Guy Lafleur's Comeback (1988)

Sept. 1988 - Four years after a premature retirement, Guy Lafleur returns to the NHL
N.Y. Rangers general manager Phil Esposito is thrilled by the prospect of Guy Lafleur playing for his team

[@davidthompson62]

I remember Guy’s 1st game on the comeback trail at The Boston Garden. No man did more damage to the hopes and dreams of 1970’s Bruins fans than Guy. And there we all were, the second he stepped on the ice, giving Guy a standing ovation. That’s how great the talent of Guy Lafluer was

[@donscott4143]

What a great story!

[@davidthompson62]

@@donscott4143 …and it’s all true. One thing about real hockey fans in The Boston area, we appreciate talented players. No matter how many times he trampled on our hearts, to see, almost simultaneously, every fan get up and applaud the second coming of Guy Lafluer was phenomenal! It was sad when Guy retired (at a relatively young age…33 I believe) because he lost his spirit in Montreal’s new defensive approach.. To see him flying around with his locks flying in the wind was a bit cathartic to Bruins fans as we lost a player at a young age who use to show us miraculous plays almost every nite. I think Guy’s return tapped into that.

[@anthonyriche552]

I was an Islanders fan but even I was thrilled and excited about Guy's comeback. It was fun watching him play for New York though I despised the Rangers.

[@samuelluria4744]

@@anthonyriche552 - Now in my 50's, I don't even despise D. Potvin...🤣🤣🤣 ...(and now, I would not even have the gumption to say that he sucks...🙏) I really really appreciated Bossy, for his CLASS. Nowadays, I just wish that we could all live forever, and play pond hockey for Eternity....

[@samuelluria4744]

@@davidthompson62 - Having said all of the above.....SCREW BOSTON!!!🤣🤣🤣 (With the obvious exception of Saint Bobby Orr....I'm not even Catholic, and I still fucking Cross myself when I mention his name...😜)

[@lionelbrunelle6080]

I like to thank phil Esposito for giving chance for guy lafleur to come back.

[@sgagne1]

''The Wayne Gretzky of the '70''... No he was ''THE'' Guy Lafleur of the '70...

[@Redemption7825]

Absolutely!! I was 10 in 1979 when he broke my heart with his late game tying goal against my Bruins. We loved to hate the Canadians but you couldn’t help but respect Guy. Him and Robinson. Great and respected.

[@RedroomStudios]

this report was done in the 80's when Gretzky was at his peak... and for people too young t remember Lafleur its a good analogy to compare him with Gretzky.

[@bartsanders1553]

@@Redemption7825 * Canadiens

[@murphyjones100]

Esposito looks like "Big Paul" Castellano with those glasses on lol

[@Jiltedin2007]

R.I.P.: Guy LaFleur 😢😢😢😢 Coming from a Boston Bruins Fan

[@Gsnyderman5]

Pierre Larouche was wearing #10 and he gave it back to Guy, despite Guy's insistence that Pierre didn't have to do that.

[@MerlinOlsen]

He's 38 here and doesn't look a day over 56.

[@elijahrobinson2362]

No doubt. That’s what smoking 2 packs a day does to a body.

[@bradtuch204]

@@elijahrobinson2362 yyup ft yuuuge

[@elijahrobinson2362]

@@bradtuch204 Guy and Mike Bossy both smoked heavily and both died last year at a relatively young age. That they were so amazing in their careers is all the more impressive knowing they were heavy smokers.

[@jimmason1072]

Quebecers looked their smokes.....

[@ZipSlipHollingbrook]

Ouch

[@yoholmes273]

"He is 37 making a comeback. He starting working out for the first time before training camp & two weeks ago he stopped cigarettes.

[@clearlyarussianbot]

Sports training was far different than it is now. Seems almost silly to think how loose it was compared to today.

[@jdbankshot]

37, looked 50. helluva player.

