Hockey legend Guy Lafleur, best known for his tenure with the Montreal Canadiens, passed away of lung cancer on Friday. He was 70.
Arguably the greatest player in the NHL in the mid to late 1970’s, outside of Maurice “Rocket” Richard and Jean Beliveau, Lafleur may have been the greatest to wear a Habs uniform. Known for his distinctive long blond hair, Lafleur was part of five Stanley Cup teams during the 1970’s including four straight between 1976 to 1979. He also scored 50 or more goals in six consecutive seasons and is the Canadiens’ all-time leading scorer.
Lafleur abruptly retired in 1984 after the Canadiens refused to trade him amid a falling out with coach and former teammate Jacques Lemaire. However, after being inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1988, Phil Esposito talked Lafleur in coming out of retirement and play with the New York Rangers. Lafleur returned to his native Quebec to play with the Nordiques for two seasons before retiring for good in 1991.
Lafleur’s passing comes one week after the death of fellow Quebecer Mike Bossy who also succumbed to lung cancer. This has been sombre seven days for hockey fans in Canada. R.I.P.
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