The Career of Guy LaFleur

One of the most famous named in hockey history, here is the video on his career as promised.
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[@sylviolebrun3032]

I am old enough to remember that. That's my early years as young Bruins fan. That 1979 dagger was painfull ! Guy was flying on the ice, and what a shot !

[@matthewdaley746]

If it makes you feel any better, he missed captaining a Cup-winner by one year.

[@FischerFan]

Ah yes! 'Twas his Hammer of Thor on poor Gilles Gilbert.

[@smits98]

I remember watching Guy at an old-timers game in Winnipeg sometime in the late 90's. His skating was still pure magic. I always appreciated how much Guy loved playing, which could be seen in his eagerness to continue to lace them up well into his 50's.

[@TalkingHabsMedia]

Lafleur is my hockey Idol and i'm working on a video on him too,you beat me to it,lol The Hockey Guy Rocks! Thanks for this video Shannon!

[@4beats56]

I am old enough to remember the flower flying up the ice with his hair flowing in the wind. Man those were the days.

[@wilnerolivier7971]

You were lucky to see him play in his prime!!

[@matthewdaley746]

@@wilnerolivier7971 I didn't see him play at all.

[@parissimons6385]

Initially, Guy Lafleur was thought to be a bust in the NHL, being brought in as heir apparent to Jean Beliveau. But once he reached his stride, Guy Lafleur and Yvan Cournoyer ("the roadrunner") on the same team, both with their hair streaming in their speed... Wow! With Jacques Lemaire, both Mahovlich brothers, Steve Shutt, Bob Gainey, Guy Lapointe, Serge Savard, Larry Robinson, Ken Dryden, etc. Salad days for the Habs during the 1970s!

[@dezfoto7534]

Guy Lafleur will always be my all-time favourite player. I had his Canadian Tire poster on my wall when I was growing up and it drove my dad nuts because he was a Leafs fan, lol.

[@nikosthebluesfan8481]

I love these career videos, so much details.

[@ourlittleadventures519]

Another fantastic video, thanks! Guy was my first favorite player. I was very young, maybe 6-7 watching hockey with my father when this guy used to fly down the wing with his hair waving back almost poetically caught my eye, Guy Lafleur. I was mesmerized. God bless Guy 🙏

[@Sydley]

Thanks for this! Guy was my first favourite player, until Paul Coffey came along. I do recall one incident - close to the time of the car accident - that may also have contributed to his decline. After an early Habs playoff exit, he joined Team Canada for the World Championships and was knocked unconscious during a game vs Holland. The ironic thing about this injury was - because of IIHF regulations - he was forced to wear a helmet for this time since he got rid of it in 1974. One more additional note: My all-time favourite line combination was Team Canada in the '81 Canada Cup: Gilbert Perrault (LW) - Gretzky (C) - Lafleur (RW)

[@robertchflynn]

that '81 line really didn't click that well as I recall. Not to the extent we had expected...

[@Sydley]

@@robertchflynnI respectfully beg to differ. that line combined for 33 points in that tournament. They were flying until Perreault suffered that injury against Sweden. it all went to pot after that.

[@evanhutchinson9206]

I didn't get to watch Guy Lafleur play on live TV because I am too young, but I grew up seeing documentaries on TV about him, seeing him taking part in interviews, footage of his magnificent play, and hearing my mom and dad talking about his greatness. He was a true icon, not just as a hockey player but as a public personality. His state funeral last year was really emotional. I remember talking about him with friends and coworkers (older and younger), and having a conversation with my mom (who witnessed his achievements back in the day) the day news of his passing came out. Men like Lafleur brought people together regardless of age, culture, language. I think he was truly one of the greats, not just as a hockey player, but as a sportsperson. Thank you for producing these videos and sharing your passion. I really enjoy these "career of" videos of yours, they are great material!