[@daveyboy_]

Don't smoke

[@VicDiniMagic]

We were blessed he decided on a comeback. That's exactly what he gave the fans with no disappointments. You couldn't have believed he would equal his top years, come on. A true legend to the game no matter how you put it.

[@davidthompson62]

It was sad how this great hockey players 1st retirement had to end with Montreal but the coaching staff were not allowing him to play his game. He also didn’t have the quality of talent he had in the 70’s. But he came back and proved to the doubters with the shackles off he was still an excellent player.

[@samuelluria4744]

As a teenager at the time, Guy and Marcel coming to my beloved Rangers was better than anything. It was truly a surreal time.

[@anthonyriche552]

This is true. Though I was an Islanders fan, I would watch Rangers games and read the Post and Daily News articles on how the Rangers were faring due to those two guys.

[@hugh2hoob668]

I was too young in 1988 to remember this but man this is great to see now at his age here today

[@michaeltootikian4402]

Guy Lafleur was a great one on and off the ice

[@HardRockMiner]

When I was a young kid I would watch Montreal play and Guy looked like he was the only one really trying to skate fast... It wasn't until later that I realized everyone was trying, but they just couldn't catch Guy. RIP Mr. Flower. You were a God.

[@sowhat5939]

He was amazing and did great for the rangers

[@gooddognigel9992]

Imagine Guy LaFleur participating in off ice training starting when he was a young boy like kids do nowadays. Imagine Guy and his peers training off ice throughout their career, with current technology, diet, and strength conditioning. Scary

[@mikec.8604]

we miss him greatly here in quebec... we love you guy !

[@temahoney]

He even quit smoking!😅😅😅……legend.

[@orangesharpy]

Hahaha! Yeah 2 weeks before camp! That's dedication. 🤣🤣🤣

[@michaelbrownlee9497]

Use to smoke, on the bench, between shifts, during play offs, for the cup, MVP.

[@christhornycroft3686]

He was still a good, useful player when he came back. It wasn't like he was a complete nonentity. He didn't play every game in his 2 or 3 season comeback, so he didn't rack up a lot of points, but he wasn't a slouch either.

[@canuck_gamer3359]

I have no idea what Montreal was thinking but I will say this much, Lemaire was NOT the man for the job as head coach at that time. They didn't have the goaltending to contend in those years but one can easily imagine Lafleur playing one more season and winning another cup!! They could easily have used him on the top line with Smith and Naslund and his presence would have made 1986 even more magical! He did retire too early and that is without doubt.

[@jamesanthony5681]

His game was quickness and speed, but that was gone, except in spurts. Ken Dryden said that. He was 33 when he played his last game with Montreal (still a good player), but after 124 playoff games and a lot of wear and tear, was Lafleur willing to accept a reduced role? I recall he wasn't. It didn't help that his former teammate was his head coach.

[@robertallard759]

The sound is killing this video. Anyone here who heard anything without some hearing-aid prop?

[@garyblanchard1084]

The mark of a great player is how he usually breaks hearts of the fanbases of the teams he plays against.

[@joelperry8187]

I liked the game against Montreal: when he scored the crowd cheered!!!

[@georgemoscahlades7473]

What a pleasure to watch him play. Gone way too soon.

[@SpaceForce635]

This video shows me just how much has changed in terms of physical conditioning for NHL players.

[@TwoPyramid]

0:46 what an amazing skater.

[@peterjohnson617]

man o man ..to see him flying down the ice......for a fan ,a sight not soon to be forgotten.

[@mr.n.j.p.]

I have a good feeling he'll make the team.

[@CHAUNCEY.GARDNER.]

I was in LA in Nov 88,I was there for the Raiders game against Atlanta,but also for Wayne,and we saw the Rangers and Buffalo.I remember The Guy picking up the puck at his blue line and went through 3 guys,it was vintage Guy,he did not score,Dionne was also there.We went to the Red Onion,in walked Gresh,Vanbi,Niland,Patrick,being from Toronto we new who they where,in LA nobody knew,so we stated talking to Nilan,he asked how do you who we are,we told him,started laughing,we asked where is the Guy,he said back at the hotel with Dionne,would have loved to meet Guy.

