Bossy and Trottier's Bond Extended Off the Ice

"We're not blood, but we are family."
That's how Bryan Trottier described his relationship with Mike Bossy, reflecting on the close-knit bond between the Hall of Famers.
There was obviously their on-ice connection, which saw both players rack up over 1,000 points in their 10 years together from 1977-87. Bossy, the franchise leader in goals with 573, was the triggerman, with Trottier, the franchise assist (853) and point leader (1,353) teeing him up.

But their relationship went much deeper than just being linemates. Off the ice, they were the best of friends, a relationship that sparked early and blossomed quickly.
"We're so close in age, only six months apart, growing up in that era of hockey," Trottier said. "We took our lumps growing up. There was a lot of shared joy in life and humor and foods and so much similar likes and dislikes. You just strike up a friendship and that turns into a best friendship, which turns into a life-long bond."

Trottier and Bossy were roommates on Islanders road trips and were inseparable according to their teammates.
"They were together all of the time," Bob Nystrom said. "I'm not sure if it was to figure out new ways to score goals, but they were the best of friends. They roomed together and basically hung together on the road. That's what made them such a great pair with Clark Gillies] on the left side. He protected both of those guys. Boss is scoring goals and Trotter is getting assists, so it was a perfect match."
**Remembering Mike Bossy**
**ARTICLES**
[Mike Bossy Passes Away
Players Tribute: Bossy's Letter to His Younger Self
How Bossy Fell to the Islanders
Bossy's Road to the Islanders
Bossy Takes Flight in 1982
Bossy Scores 50 in 50
Bossy Scores 50 in Rookie Year
Bossy vs the Bullies
AUDIO

VIDEO
NHL 100: Mike Bossy
Bossy and Trottier Light It Up
Isles, Habs Honor Bossy
Trottier Joins NHL Now
Trottier said they could walk into a hotel room and just know who wanted which bed, what shows to put on, what their meal orders would be if it were room service or out to dinner.
"One guy could start a sentence and the next guy will finish it," Trottier said.
Friday was an understandably emotional and difficult day for the Islanders alumni, as news broke of Bossy's passing after a battle with lung cancer. It was one of reflection, both of Bossy as a person and a player. Trottier said it's impossible to rank Bossy's on-ice accomplishments, saying he chooses to celebrate all of them, the nine straight 50-goal seasons, the three Lady Byng trophies, the Calder, Conn Smythe and the four Stanley Cups.
The 50-in-50 has some extra meaning for Trottier, who fittingly assisted on Bossy's 49th and 50th goals. What stands out to Trottier is what happened after Bossy became the second player in league history to accomplish the feat.
"The 50-in-50 should have been the 51-in-50," Trottier said. "I put another puck on his stick in the slot and he should have shot, but he tapped it back to me because I had an open net and I tapped it in. I said 'Mike, why didn't you shoot the puck?' and he said 'cause it was the right play.'"
"To me, that's Mike," Trottier said. "That was one of his greatest moments in our career."

While Bossy's passing has been hard on Trottier, he's been honored to speak about and celebrate his friend. Trottier knows how Bossy felt about him, both in their private conversations, as well as in Bossy's
"Letter to My Younger Self"
which he published via the Players' Tribune back in 2017.
Bossy signed off his first-person story with "Thank God I was an Islander, and I love you Bryan Trottier."
"Those are moving words for any person and Mike and I got a chance to tell each other a million times how much we loved each other," Trottier said. "It was almost like a brother. Those are pretty special words, especially even now."