[@sottoblue6510]

It's pointed out elsewhere a couple questions you asked. He did request a trade from Montreal and retired because they refused. And that Haworth trade was a throwaway in order to get Lafleur eligible to work front office for the Nordiques (I had to reread that when I saw it because I thought that was strange for an off-ice job). Having watched Lafleur play, it was amazing to think he was so dominant being so beautiful to watch. He and Perrault were top scorers and still amazingly graceful. I had hoped to see this from Barzal as an Islander fan, but getting to that next level of scoring is really showing what made these players special, and I think I took that for granted. The 70s Habs were some really graceful and clean hockey to see. They literally skated circles around other teams. Hockey today is awesome, but that was great too.

[@acorrive]

I watched the Habs in the ‘70s. What a team. I was there for the Stanley Cup parade in Montreal in 1976. In those days you could get close to the players. Great time. Now that The Flower has just passed away, hockey has lost another legend. RIP Guy.

[@garnold44]

If I recall correctly, Lafleur stopped playing with a helmet after year 3 because he thought it was holding him back. And then year 4!

[@burny6666]

Actually, he was playing on the 4th line in most of his first 3 years. It was Bowmen's policy back then to restrict young guys to the 3rd and 4th line, no matter how good they were. Lafleur didn't escape that policy. If he had played with Richard, Mahovlich or Lemaire, he would have put up a lot more points in his rookie seasons.

[@garnold44]

@@burny6666 I never heard that one but I believe you. I thought (I lived in Mtl at the time) it was more the helmet and ice time (which would result from your point). Found these quotes: Lafleur: Because other guys didn’t wear helmets at the time and in practice I was not wearing it. In my mind I was on the ice and it seems like I was getting my confidence back and I was playing a lot better in the practice than I was in the games. So that’s why I decided to take the helmet off. ALSO: "But the only reason why I started to have success was because of the amount of ice time I was getting. I was playing more, I was playing on a regular shift". Thx bud!

[@burny6666]

@@garnold44 Yeah, I learned that from a Documentary on LaFleur's career, and in an interview. And it was confirmed by my uncles who had season tickets at the time.

[@matthewdaley746]

@@burny6666 Good thing, or we would've missed the waving hair.

[@garnold44]

@@burny6666 Thanks bud. Ain't it great to be talking about LaFleur again!

[@humankirk9196]

Lafleur retired due to conflicts with his former linemate who became his defense-minded coach, Jacques Lemaire, not dissimilar to the disaster of Mario Tremblay coaching Patrick Roy. Except Guy Lafleur was a bigger star (and aging) and there was absolutely no way it would be politically tolerated to trade Guy. Even today his name is frequently chanted by the fans anytime he appears. Trading him would be as shocking as trading Gretzky. The love for him runs very deep among French Canadians. It is not just about the statistics, it is the passion of his play, tje beauty of his blond hair flying when at full speed, it is the critical goals he scored, it is his love of life, he became the latest French Canadian icon playing on the one French Canadian team. So faced with the only choice of playing under Lemaire or retiring, he retired. On his return as a Ranger -- at the time these things were totally unscripted -- he got multiple standing ovations even as he scored against the home team, not because of his loyal service to the home team but because fans identified with him for the man he was.

[@dgib1694]

My mum could only follow the puck when Lafleur when it was on his stick... The decline was premature, because his own center Lemaire became coach and changed the whole philosophy of the team. Priority was given to defense and "responsible play". His offensive output back then was directly related to ice time given to him by Lemaire, which was greatly reduced. He left MTL with bitterness at the time.

[@smarty432]

Fell in love with hockey because Guy Lafluer was flying down the ice with his hair flowing and then blasted that booming slap shot past the goalies in the 70's all the time. RIP!

[@petermontagnon4440]

Guy was an amazing player!!! I watched him all the tome he played . An amazing player!!!

[@bernied4313]

Lafleur was everywhere at the time, he even had a little romance with Mireille Mathieu pop singer from France.

[@kellyanastasia2752]

Watching Guy Lafleur skate was a thing of beauty. So majestic and a stride that looked almost effortless. Head always up ready to give or receive the puck. La fleur etait parfaite!!!