[@yvonfaub]

LOL... "He quit smoking 3 weeks ago"! A legend!

[@orangesharpy]

A young Brian Leetch playing in those games. That guy would have a great career.

[@simplericksfreedomwafersel7342]

At 37 he looked 57

[@TPM1424]

It's funny he looks like a 50-year-old man to me. Times have changed that's 4 sure

[@elGeant24]

A shame how the Montreal Canadiens organization treated him from his 1 st contract to his forced retirement in 1984.

[@anamericanman]

I am 51 and he looks my age. When I was 37 I looked night and day younger.

[@fawc420]

I was thinking the same thing. That was an old looking 37 year old. Must’ve been the heavy smoking he did.

[@stephengiannone5449]

@@fawc420 and drinking.

[@trippinout.]

Everyone looked old in the 70's and 80's. Grainy pics and video. Bad hair, fashion and diets. Look at any NHL team photo from 1975. They all look like 40 year olds.

[@anamericanman]

@@trippinout. I was being generous in saying he looks my age. If you put us side by side people would say he is 10-15 years older.

[@anamericanman]

@Wax Pack I'm an athlete. In fact, I played hockey for 45 years.

[@408Magenta]

Guy in his prime was a very good hockey player.

[@hockeyfanism]

Really?

[@normandbertrand1202]

No kidding !

[@scott4587]

37 in the 80s was 57

[@gregharrison5479]

Being an exceptional hockey player doesn't make you a god or even a better than average person. Guy's insecurity and cause of death smoking habit are testament to that but as an athlete and entertainer he made us feel like we were part of his magic. Thanks for the memories #10!

[@lionelbrunelle6080]

Guy lafleur was best there is the best there was .true legend

[@run2fire]

I was lucky enough to see him play in his final years. Even when playing in Pittsburgh, fans would 3:18 chant “Guy”. Much respect for the Flying Frenchman!

[@warrengauthier4699]

I recall when he retired at 32 when most played went until 35 or later. He was still a useful player at 37 but it would have been better stats wise if he had just played continually until 35 or later.

[@daveyboy_]

Savard screwed him

[@lionsden7626]

RIP Legend

[@5ch3nk]

"Even If Guy LaFleur doesn't make the team, he's not a loser." That made me laugh harder than it should have.

[@maxscameraguy]

The Montreal Manic logo on the desk really dates it.

[@daveyboy_]

The early 80's . When Mtl was truly a sports town.

[@hockeyeverything4339]

The OLD line. Ogrodnick, Lafleur, Dionne

[@novaguy509]

He was serious about getting back in the game. So serious that he cut back his smoking to 1 pack a day.

[@SuckerEmcee]

"The hair looks great, Guy!" 🎶Hairfax Hairfax Hairfax! 🎶

[@justanotherguy1001]

He looks old af for 37. Im 39 and look 10 years younger than him.

[@user-py9xk3sl4x]

Ну для Канады он, может быть, и звезда

[@shawnyt6368]

Naturally in shape without even hardly training. Resting heart rate under 45 bpm

[@September2004]

0:27 "Three weeks ago, he even quit smoking.' Wow, that long ago.

[@yaniktydetmer4153]

Flower the best ever

[@briangoguen8547]

I thought his comeback was amazing.

[@September2004]

0:28 Wow, he quit smoking way back then.

[@michaellaughlin8457]

same guy that sat on the bench between shifts smoking cigarettes in the 70’s 🤔👍

[@daveyboy_]

He didn't sit on the bench between shifts and smoke . WTF are u smoking ? I can just see Scotty Bowman . 'I know we wanna win that Stanley Cup but , Smoke em if you got em ' not bloody likely

[@arcadeshift5071]

"He even quit smoking." It would be shocking if an athlete in 2024 was a regular smoker. Dude looked 55 when he was 37...

