overpass
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Wayne Gretzky dominated the scoring race in his prime like no other player. Most hockey fans, who didn't follow the NHL in his prime, can only take his statistical record at face value as a measure of his offensive dominance over the rest of the league.
However, when Gretzky played, there were other players that were sometimes mentioned in the same breath offensively. Mike Bossy was among them. While Gretzky scored more goals in the regular season, Bossy was widely considered the best goal scorer.
Why did Gretzky score more goals than Bossy if Bossy was the better goal scorer? One reason is that Gretzky played much more ice time. Bossy's coach Al Arbour and Gretzky's coach Glen Sather ran their bench in very different ways. Arbour balanced his ice time for his top 3 lines and divided special teams roles to help keep the ice time even. Sather sent Gretzky out as often as possible in all situations, and used his other top forwards very frequently as well.
I've tracked ice time for 3 Gretzky games and 3 Bossy games in an attempt to quantify the difference in ice time.
Games tracked:
Results:
Bossy averaged 17:10 in the three games I tracked. Gretzky averaged 27:52, or over 10 minutes more than Bossy.
Most of the difference was that Gretzky played almost 1.5 times as much at even strength. Gretzky also played almost 4 minutes per game on the penalty kill, and Bossy didn't kill penalties at all. Finally, Gretzky also played over a minute more per game on the power play.
Here are the TOI numbers as a percentage of the team's ice time in those situations.
Bossy played about 30% of his team's EV ice time, and Gretzky played about 40% of his team's EV ice time. On the power play, Bossy played about 2/3 of the ice time, and Gretzky played about 85% of the ice time.
What does this mean for Bossy and Gretzky as offensive players? Let's look at Gretzky's four season goal scoring peak (81-82 to 84-85) in the regular season, and compare it to Bossy's four dynasty seasons from 79-80 to 82-83.
At even strength, Gretzky outpointed Bossy by 79%, and scored 38% more goals.
But if Bossy played 12.5 EVTOI per game, and Gretzky 17 EVTOI per game, then at EV they were virtually equal as per 60 goal scorers, and Gretzky was only ahead by 32% as a point scorer per 60.
*estimated
On the power play, Bossy scored 23% more goals than Gretzky and Gretzky scored 25% more points than Bossy.
But if Bossy played 4.5 PPTOI per game, and Gretzky 6 PPTOI per game, then Bossy was actually 7% better as a per 60 PP point scorer, and was 65% better as a per 60 PP goal scorer.
*estimated
We can't really compare their SH scoring because Bossy didn't kill penalties, but Gretzky was the greatest SH scorer of all time and it's unlikely Bossy would have matched him.
Overall, it's clear that Gretzky played much more ice time than Bossy. It was well known at the time, and the ice time tracking shows just how big the gap was.
If you adjust for TOI and look at per 60 stats, Bossy was clearly a better goal scorer. Gretzky was still better as an overall offensive player, but not by 50% as you might think by looking at the raw stats.
Finally, here are the more detailed TOI stats for each game.
Gretzky - 1983 05 10
Gretzky - 1985 05 07
Gretzky - 1988 05 18
Bossy - 1980 05 03
Bossy - 1981 05 19
Bossy - 1983 05 03
Al Arbour:
However, when Gretzky played, there were other players that were sometimes mentioned in the same breath offensively. Mike Bossy was among them. While Gretzky scored more goals in the regular season, Bossy was widely considered the best goal scorer.
Why did Gretzky score more goals than Bossy if Bossy was the better goal scorer? One reason is that Gretzky played much more ice time. Bossy's coach Al Arbour and Gretzky's coach Glen Sather ran their bench in very different ways. Arbour balanced his ice time for his top 3 lines and divided special teams roles to help keep the ice time even. Sather sent Gretzky out as often as possible in all situations, and used his other top forwards very frequently as well.
I've tracked ice time for 3 Gretzky games and 3 Bossy games in an attempt to quantify the difference in ice time.
Games tracked:
Gretzky:
Game 1, 1983 Stanley Cup Finals vs New York Islanders
Islanders win 2-0.
Game 2, 1985 Conference Finals vs Chicago Black Hawks
Oilers win 7-3.
