consecutive seasons. Only Bossy and Wayne Gretzky have ever done that. His 10th season in the league and his career was cut short by a back injury, but in that shortened season he still “lit the light” 38 times.

Other statistical wonders by Bossy include, of course, being one of the prime fixtures in the Islander dynasty as the team won four consecutive Stanley Cups from 1980-83. Bossy still feels that Islander squad was one of the best ever assembled, yet never received the recognition it deserved. Mike also feels former teammate (and roommate) Bryan Trottier never received his proper share of recognition. “Bryan was the most complete player of his time,” comments Bossy. “ He was a great scorer, even greater assist man, fabulous defensive star, unparalled penalty killer and one of the best face-off players ever. He did it all!”

Wayne Gretzky, in a 1993 interview with the New York Post, called Bossy “the best right winger ever to play the game.” And the Montreal native is always on somebody’s list of “pure” goal scorers along with the likes of Mario Lemieux, Maurice Richard and Bobby Hull. As a further indication of Bossy’s scoring prowess, his regular season scoring average was .762, more than any player in National Hockey League history. His .659 playoff average is second only to Lemieux at .710. Another feat is Mike’s 1982 record scoring, for right wingers, of 83 assists and 147 points. The record stood until the 1995-96 season when Jaromir Jagr broke it with 87 assists and 149 points.

Bossy earned the Conn Smythe Trophy (Playoff Most Valuable Player) in 1982 and scored 17 goals in three straight playoffs, 1981, ’82 and ’83, the only player to do so. He earned five first team, All-Star selections and in 1991 was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame. His No. 22 jersey was retired on March 2, 1992. Bossy is ranked No. 20 on the Hockey News list of 100 greatest hockey players.

Mike Bossy earned three Lady Byng trophies for “gentlemanly play.” “As time goes on,” says Bossy, “I have become more and more proud of how I played and how I believe the game should be played.”

Bossy thinks the current Islander team is truly a work in progress and that general manager Garth Snow is on the right track with his emphasis on youth. ”Key injuries have slowed progress into transitioning the team from veterans to younger players,” he says. As for Islander owner Charles Wang, Bossy has short, strong words: “Charles is a great visionary who is not afraid to try new things.” Sounds like there is hope for the future in Islander country.