[@RedroomStudios]

instead of retiring he should have asked for a trade. sad to think about the stats he could have added to his career totals in those wasted years. he could have easily ended up with over 600 goals.

[@kerpin09]

Apparently he did ask for a trade

[@daveyboy_]

He did ask for a trade . Savard wanted to bury him and would not let him

[@PennsylvaniaHistoryBuff]

Espo looking like a 70’s Marlon Brando talking about The Flower.

[@stevenpringle7813]

I recall that during his later years they hired a player to protect Guy from the other goons on the ice. He was some body builder that couldn't actually play hockey very well. The first fight he had he got his ass kicked and that was the end of him. Does anyone remember who that was?

[@jfb.8746]

Normand Baron?

[@stevenpringle7813]

@@jfb.8746 I think you are correct.

[@daveyboy_]

​@@jfb.8746 Lol Mr Canada

[@daveyboy_]

Would've like to have seen him go to the King's but Vachon was Savards buddy so, he nixed that.

[@Unclemoparman]

Canadiens could have had Dionne for nothing. Remember Guy and Marcel in the all star game just magic! F*** Lemaire and Serge.

[@daveyboy_]

@@Unclemoparman how and when could they have had Dionne for Nothing ?

[@TheNathanScot]

He looks like he's 50, not 37

[@smorgdonkey]

It was just nice that he wasn't a Hab.

[@gayrambo4529]

Guy was a rough-looking 37. Cigarettes and Rue Ste.-Catherine do a goddamned number.

[@TheBillaro]

He EVEN quit smoking....ah times back then.

[@bobfrapples1208]

"3 weeks ago he even quit smoking" 🤣🤣

[@aquaman199]

Nice upload

[@josephreilly6328]

HOF Comb over on that journalist. Rip the flower

[@myothercarisadelorean8957]

How tf was there not numerous incidents back then of guys getting their head cracked open because no helmet? Today players wear required full gear and yet all these freak incidents of head injuries and cut by skate blades.

[@daveyboy_]

There was more respect . Plus if you know that the other guy has a helmet and shield then why not lift your stick .

[@tommycodfish]

Ovi is 37 or 38 and I still wonder how Ovi can still do it and produce goals and it just does not make any sense how he can keep up with the goal scoring of 25 year olds.

[@Waty8413]

He's one of the best ever, definite top 10, and he's avoided serious injuries. Ovi also seems very motivated to get the record, he did the math and knows its within reach.

[@looloo6322]

Ovi is built like a tank, his body type is not prone to injuries. His style of play and his scoring ability doesn't rely on weaving and stick handling, he is like Martin St Louis one timers and just being in the right place to accept a pass and score.

[@tommycodfish]

@@looloo6322 yeah but Martin assist doubles the amount of goals he has scored in his career. Martin contributes by setting up plays and unlike Ovi he waits for the pass for the most part of his career and with out the playmaker he is nothing and that is why most Canadian players are all round players. Like most Canadian players their assists are above and beyond their goal production because that is how we roll unselfish. That is why Canadian Hockey is the best and will always be the best and the best is yet to come and his name is Connor Bedard.

[@JD-jc8gp]

@@tommycodfish What an embarrassing post.

[@tommycodfish]

@@JD-jc8gpNothing to be embarrassed about here. You might want to explain yourself

[@nemonucliosis]

0:08 37? I thought he was in his late 50s

[@alexgrantham4747]

37 going on 55.

[@conjandysecurity]

37 looking 57.

[@bartsanders1553]

Phil bragging about his golden goose🤣

[@robbrown4621]

This was the bottom of the history of the NY Rangers in the last forty years. This year, they could win the Cup.

