Montreal Canadiens icon Guy Lafleur, who won five Stanley Cup titles and was a hockey hero in Quebec long before his NHL days, has died. He was 70.
The cause of death was not immediately known. However, Lafleur suffers from health problems in the last stages of his life. In September 2019, he underwent quadruple heart bypass surgery, which was followed by lung surgery two months later.
Then, in October 2020, he relapsed into lung cancer.
“We are deeply saddened to learn of Guy Lafleur’s death. All members of the Canadiens have been devastated by his death,” Canadiens President Jeff Molson said in a statement.
“Guy Lafleur has had an outstanding career and has always remained simple, accessible and close to the Habs and hockey fans in Quebec, Canada and around the world. Throughout his career, he has allowed us to experience great moments of collective pride. He was one of the greatest players in our organization, while becoming an outstanding ambassador of our sport. “
For decades, Lafleur – nicknamed the “Flower” – seemed to score with ease at all levels of hockey and became one of the brightest superstars in the game. He often mesmerizes fans with his characteristic long blond hair flowing behind him as he rushes up the ice before releasing one of his patented boisterous blows.
By his 10th birthday, there were already signs that Lafleur was a talent of the generation, skating about three years his senior at an international hockey tournament in Quebec City.
Lafleur plays youth hockey for Quebec Jr. Aces and Quebec Remparts. He amassed a staggering 465 points in two seasons and two playoffs with Rempart, leading the team to the 1971 Memorial Cup title.
That same year, Lafleur set a record for the regular season of the Quebec Youth Hockey League of 130 goals, which was overshadowed by another French hockey marvel, Mario Lemieux (133), in the 1983-84 campaign.
WATCH Jamie Strashin examines the legacy of Guy Lafleur:
Montreal Canadiens legend Guy Lafleur has died at the age of 70
Montreal Canadiens icon Guy Lafleur, who won five Stanley Cup titles and was a hockey hero in Quebec long before his NHL days, has died at the age of 70. 3:51
Being drafted by Canadiens was appropriate
Guy Damien Lafleur was born on September 20, 1951 in Thurso, Que., A small town in the western part of the province, and grew up idolizing the great Canadian Jean Belivo.
So it was appropriate that he made his debut for the Montreal Canadiens in the 1971-72 season, taking the torch from his hero just months after Belivo ended his career, skating off the ice as Stanley Cup champion for the 10th time in the spring of 1971
Lafleur’s arrival in Montreal, as well as his departure years later, was controversial. General manager Sam Pollock has struck a deal with California’s Golden Seals to advance in the NHL draft to select Lafleur, transferring another heavily touted French Canadian, Marcel Dion.
Dionne surpassed Lafleur in their new seasons, leading some fans to think that Pollock made a mistake in choosing Lafleur. But critics withdrew until 1973, when Lafleur lifted his first Stanley Cup with the franchise.
All doubts were cleared in the 1974-75 season, when Lafleur erupted with his first of six consecutive seasons with at least 50 goals and 100 points.
WATCH Lafleur’s most famous goal explained:
Lafleur’s most famous goal
Hockey Night Heroes: Guy Lafleur has scored more than 600 times in the NHL. Dick Irwin and Bob Cole reflect his most famous goal. 1:14
He dominated the second half of the decade, leading the Hubbs to four consecutive Stanley Cup titles from 1976 to 1979 and winning the Hart Trophy as the most valuable player in the league twice during that period. He also won the 1977 Conn Smythe Trophy as MVP in the playoffs.
In the late 1970s, his goal scorer was so dominant that legendary Hockey Night in Canada TV operator Dick Irwin Jr. called him the greatest player in the world.
Lafleur surpassed the sport despite his well-known habit of smoking cigarettes. Former coach Scotty Bowman said he would even smoke between periods.
“He will smoke in [hotel] room, but always in the bathroom, “said former Quebec Nordics teammate Joe Sakic.” I told him he shouldn’t have done that. I mean, I was in awe of him. “
That close “,” almost
On March 24, 1981, Lafleur barely escaped a fatal crash after crashing his Cadillac into a highway fence while driving home. A signpost shattered through the windshield, omitting his head inches. Slight plastic surgery was needed to restore his right ear.
Lafleur’s relationship with Canadiens began to deteriorate in the 1980s. He was asked to master his freestyle in favor of a more defensive style by his Hall of Fame teammate and then coach Jacques Lemmer. After the team refused to comply with his request for a replacement, he shocked the hockey world when, at the age of 33, he suddenly announced that he was retiring weeks after the 1984 season.
For the next three years, Lafleur usually played in public only at charity hockey events and was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1988.
NHL return
That same year, New York Rangers general manager Phil Esposito persuaded him to retire and return to the NHL. Lafleur played a season in New York, highlighted by the two-goal performance at the legendary forum in Montreal, which led to rare applause for an opposing player. He then played for two more years with his hometown of Quebec Nordics, before calling it a career for the second and last time since the 1991 season.
WATCH Lafleur returns to Montreal as a ranger:
Guy Lafleur returns to the forum as a ranger
Habs fans applaud their favorite Canadian Guy Lafleur after he retires, then return to the NHL as a New York ranger. 2:11
Lafleur was only the second player in league history at the time, after Gordy Howe to return to the NHL as a player after being inducted into the Hall of Fame.
In his post-game career, Lafleur became ambassador to the Montreal Canadiens and established the Guy Lafleur Award for Excellence, an award given annually to the best student hockey student in the province of Quebec.
In the late 2000s, Lafleur was in the headlines for non-hockey reasons.
Lafleur testified in 2007 at a bail hearing for his son Mark and was the subject of an arrest warrant in 2008 for allegedly giving conflicting testimony. He was found guilty in 2009, before the sentence was overturned after an appeal a year later.
Today, his statue stands in front of the Bell Center arena in Montreal, along with the great Canadians Howie Morenz, Maurice Richard and Belivo. His number 10 hangs in the beams of the arena after he retired on February 16, 1985. At the time, it was the sixth number to be withdrawn from the Canadiens franchise.
WATCH Lafleur discusses his retirement plans:
Guy Lafleur is discussing his retirement plans
In December 1984, Guy Lafleur spoke about his plans after retiring from his acting days. 2:35
Lafleur is still the Canadiens’ record holder in points (1246), assists (728) and goals to win the match (94).
He was named No. 11 on the list of the 100 Greatest NHL Players of All Time by Hockey News in 1998. Lafleur was named one of the 100 Greatest NHL Players as part of the centennial celebrations. of the NHL in 2017
Lafleur is survived by his two sons, Mark and Martin, and his wife, Liz.
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