Game 1, 1988 Stanley Cup Finals vs Boston Bruins
Oilers win 2-1
Bossy:
Game 3, 1980 Conference Finals vs Buffalo Sabres
Islanders win 7-4
Game 4, 1981 Stanley Cup Finals vs Minnesota North Stars
North Stars win 4-2
Game 4, 1983 Conference Finals vs Boston Bruins
Islanders win 8-3
Results:
| Player | Date | TOI | EVTOI | PPTOI | SHTOI |
| Wayne Gretzky | 1983-05-10 | 28:45 | 18:22 | 8:19 | 2:04 |
| Wayne Gretzky | 1985-05-07 | 25:51 | 17:24 | 5:08 | 3:19 |
| Wayne Gretzky | 1988-05-18 | 29:01 | 17:22 | 5:57 | 5:42 |
| Wayne Gretzky | Average | 27:52 | 17:43 | 6:28 | 3:41 |
| Player | Date | TOI | EVTOI | PPTOI | SHTOI |
| Mike Bossy | 1980-05-03 | 18:18 | 12:54 | 5:24 | 0:00 |
| Mike Bossy | 1981-05-19 | 17:03 | 11:02 | 6:01 | 0:00 |
| Mike Bossy | 1983-05-03 | 16:10 | 12:03 | 4:07 | 0:00 |
| Mike Bossy | Average | 17:10 | 12:00 | 5:10 | 0:00 |
Bossy averaged 17:10 in the three games I tracked. Gretzky averaged 27:52, or over 10 minutes more than Bossy.
Most of the difference was that Gretzky played almost 1.5 times as much at even strength. Gretzky also played almost 4 minutes per game on the penalty kill, and Bossy didn't kill penalties at all. Finally, Gretzky also played over a minute more per game on the power play.
Here are the TOI numbers as a percentage of the team's ice time in those situations.
| Player | Date | EV% | PP% | SH% |
| Wayne Gretzky | 1983-05-10 | 40% | 82% | 50% |
| Wayne Gretzky | 1985-05-07 | 36% | 77% | 67% |
| Wayne Gretzky | 1988-05-18 | 40% | 100% | 51% |
| Wayne Gretzky | Average | 39% | 86% | 56% |
| Player | Date | EV% | PP% | SH% |
| Mike Bossy | 1980-05-03 | 28% | 67% | 0% |
| Mike Bossy | 1981-05-19 | 30% | 66% | 0% |
| Mike Bossy | 1983-05-03 | 28% | 59% | 0% |
| Mike Bossy | Average | 29% | 64% | 0% |
Bossy played about 30% of his team's EV ice time, and Gretzky played about 40% of his team's EV ice time. On the power play, Bossy played about 2/3 of the ice time, and Gretzky played about 85% of the ice time.
What does this mean for Bossy and Gretzky as offensive players? Let's look at Gretzky's four season goal scoring peak (81-82 to 84-85) in the regular season, and compare it to Bossy's four dynasty seasons from 79-80 to 82-83.
At even strength, Gretzky outpointed Bossy by 79%, and scored 38% more goals.
| Player | Start | End | GP | EVG | EVP |
| Mike Bossy | 79-80 | 82-83 | 313 | 162 | 312 |
| Wayne Gretzky | 81-82 | 84-85 | 314 | 224 | 560 |
But if Bossy played 12.5 EVTOI per game, and Gretzky 17 EVTOI per game, then at EV they were virtually equal as per 60 goal scorers, and Gretzky was only ahead by 32% as a point scorer per 60.
| Player | Start | End | GP | EVG | EVP | EVTOI/GP* | EVTOI* | EVG/60 | EVP/60 |
| Mike Bossy | 79-80 | 82-83 | 313 | 162 | 312 | 12.5 | 3912.5 | 2.48 | 4.78 |
| Wayne Gretzky | 81-82 | 84-85 | 314 | 224 | 560 | 17 | 5338 | 2.52 | 6.29 |
On the power play, Bossy scored 23% more goals than Gretzky and Gretzky scored 25% more points than Bossy.
| Player | Start | End | GP | PPG | PPP |
| Mike Bossy | 79-80 | 82-83 | 313 | 79 | 162 |
| Wayne Gretzky | 81-82 | 84-85 | 314 | 64 | 202 |
But if Bossy played 4.5 PPTOI per game, and Gretzky 6 PPTOI per game, then Bossy was actually 7% better as a per 60 PP point scorer, and was 65% better as a per 60 PP goal scorer.
| Player | Start | End | GP | PPG | PPP | PPTOI/GP* | PPTOI* | PPG/60 | PPP/60 |
| Mike Bossy | 79-80 | 82-83 | 313 | 79 | 162 | 4.5 | 1408.5 | 3.37 | 6.90 |
| Wayne Gretzky | 81-82 | 84-85 | 314 | 64 | 202 | 6 | 1884 | 2.04 | 6.43 |
We can't really compare their SH scoring because Bossy didn't kill penalties, but Gretzky was the greatest SH scorer of all time and it's unlikely Bossy would have matched him.
