Commander Wallace
04-23-22, 08:19 PM
Guy Lafleur, Canadiens legend and Hockey Hall of Famer, died at 70.
Doctors discovered in Oct 2020 that Lafleur's lung cancer had returned. In Sept 2019, Guy needed to have a lobe and lymph nodes removed from one of his lungs The news comes one week after fellow Hall of Famer Mike Bossy passed away after a battle with lung cancer.
Quote:
A career full of accolades
Lafleur entered the NHL in the 1971-72 season with the Canadiens, the first of 14th straight the would play with the Habs. He recorded 100 points five times and helped them to five Stanley Cups, including four straight from 1976-1979. Between 1974-75 and 1979-80, he would become the first player in league history to score 50 goals in six straight seasons.
In 1985, Lafleur decided to retire after disagreeing with then-head coach Jacques Lemaire on how the team should play. General manager Serge Savard denied a trade request and the forward chose to walk away before returning in 1988 to finish out his NHL career with the New York Rangers and Quebec Nordiques.
Lafleur’s resume sees him with 560 goals, 1,353 points, three scoring titles, two MVPs, three Lester Pearson Awards as MVP voted on by the players, and the 1977 Conn Smythe Trophy winner. He remains the Canadiens franchise leader in points (1,246), assists (728), and game-winning goals (94).
Internationally, Lafleur represented Canada at the Canada Cup twice, helping them win in 1976. In Feb. 1985, Lafleur joined Howie Morenz, Maurice Richard, Jean Béliveau, and Henri Richard to become the fifth (at the time) player to have his jersey number (No. 10) retired by the Canadiens. Three years later he would be inducted into the Hall of Fame.
The comeback
Three years after retiring, Lafleur decided to make a comeback, joining the Rangers and becoming only the second player (at that time) to resume their career after being inducted into the Hall of Fame. His first game back in Montreal on Feb. 4, 1989 saw Lafleur score twice and record four points. Canadiens fans inside the Montreal Forum spent the night showing their love for “The Flower.”
https://nhl.nbcsports.com/2022/04/22/guy-lafleur-canadiens-legend-and-hockey-hall-of-famer-dies-at-70/
https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/nhl/guy-lafleur-dynamic-hall-of-fame-winger-from-montreal-canadiens-dynasty-dies-at-70/ar-AAWtSFz
Rest in peace Guy and thank you for the great hockey and inspiring other young players like Wayne Gretzky, Mario Lemieux and many others to reach for greatness.
Doctors discovered in Oct 2020 that Lafleur's lung cancer had returned. In Sept 2019, Guy needed to have a lobe and lymph nodes removed from one of his lungs The news comes one week after fellow Hall of Famer Mike Bossy passed away after a battle with lung cancer.
Quote:
A career full of accolades
Lafleur entered the NHL in the 1971-72 season with the Canadiens, the first of 14th straight the would play with the Habs. He recorded 100 points five times and helped them to five Stanley Cups, including four straight from 1976-1979. Between 1974-75 and 1979-80, he would become the first player in league history to score 50 goals in six straight seasons.
In 1985, Lafleur decided to retire after disagreeing with then-head coach Jacques Lemaire on how the team should play. General manager Serge Savard denied a trade request and the forward chose to walk away before returning in 1988 to finish out his NHL career with the New York Rangers and Quebec Nordiques.
Lafleur’s resume sees him with 560 goals, 1,353 points, three scoring titles, two MVPs, three Lester Pearson Awards as MVP voted on by the players, and the 1977 Conn Smythe Trophy winner. He remains the Canadiens franchise leader in points (1,246), assists (728), and game-winning goals (94).
Internationally, Lafleur represented Canada at the Canada Cup twice, helping them win in 1976. In Feb. 1985, Lafleur joined Howie Morenz, Maurice Richard, Jean Béliveau, and Henri Richard to become the fifth (at the time) player to have his jersey number (No. 10) retired by the Canadiens. Three years later he would be inducted into the Hall of Fame.
The comeback
Three years after retiring, Lafleur decided to make a comeback, joining the Rangers and becoming only the second player (at that time) to resume their career after being inducted into the Hall of Fame. His first game back in Montreal on Feb. 4, 1989 saw Lafleur score twice and record four points. Canadiens fans inside the Montreal Forum spent the night showing their love for “The Flower.”
https://nhl.nbcsports.com/2022/04/22/guy-lafleur-canadiens-legend-and-hockey-hall-of-famer-dies-at-70/
https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/nhl/guy-lafleur-dynamic-hall-of-fame-winger-from-montreal-canadiens-dynasty-dies-at-70/ar-AAWtSFz
Rest in peace Guy and thank you for the great hockey and inspiring other young players like Wayne Gretzky, Mario Lemieux and many others to reach for greatness.