Mike Bossy reunited with famous puck after eBay drama, rich guy assist

In the 1980-81 season, Mike Bossy of the New York Islanders accomplished something that many felt would not be accomplished again in NHL history: Scoring 50 goals in 50 games, a feat reached just once before by Maurice Richard in 1944-45 with the Montreal Canadiens. 

One would assume the puck that set the record would be in the Hockey Hall of Fame, or resting in a trophy case in Bossy’s home. And it would have been, had it not ended up in the possession of a youth swimming coach.

As the story goes, Jake Jacobson coached Bossy’s daughter in 1988, and as a token of appreciation she gave him a memento from her father’s playing days: The puck from his ’50 in 50’ goal, scored with just 1:29 left in a game against the Quebec Nordiques on Jan. 24, 1981. (Wayne Gretzky, Mario Lemieux and Brett Hull subsequently matched the achievement.)

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Jacobson, an Islanders fan, attempted to meet Bossy to return the puck to him but was rebuffed by the Hall of Famer several times. So he decided to profit from the puck instead, placing it on eBay, where it sold in May for $6,850.

The auction winner? Gavin Maloof, former co-owner of the Sacramento Kings and minority owner of The Palms in Las Vegas, which had hosted the NHL Awards in the past. 

“I said, ‘We need to get this puck. It means a lot to Mr. Bossy,'” Maloof told TMZ Sports.”Fifty goals in 50 games. Only a handful of people have ever done that. I needed to buy this puck. I don’t care how much it costs.”

So he purchased the puck, invited Bossy to Vegas, took him out for a steak dinner and reunited him with the puck.

He said Bossy indicated that his daughter is “finally off the hook” for her too-generous gift.

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