Bossy, Islanders legend, remembered by Gretzky, hockey community

Mike Bossy
, a member of the New York Islanders' four straight Stanley Cup championship teams, died Friday at the age of 65.

Bossy finished his NHL career with 573 goals and 1,126 points in 752 games. He is the only player in NHL history to score at least 50 goals in nine straight seasons and is tied with Wayne Gretzky for the most 60-goal seasons (five). His average of 0.76 goals per game is the best among players who have played at least 150 games.
Here is a collection of reaction from the hockey world on the death of the Hockey Hall of Famer and Islanders legend:
"It was an honor to play with you. You will be missed." -- Wayne Gretzky

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"I just found out that Mike Bossy passed away this morning. Obviously on behalf of our group we want to offer our condolences to the family. He's somebody that did so much for the game of hockey, so much for the community even after he was done playing. So we're thinking about him, thinking about his family and it's tough news to hear for sure." -- Montreal Canadiens forward Brendan Gallagher
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"We welcome anyone who wishes to change their profile picture & header to do so in honor of Mike Bossy." -- New York Islanders

"The National Hockey League mourns the passing of Mike Bossy, the dynamic winger whose goal-scoring prowess during a remarkable 10-year career ranks, by almost any measure, as one of the greatest in NHL history and propelled the New York Islanders to four straight Stanley Cups. Bossy scored 573 goals in 752 games -- a 0.76 goals-per-game average that is the highest in the League's history. He is the only player ever to record nine straight 50-goal seasons and his five 60-goal seasons are matched only by Wayne Gretzky. One of only eight players in NHL history to have scored 50 goals in his first 50 games of a season, he was similarly dominating in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, during which he scored 85 goals in 129 games." -- NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman
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"We are saddened by the news this morning that a great player has left us. We send our sincere condolences to the family of Mike Bossy and those close to him. Our prayers are with you." -- Family of Canadiens great Maurice Richard

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"Growing up in Laval (Quebec), a few years Mike used to give out all the trophies at the Laval hockey banquets. I have photos with Mike when I was very young so giving his time and encouraging the kids was something very special. It's a tough day for the hockey world, for people in Laval for sure, and definitely for the Bossy family, so we're thinking about them." -- Canadiens coach Martin St. Louis
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"I have a heavy heart today hearing this sad news. My deepest condolences go out to Mike's family. We have lost a great man and a legend." -- Hockey Hall of Famer Guy Lafleur
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"We join the @NYIslanders & the entire @NHL family in mourning the loss of one of the all-time legends, Mike Bossy. Thank you for the unforgettable 80s battles, Mike." -- Edmonton Oilers

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"The NHL Alumni Association is deeply saddened to learn that @NHL icon, Mike Bossy, has passed away at the age of 65 after a courageous battle with cancer. Mike was known to be one of the greatest pure goal-scorers to ever play the game." -- NHL Alumni Association

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"The New York Islanders organization mourns the loss of Mike Bossy, an icon not only on Long Island but across the entire hockey world. His drive to be the best every time he stepped on the ice was second to none. Along with his teammates, he helped win four straight Stanley Cup championships, shaping the history of this franchise forever. On behalf of the entire organization, we send our deepest condolences to the entire Bossy family and all those who grieve this tragic loss." -- Islanders general manager Lou Lamoriello
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"I had the pleasure of skating with him. Didn't play with him officially in a regular-season game, but when I got called up from junior he was out with a back injury. But I had camps with him and what an experience. First scrimmage of my first camp in '85, you're lined up against Bossy, [Bryan] Trottier, [Clark] Gillies. I guess it's the same for these kids, their first camp they're coming in, it's lining up against [Jonathan] Toews and 'Kaner' [Patrick Kane] and that. But what a great human being. I really feel sad for the family, such a young age." -- Chicago Blackhawks coach and former Islanders player Derek King
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"Really sad to hear the news. Mike as a person was tremendous, he was really good to me, especially my first number of years on the Island. I saw him quite a bit and just loved the game and loved to talk hockey and specifically goal scoring. If not the best, one of the best at it and part of one of the best dynasties in NHL history and obviously a remarkable career. ... Hearing some of the stories of his belief to do it as a rookie and making the team just out of being drafted and just the expectations he set and probably exceeded a lot of people around him, but his belief in himself and his knack to score was exceptional. He was such a difference-maker for those teams that way and the chemistry he had with Trottier was pretty incredible. Amazing when you look at his stats and his productivity and just year after year how well he did it and what he accomplished." -- Toronto Maple Leafs captain and former Islanders captain John Tavares

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"Probably a little too young in terms of myself watching, but not too young to grow up knowing the legend of Mike Bossy and seeing the highlights and the exploits, and his ability to be scoring goals with such consistency right from the time he entered the League and the disappointment all hockey fans had that his career was cut short. As you grow older, you're seeing the grace and professionalism he had off the ice, so it's a sad day today not just for his family but for the whole hockey world." -- Maple Leafs coach Sheldon Keefe
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"For somebody to able to just accomplish that one time, to accomplish that once would be an incredible feat. Some of the things he did with 50 goals in 50 games, nine times 50 goals, five times 60 goals, those numbers and the clip at which he scored those goals over the 10 years that he played, those are remarkable numbers. We get to watch somebody like Alex [Ovechkin] on a daily basis and his ability to score goals and what he's been able to do and when you get to see it and be a part of it, you really appreciate it. And having watched Bossy growing up, you really appreciate what he was able to do and his accomplishments of having that ability to score." -- Washington Capitals coach and former Islanders coach Peter Laviolette
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"He was one of my grandfather's favorite players, one of the best goal-scorers the NHL has ever seen. Above that, every time I've been around him, he was just always smiling, always happy. Always giving tips and telling you you've been playing well and stuff like that. He had so much energy and so much positivity surrounding him. He was always a pleasure to be around and, yeah, it was an honor to win that award after a pioneer, especially for French-Canadian players like him. Yeah, it's a sad day in the hockey world." -- Winnipeg Jets forward Pierre-Luc Dubois, who won the Mike Bossy Trophy as the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League best professional prospect in 2015-16
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"I met him a couple times. He was always smiling. He would always have a good mood and it's a sad day for the whole world. He was a legend and, obviously, he was a great person, and he was the greatest, a very good goal-scorer, and it's sad, sad news. I wish all the best to his family and it's just sad for the whole hockey world." -- Capitals forward Alex Ovechkin
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"To be able to have nine 50-goal seasons in general, but to do it in a row, I don't know if that's ever been done before or will ever be done again. It's an incredible accomplishment and obviously his team success is probably what he looked back on most fondly, no question. He was a legendary player in this league and it's a sad day today. -- Edmonton Oilers center Ryan Nugent-Hopkins
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"Sad day, great man and gone way to soon. Sixty-five is still a young man. I grew up watching Mike, one of the best goal scorers of all time, multiple Stanley Cup winner and grew up with that Islander dynasty. Obviously, it's a sad day for the hockey world. -- Vegas Golden Knights coach Peter DeBoer