Bryan Trottier lauds longtime Islanders linemate Mike Bossy as a true friend

TORONTO — Bryan Trottier touched his forehead to Mike Bossy’s and told his old Islanders teammate — and most importantly one of his closest friends — “I love you.”

“And in his weakest voice, he said, ‘I love you, too,’ ” Trottier told Newsday on Saturday. “There’s no moments like that.”

Bossy’s death from lung cancer at the age of 65 was announced on Friday, hours before the Islanders beat the Canadiens, 3-0, in his hometown of Montreal. There was a touching pregame video tribute and moment of silence at Bell Centre.

“There’s some things that just seem timely, and to have the Islanders play in Montreal shortly after losing Mike,” Trottier said. “God is good, but angry at God in another way. His daughter, Josiane, was at the game. I told Josiane, ‘I’m so proud of you to be there.’ To see it firsthand, not hear about it. But feel the love in the audience and the respect. The hockey world is good.”

Yet it already has lost two Islanders Hall of Famers in 2022. Clark Gillies, Trottier’s and Bossy’s linemate, passed away after battling cancer at age 67 on Jan. 21.

Bossy revealed his diagnosis in October and pulled away from public life, wishing for the privacy to battle the disease and spend time with his family.

Trottier remained in constant communication with Bossy, texting him on a daily basis even if Bossy didn’t always respond.

About a week ago, Bossy’s wife, Lucie, called Trottier to say that her husband had gotten very weak and that Trottier, who lives in the Pittsburgh area, should come and visit.

“So I jumped in the truck and drove up to Montreal and spent a couple of days with Mike,” Trottier said. “We watched golf and we laughed a lot.

“I walked in and he put his arms up and he goes, ‘My friend, mon ami.’ That hug was probably the best hug you can have.”

When asked to pinpoint why he and Bossy meshed so well on the ice as linemates as the Islanders won four Stanley Cups from 1980-83 and off the ice as friends, Trottier said it was the affection the two shared for each other.

“The only word I can think of is love,” Trottier said. “We loved each other. Our friendship turned into a wonderful friendship which turned into a lifelong friendship. But it was deep. It was sincere.

“You can’t lie about being someone’s friend. It’s real or it’s not. We just felt really good that it was honest. I don’t think we had any anger, ever. From our first meeting to our last, everything was heartfelt.”

Gillies’ and Bossy’s passings in quick succession has left Trottier shaken. Trottier said the only way to honor their lives is to keep living his to the fullest.

“Sixty-seven and 65, way too young, way too young,” Trottier said. “It’s not deserved is how I look at it. These two great people. Why? Why my linemates? Why? It’s not about me, but why my linemates? Why their families? Unfair. Unfair. Undeserved.”

Trottier said Bossy actually was underrated for his stickhandling, speed and defensive ability because everybody focused on his goal-scoring.

Bossy scored 573 goals in 752 regular-season games — reaching the 50-goal mark in each of his first nine seasons — and added 85 goals in 129 playoff games before a bad back ended his career in 1987. He also had 553 career assists and 75 in the postseason.

Trottier led the NHL in scoring in 1978-79 — the only time he did so — with 47 goals and 87 assists for 134 points. He said Bossy pushed him to do so.

“It was good to have somebody in my life like that,” Trottier said. “There’s like three or four weeks to go and Mike was sitting, and he goes, ‘Why don’t you just go for it?’ I said, ‘What do you mean? I am going for it.’ He goes, ‘No, no, no. Go for it.’ He said, ‘You might never get another chance.’ I said, ‘Yeah, I’m pretty confident I’ll get another chance.’

“He said, ‘No, we’re going for it.’ It wasn’t me. All of a sudden, it was we. And that last two, three weeks, he was red-hot. How do you thank somebody for that? Those are powerful, precious moments.”

By Andrew Gross

andrew.gross@newsday.comAGrossNewsday

Andrew Gross joined Newsday in 2018 to cover the Islanders. He began reporting on the NHL in 2003 and has previously covered the Rangers and Devils. Other assignments have included the Jets, St. John’s and MLB.