Overall, it's clear that Gretzky played much more ice time than Bossy. It was well known at the time, and the ice time tracking shows just how big the gap was.
If you adjust for TOI and look at per 60 stats, Bossy was clearly a better goal scorer. Gretzky was still better as an overall offensive player, but not by 50% as you might think by looking at the raw stats.
Finally, here are the more detailed TOI stats for each game.
Gretzky - 1983 05 10
Player Period Start of shift End of shift Shift length State Wayne Gretzky EV/PP Wayne Gretzky PP Wayne Gretzky SH Wayne Gretzky SH/EV Wayne Gretzky EV Wayne Gretzky EV/PP Wayne Gretzky EV/SH Wayne Gretzky SH Wayne Gretzky EV Wayne Gretzky EV/PP Wayne Gretzky EV Wayne Gretzky EV Wayne Gretzky PP/EV Wayne Gretzky EV Wayne Gretzky EV Wayne Gretzky EV/PP Wayne Gretzky EV Wayne Gretzky EV Wayne Gretzky EV Wayne Gretzky EV Wayne Gretzky EV Wayne Gretzky EV Wayne Gretzky Total 28:45
Player TOI EVTOI PPTOI SHTOI Dave Hunter Ray Cote Pat Hughes Glenn Anderson Wayne Gretzky Jari Kurri Mark Messier Ken Linseman Willy Lindstrom Dave Semenko Tom Roulston Dave Lumley
Player Pos P1 TOI P2 TOI P3 TOI TOI Dave Hunter LW Ray Cote C Pat Hughes RW Glenn Anderson LW Wayne Gretzky C Jari Kurri RW Mark Messier LW Ken Linseman C Willy Lindstrom RW Dave Semenko LW Tom Roulston C Dave Lumley RW
Gretzky - 1985 05 07
Player Period Start of shift End of shift Shift length State Wayne Gretzky EV Wayne Gretzky PP Wayne Gretzky PP Wayne Gretzky SH/EV Wayne Gretzky EV Wayne Gretzky EV Wayne Gretzky PP/EV Wayne Gretzky EV Wayne Gretzky EV Wayne Gretzky EV Wayne Gretzky EV Wayne Gretzky EV/PP Wayne Gretzky PP/EV Wayne Gretzky SH/EV Wayne Gretzky EV Wayne Gretzky SH Wayne Gretzky EV/PP Wayne Gretzky EV Wayne Gretzky EV Wayne Gretzky EV Wayne Gretzky Total 25:51
Player TOI EVTOI PPTOI SHTOI Mark Napier Mark Messier Glenn Anderson Dave Semenko Wayne Gretzky Jari Kurri Dave Hunter Kevin McClelland Willy Lindstrom Jaroslav Pouzar Mike Krushelnyski Pat Hughes
Player Pos P1 TOI P2 TOI P3 TOI TOI Mark Napier LW Mark Messier C Glenn Anderson RW Dave Semenko LW Wayne Gretzky C Jari Kurri RW Dave Hunter LW Kevin McClelland C Willy Lindstrom RW Jaroslav Pouzar LW Mike Krushelnyski C Pat Hughes RW
Gretzky - 1988 05 18
Player Period Start of shift End of shift Shift length State Wayne Gretzky EV/PP/EV Wayne Gretzky SH/EV/SH Wayne Gretzky SH/EV Wayne Gretzky EV/PP Wayne Gretzky EV/SH Wayne Gretzky SH/EV Wayne Gretzky EV Wayne Gretzky EV/PP Wayne Gretzky EV/SH Wayne Gretzky SH/EV Wayne Gretzky EV Wayne Gretzky EV/PP/EV Wayne Gretzky EV Wayne Gretzky SH/EV Wayne Gretzky SH Wayne Gretzky EV Wayne Gretzky EV Wayne Gretzky EV Wayne Gretzky EV Wayne Gretzky EV Wayne Gretzky Total
Player TOI EVTOI PPTOI SHTOI Craig Simpson Mark Messier Glenn Anderson Esa Tikkanen Wayne Gretzky Jari Kurri Mike Krushelnyski Kevin McClelland Keith Acton Geoff Courtnall Craig MacTavish Normand Lacombe
Player Pos P1 TOI P2 TOI P3 TOI TOI Craig Simpson LW Mark Messier C Glenn Anderson RW Esa Tikkanen LW Wayne Gretzky C Jari Kurri RW Mike Krushelnyski LW Kevin McClelland C Keith Acton RW Geoff Courtnall LW Craig MacTavish C Normand Lacombe RW
Bossy - 1980 05 03
Player Period Start of shift End of shift Shift length State Mike Bossy EV Mike Bossy EV Mike Bossy PP Mike Bossy EV Mike Bossy PP Mike Bossy EV Mike Bossy EV Mike Bossy EV Mike Bossy EV Mike Bossy EV Mike Bossy EV Mike Bossy EV Mike Bossy EV/PP Mike Bossy EV Mike Bossy EV Mike Bossy EV Mike Bossy Total
Player TOI EVTOI PPTOI SHTOI Clark Gillies Butch Goring Mike Bossy Bob Bourne Bryan Trottier Duane Sutter John Tonelli Wayne Merrick Bob Nystrom Lorne Henning Garry Howatt
