This Day in Isles History: June 14

June 14, 1977 -The Islanders draft Mike Bossy in the first round (15th overall) and John Tonelli in the second round (33rd overall) in the 1977 NHL Amateur Draft.
After a standout junior career, with 532 points (309G, 223A) in 264 games, Bossy was expected to be top pick in the draft and likely not be available with the Islanders picking at 15.
"It was hard to figure Mike would be passed 14 times," said coach Al Arbour in
Stan Fischler's re-telling of the event
.
Per Fischler:
"The issue of Bossy's offensive assets weighed against his defensive liabilities was presented to the head coach and he shot back with the answer:
"You get him," Arbour told Torrey, "and I'll teach him defense."

Ultimately, the Islanders landed their man and Bossy made an immediate impact, becoming the first NHL rookie to score 50 goals in a season. When it was all said and done, Bossy's 1,126 points (573G, 553A) led the 1977 draft class.
The second-highest scoring player from the '77 draft also happened to be the Islanders second pick.
Tonelli was already a pro when he was drafted by the Islanders, plying his trade for the Houston Aeros in the World Hockey Association. Jim Devellano, the Islanders head scout at the time, visited Houston to scout Tonelli ahead of the 1977 draft - the only NHL scout Tonelli remembers meeting with before the draft. That was an important connection, as Tonelli had his choice of joining the Islanders, or the Winnipeg Jets (who held his WHA rights) after the Houston Aeros folded in 1978.
Tonelli picked the Islanders and made his debut in the 1978-79 season. It was worth the wait for the Islanders, as Tonelli was a key cog in the Stanley Cup dynasty. Tonelli set up Bob Nystrom's Stanley Cup clinching goal in 1980 and saved the dynasty with a pair of late goals in an elimination game against Pittsburgh in 1982.
When Tonelli's career was said and done, he recorded 836 points (325G, 511A), including 544 points (206G, 338A) in 594 games.