Michael “Mike” Bossy (January 22, 1957 - ) was one of the most prolific goal scorers in hockey history. At the very least, the New York Islanders legend was the most dangerous sniper of his era. Tragically, Bossy passed away on April 14 from lung cancer. Even with these elements, Bossy’s cards remain relatively affordable allowing for anyone to put together a solid collection of the Islanders legend.
After starring for the Laval National of the QMJHL, scoring 309 goals in four seasons (1972-1976), he joined the New York Islanders where he played his entire NHL career (1977-1987). Originally considered somewhat of a soft player, Mike was overlooked by most teams until the Islanders selected him as the 15th overall pick of the 1977 NHL Entry Draft. Bossy played right wing on the Isles’ top line of center Bryan Trottier and left wing Clark Gillies, future Hall of Famers.
Bossy could always light the lamp. He never scored fewer than 70 goals in his four seasons with Laval of the QMJHL, topping out at 84 in 66 games in 1974-75. Despite that early snub, the 6-foot, 186-pound winger never lacked confidence in himself.
The Islanders became a modern-day dynasty as they road Mike’s scoring touch to four consecutive Stanley Cup Championships (1980-1983). Mike played in seven NHL All-Star Games, was named to five NHL All-Star First Teams, won the Conn Smythe Trophy in 1982 as the playoff MVP, and the won three Lady Byng Memorial Trophies (1983, 1984, 1986) honoring the league’s most gentlemanly player.
Mike Bossy finished his NHL career with 573 goals and 553 assists in 752 games and sported a plus/minus rating of 381 during those ten seasons. His goals-per-game rate of .762 remains the highest in NHL history among all players with at least 400 games played.
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Who is the greatest all-time goal scorer? Wayne Gretzky holds the career mark with Alexander Ovechkin hot on his heels. Beginning with his record-breaking rookie season in 1977-78 when he lit the lamp 53 times, Bossy scored more than 50 goals nine straight times. That’s a feat no other player has equaled.
The duo, along with defenseman Denis Potvin, became the core of an Islanders dynasty that won four consecutive Stanley Cups. Along the way, Bossy also won the 1978 Calder Trophy as the NHL rookie of the year, and the Conn Smythe Trophy as the most valuable player of the 1982 playoffs. He also was a three-time Lady Byng Memorial Trophy recipient (1983, 1984, 1986). If not for a chronic back injury that derailed his career after just 10 seasons, there’s no telling how many more awards would line his mantle.
He has literally thousands of options to pursue - more than 2,900 base, parallel, autograph, relic, and oddball singles in total - so narrowing down the field can be overwhelming. There’s only one challenge: Where to start? Looking for a little guidance?
Key Mike Bossy Hockey Cards
Here are some notable Mike Bossy hockey cards that collectors often seek:
1978-79 O-Pee-Chee Highlights #1
As the No. 1 card of the series, this is technically Bossy’s first single, and while it’s not as popular as his RC, it’s a must-have memento of a remarkable achievement. The 21-year-old shattered Richard Martin’s record of 44 rookie goals, finishing with 53 after tallying in a season-ending 7-2 rout of the Rangers. We chose this particular copy of the card to illustrate how routinely it is found off-center.
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1979-80 O-Pee-Chee #230
By the time this card came out, Bossy had firmly established himself as one of the most popular players in the game. Powered by the goal record, he’d been honored with the 1978 Calder Memorial Trophy as Rookie of the Year and was named to the NHL Second All-Star team.
Bossy’s RC has seen a resurgence of late, and while raw copies are selling well most demand is focused on graded singles.
1979-80 O-Pee-Chee Record Breaker #161
Two seasons into his hobby career, and two Record Breaker cards for Bossy. This one honors the 69 goals he scored as a sophomore the season before, a total that set a new mark for goals by a right winger and established his career high. But while that season ended in disappointment as the Isles were knocked out in the semis by the arch-rival Rangers, it marked the last playoff series they would lose for quite some time.
1983-84 O-Pee-Chee #205 Trophy Winner
While collectors focus on Bossy’s sharpshooting, that wasn’t the only defining element of his game. Despite facing a barrage of abuse from opposing defenders, he committed to playing clean and fair. He finished among the top five in Lady Byng voting each of his first eight seasons and won the award three times. This single commemorates the first time he claimed the hardware as he tallied 60 goals for the third consecutive season and took just 20 minutes in penalties.
Mike Bossy Rookie Card!
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1993 Classic Autographs
Autographs weren’t part of the hobby equation during Bossy’s playing days, so it wasn’t until well after he had retired that he earned his first signed card. Oddly it was the draft picks manufacturer Classic, and not one of the many licensed manufacturers, that released the single. Issued as part of a superstar-laden 12-card insert set, it featured a gold ink signature and a print run of 975 copies.
1999-2000 Upper Deck A Piece Of History
On January 2, 1986, Bossy scored an empty netter to seal a 7-5 victory over the Boston Bruins. Although it was far from the most exciting goal of his career, his 500th definitely was one of his most iconic. It came in his 647th career game, marking him as the fastest player to reach that plateau in league history (although Wayne Gretzky would break the record later that season). Upper Deck’s ongoing A Piece Of History insert honored Bossy’s accomplishment when it kicked off in 1999 with two versions.
1993-94 Score Hot Materials
This set has found a second life in the hobby since the beginning of the pandemic, with short prints like this Bossy single earning all kinds of love. Showcasing a vintage image of his stick blade on fire, it’s one of his most visually iconic cards and a favorite of his fans. It also inspired a cover image we had shot of Mike Modano for the January 1994 issue of this magazine.
2007 Vancouver Card Show
By no means are we endorsing a card that appears to have been produced without authorization from the NHL, NHLPA, or Topps, but this is a fascinating item that Bossy collectors suggested for the list. The card, which appropriates the image and card-back text from his RC, was produced for a March 2007 card show appearance in Vancouver and was reportedly limited to just 25 copies.
1981 Canada Cup & 1984 Canada Cup
Bossy wore Canada’s colors twice over the course of his storied career, and he was at the peak of his powers on both occasions. Skating at the 1981 Canada Cup, he scored eight goals and 11 points in just seven games. Three years later, he potted five goals and nine points in eight games, with his OT winner over the Soviets in the semifinal ranking among the biggest tallies of his career.
Mike Bossy: A Lasting Legacy
“A sniper on the ice, Mike Bossy mastered the art of putting the puck into the net to become one of the greatest goal scorers ever to play in the National Hockey League.” Those words, spoken by the great Dick Irvin, kicked off Bossy’s induction into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1991.