[@limpfinger12]

37 looked like 57 nowadays

[@empire0]

He was only 37? He looked like he was 50

[@deepbushleague]

he scored fifty goals six years in a row then scores 30 then they cut his ice. guys are signing for 60 million nowadays for scoring 20 goals lol.

[@colinbrown9044]

He even quit smoking....

[@whoopdattrick9390]

Lol 37? Must have lots of city miles

[@giovanniperticaro1623]

Great player but please don't compare him to Wayne

[@daveyboy_]

Why not . There was no greater player who dominated the decade that they played . Plus Guy won 5 cups .

[@giovanniperticaro1623]

@@daveyboy_ my first hockey jersey was guy Lafleur my second was Ivan was Ken Dryden think I spelled it wrong I have 22 Gretzky jersey including an autographed Indianapolis racer jersey!

[@giovanniperticaro1623]

@@daveyboy_ I also have numerous Dino Ciccarelli but he is my cuz lol 😆 I think he is still top 20 goal scorer of all times

[@daveyboy_]

@Giovanni Perticaro the Racers Jersey mite be worth big bucks someday

[@giovanniperticaro1623]

@@daveyboy_ 6 figures

[@kfc872]

He even quit smoking lol

[@OVI-Wan-Kenobi-8]

Now we have a REAL legend, Alexander Ovechkin who is the same age at 37 right now who is still near the top of the NHL stats rankings.

[@Unclemoparman]

He never quit smoking until his second lung cancer bout.

[@u.s.m.c.fewproudthemarines2987]

Cancer finally got him REST IN POWER GL

[@lawrencewright2816]

@@u.s.m.c.fewproudthemarines2987 Bloody hell, I didn’t know he had a previous episode with lung cancer before the one that actually killed him.

[@daveyboy_]

He stopped smoking before his comeback - made the team , went to the depanneur then bought a pack

[@danieldydzak691]

The smoking was no good. Great athelete

[@one80srocker96]

Any job, once management changes, you might not fit in or they feel they can't control you, it's over. He didn't need to retire, in hindsight. The Big Apple is also where players went to die.

[@johnboybarr1332]

On what planet did a canadian idolize wayne gretzky?

[@hawlikd]

Plus he smoked alot!

[@spic0li]

I wish hair transplants were perfectly perfected in the 70s so Guy coulda flowed on. Too bad these things can't happen nowadays players are too big strong & fast now Guy woulda got rocked baddddddd. Guy didn't get forced out he just wanted to go disco Hollywood playboy party boy. Could have gotten a trade in 82-83 instead of retirement like wtf was that....

[@damone70]

"Hair transplants"...wtf is that vain shit? Buzz it off if you're going bald.

[@daveyboy_]

He asked for a trade they told him to fuck off

[@zigfield723]

He's wasn't shit compared to Gretzky, but ok.

[@daveyboy_]

He won more Stanley cups

[@hockeyfanism]

When journalism mattered. Today its social media punks in their 20's who think they know it all.

[@dav1d1982]

37, he looks 45

[@tighevans6783]

There never nor ever be a hockey player that can compare with Gretzky.

[@konciliogasco3324]

Every era has a GOAT and the game keeps getting faster even Gretzky will get beat...better trainers...physio...basically more money behind the scenes.The OLD timers played for peanuts compared to now and go back a little farther and the players also had other jobs. Gretzky wasn't working for moving company all day then running to the rink to play in the NHL and he certainly didn't 3oo stitches to the face and keep playing that type of dedication and love is gone...they play more for money and prestige ...almost hollywood like so eras should be appreciated not compared the game changes to fast as will the eras. CHEERS!!!

[@fenwayandwrigley]

I think the game evolves over eras. Orr changed the way defenseman played the game, only to be surpassed by Coffee. Gretzky was amazing but if Mario was right on his heels. Sid and Ovie have changed hockey in the 2000's and now we have McDavid illustrating what the game is like when you play at full speed. Bottom line, the game keeps changing and the players are only getting stronger, faster, better coached etc.