Bourne was drafted 38th overall by the
Kansas City Scouts in the
1974 NHL amateur draft, though he would never play for the organization. On September 13, 1974, he was traded to the Islanders for
Bart Crashley and the rights to
Larry Hornung. Bourne spent the entire
1974–75 season with the Islanders, but found himself in the minor leagues the following year. He returned to the Islanders for the
1976–77 season, and spent the next ten seasons on
Long Island, recording at least thirty goals three times and between twenty and thirty goals for three others. Known as "one of the fastest and most gifted skaters" in the league, he won the
Stanley Cup four consecutive times —
1980,
1981,
1982,
1983. He led the Islanders in playoff scoring en route to their fourth Stanley Cup in 1983. In 1980–81, he scored a career-high 35 goals and 76 points. He also played in the
33rd National Hockey League All-Star Game in Los Angeles in February 1981. Bourne's career ended on a high note. He was claimed by the
Los Angeles Kings in the
1986 NHL Waiver Draft and played two seasons with the Kings. In Bourne's
final year in the NHL, he was awarded the
Bill Masterton Trophy for perseverance. He was also honored by
Sports Illustrated as one of several
Sportsmen of the Year in 1987, as one of eight "Athletes Who Care" for their work in humanitarian causes. Bourne was singled out for his work with a school for disabled children. ==Coaching career==