Player Pos P1 TOI P2 TOI P3 TOI TOI Clark Gillies LW Butch Goring C Mike Bossy RW Bob Bourne LW Bryan Trottier C Duane Sutter RW John Tonelli LW Wayne Merrick C Bob Nystrom RW Lorne Henning C Garry Howatt LW
Bossy - 1981 05 19
Player Period Start of shift End of shift Shift length State Mike Bossy EV Mike Bossy EV Mike Bossy PP Mike Bossy EV Mike Bossy PP Mike Bossy EV/PP Mike Bossy EV Mike Bossy EV/PP Mike Bossy PP Mike Bossy EV Mike Bossy EV Mike Bossy EV Mike Bossy EV Mike Bossy EV Mike Bossy EV Mike Bossy EV Mike Bossy Total EV
Player TOI EVTOI PPTOI SHTOI Clark Gillies Bryan Trottier Mike Bossy Bob Bourne Duane Sutter John Tonelli Butch Goring Bob Nystrom Billy Carroll Wayne Merrick Anders Kallur
Player Pos P1 TOI P2 TOI P3 TOI TOI Clark Gillies LW Bryan Trottier C Mike Bossy RW Bob Bourne LW Duane Sutter F John Tonelli LW Butch Goring C Bob Nystrom RW Billy Carroll F Wayne Merrick C Anders Kallur RW
Bossy - 1983 05 03
Player Period Start of shift End of shift Shift length State Mike Bossy EV Mike Bossy EV Mike Bossy EV Mike Bossy EV Mike Bossy EV Mike Bossy PP Mike Bossy PP Mike Bossy EV Mike Bossy EV Mike Bossy PP Mike Bossy EV Mike Bossy EV Mike Bossy EV Mike Bossy EV Mike Bossy EV Mike Bossy PP/EV Mike Bossy EV Mike Bossy Total
Player Pos TOI EVTOI PPTOI SHTOI Bryan Trottier C Bob Nystrom RW Bob Bourne LW Mike Bossy RW John Tonelli LW Duane Sutter RW Brent Sutter C Butch Goring C Anders Kallur LW/RW Clark Gillies LW Billy Carroll LW/C Wayne Merrick C
Player Pos P1 TOI P2 TOI P3 TOI TOI Bryan Trottier C Bob Nystrom RW Bob Bourne LW Mike Bossy RW John Tonelli LW Duane Sutter RW Brent Sutter C Butch Goring C Anders Kallur LW/RW Clark Gillies LW Billy Carroll LW/C Wayne Merrick C
Al Arbour:
- Used Tonelli-Merrick-Nystrom as his #1 line at ES, and didn't use them on special teams, which balanced the TOI for the top 3 lines.
- In one game, he changed the lines and moved the fourth liners farther up the lineup halfway through the game, which further balanced the lines. He also sat Trottier, Bossy, and Goring down halfway through the third period in a blowout win.
- Started with 3 lines at EV, and added a 4th line in the second half of the game.
- For defensive zone faceoffs, often replaced a winger with Goring or Trottier. They got off the ice at the first opportunity after the faceoff.
- Rarely sent a forward out on special teams if he had just played a full EV shift, the second unit would start if needed to give the first unit a break.
- Bossy and Trottier seemed to be less trusted defensively in the 1980 game than they were in 1981 and 1983
- Goring played a smaller role in 1983 than he did in 1980 and 1981
- Used his best forwards, Gretzky, Messier, and Kurri, as his go-to forwards in all situations.
- Started with 4 lines, and dropped to 3 lines halfway through the game
- As a result, several bottom 6 forwards played under 10 minutes in each game, because they didn't play on special teams and played limited EV time.
- Didn't send Gretzky out at the start of periods, he went out as the second or third line. Possibly to make it harder to match up against him, and easier for opponents to lose Gretzky.
- Gretzky frequently stayed out longer and played with a second pair of wingers on the PP, and sometimes at ES
- Always sent out Gretzky in a special teams situation, even if he had just played a full EV shift. Gretzky frequently played 2 minute shifts overlapping the start or end of a power play or PK
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