FLASHBACK: Mike Bossy pens letter to younger self

We got the unfortunate news this weekend that New York Islanders legend and Hockey Hall of Fame forward Mike Bossy is in his last days, having entered palliative care during his fight with lung cancer. 

The 65 year old has returned home to spend his remaining time surrounded by family and friends. 

We're throwing it back to when Bossy penned a touching letter to his 14 year old self: 

Dear 14-year-old Mike,

I write to you today as a 60-year-old man, and I have some news from the future that you probably aren’t going to believe.

There are 30 teams in the NHL in the year 2017, and next season, there’s going to be one in Las Vegas.

Guys don’t smoke cigarettes and drink black coffee at intermission anymore. They drink smoothies and “stretch.”

The going rate for a 50-goal scorer is about $9 million a year.

And fighting is considered a dying art.

I know the last one probably sounds pretty good to you right now. You’re about to experience more than your fair share of violence. In fact, the reason I’m writing to you now is because you’re about to go through one of the toughest times you’ll ever have to face.

I hope you have enjoyed your beautiful nose for the past 14 years, because pretty soon it’s not going to be so straight anymore.

............./

We don’t get to write the beginning and ending of our story.

But we can stay up late listening to the sounds of Hockey Night in Canada.

We can talk to the girl at the snack bar.

We can stop smoking cigarettes after our rookie year.

We can run over Mel Bridgman.

We can look back and say: Thank God I was an Islander, and I love you Bryan Trottier.

Sincerely, 

Mike
2017

You can read the entire letter by clicking here.