Honoring The Original Flower: Guy Lafleur
Fans were awoke to news of the passing of a Canadiens' legend on April 22.
After a long-fought battle with lung cancer, Guy Lafleur, lost his fight.
News of Lafleur's passing was first reported early morning on the 22nd of April. Leaving behind his family, friends and his second family (the Habs faithful) of the past and present.
A larger than life hockey icon whose accomplishments took a backseat, only to his warm, welcoming personality.
Nicknamed Le Demon Blond, his #10 hangs in the rafters at the Bell Centre.
An electric player who flew up and down the ice at «the forum» with blazing speed, blond hair flowing in the wind and a deadly shot. Earning himself top spot on the Canadiens' all-time points list amassing 518 goals and 728 assists, for 1246 points in 961 games.
The number one overall pick in 1971, rounds out a trio of Quebec born Habs players who've passed away after establishing their place in Montreal Canadiens record books.
Along with #4 Jean «Le Gros Bill» Beliveau and #9 Maurice «The Rocket» Richard, Lafleur, etched his place in the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1988.
Accompanying Mario Lemieux and Gordie Howe, «The Flower» makes up one-third of the only players to retire from the game, before ultimately making a return to the NHL, after being inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame.
Lafleur's list of accomplishments includes being the fastest player (at the time) in NHL history to reach 1,000 points, doing so in 720 games. He also became the first player in the league's history to record six consecutive seasons of at least 50 goals and 100 points, all in the famous bleu, blanc et rouge.
He won five Stanley Cups with the Canadiens' and was named one of the 100 greatest players in NHL history in 2017.
Alike his #10, Lafleur's junior team the Quebec Remparts and the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) retired his #4 league-wide ahead of the 2021-22 season.
Lafleur won three consecutive Art Ross Trophies from 1976-1978, he also nabbed the 1977 and 1978 Hart Trophy, as the league MVP, along with three consecutive Lester B. Pearson trophies and finally the Conn Smythe trophy as the 1977 Stanley Cup playoffs MVP.
Patrick Roy's, Quebec Remparts have a pre-game ceremony set for tonight's game.
Such is also expected by the Canadiens' organization Sunday night, when the Boston Bruins pay a visit to the Bell Centre.
The flower's mark on hockey will never be forgotten, and play style forever emulated.
R.I.P #10
| POLL | ||
Did you ever get the chance to watch Guy Lafleur on TV or LIVE? | ||
| Yes! I did in person! | 30 | 35.3 % |
| Sadly not in person but on TV! | 32 | 37.6 % |
| I was too young, sadly didn�t get the chance too | 23 | 27.1 % |
| List of polls | ||