[@ballhockey10]

Thanks for the video. I saw him live once and will never forget it.

[@drivesecure2476]

Good video Guy La Fleur was a great hockey player speed great hands a threat every time on the ice

[@Bum_Hip]

Shannon, can you please do a solo video on The Sharks/North Stars expansion n draft that you mentioned?

[@Jay87539]

I saw LaFleur in the late 80's pushing his Flower Power fruit punch at an IGA store in Winnipeg.The line to meet him stretched through the whole store and he was the nicest guy ever.A couple suits were telling him he had a plane to catch,and he blew them off and sighned more stuff for a few minutes!!!

[@yoholmes273]

The greatest NHL draft fleece job ever was Montreal snatching the first overall pick away from The Oakland Seals, winning The Stanley Cup then picking The Fantastic Flower numero uno overall to continue the dynasty.

[@gogades]

The thing about Lafleur is that not only did he dominate - he did it with style. This guy was spectacular - no garbage goals banging away it until it trickles it. He was a breath a fresh air in an otherwise terrible NHL decade.

[@matthewdaley746]

Bobby Orr had style, too bad he didn't last.

[@rhong2377]

Great video! Thanks so much.

[@johntyrell1740]

Glad to have an autograph of him 😊

[@FalseCredential]

I would love to see videos for Bobby Clarke and Bill Barber! Thank you for the great content!

[@ShantyIrishman]

Too young to have watched Guy LaFleur play, but old enough to remember him in the Molson commercial.

[@gymrat2647]

Legend and enjoyed hearing guy,guy,guy when he hit the ice

[@masonrahal6980]

Really solid/relatable analysis. Well delivered.

[@ericbaker2025]

Shannon as always my friend excellent video. I love the HABS and LaFleur! He was known for his no helmet and his hair flowing while on skates.

[@FischerFan]

Note about the 1980 playoffs. The Canadiens were upset, but not until the second round by Minnesota. Lafleur played only three playoff games; the Habs' 3-game preliminary round sweep of Hartford. In the third game of the series; Lafleur was put out of the playoffs by Pat Boutette who stuck out his knee and caught him. Bobby Hull and Gordie Howe, both members of the Whalers, played their very last NHL game. The career stats reveal it was, in all honesty, the last game played by the real Guy Lafleur, too.

[@pierremajor8712]

I am old enough to have gone to games at the Forum during the 70’s. (7 rows from ice level to the right of the goal Ste-Catherine street entrance) I was lucky enough that my Father would get season tickets on a regular basis. I still can hear the skates cutting into the ice and the pucks hitting the glass and boards, In Quebec we were spoiled, 6 cups in the Seventies. Le Demon Blond would get you out of your seat, literally. And when he scored, like the Rocket, it was so much louder than any other Hab. I was so fortunate to have seen them at the time.

[@HarryJoiner]

weird: here it is the off season, and i'm still watching your videos every day, beginning to end. the nhl should put you on their payroll. your videos rock. thanks so much for all you do for the game!

[@KurdTillDeath]

love these vids shannon thank you for keeping me sane for off-season

[@danwalsh6919]

Would love to see a video on Larry Robinson ! A ring per finger! Great video

[@matthewdaley746]

Most underrated defenseman ever. Yes, you can be a Hall-of-Famer, and, be underrated.

[@FischerFan]

@@matthewdaley746 I believe Larry Robinson was inducted into the Hall of Fame without anyone else.

[@BudSchnelker]

On the back of Wayne Gretzky's rookie card was the caption "Wayne is considered the best prospect to turn pro since Guy Lafluer". That was the state of the NHL in 1979.

[@vinc8804]

Rest in peace to a legend

[@Scandinavian1962]

Do one about Juha Widing !

[@catherinelynnfraser2001]

❤️❤️❤️🌸 enormous talent and flair. His Gallic shrug was iconic.

[@marcsauriol9130]

after Bobby Orr and before Wayne Gretzky, there was Guy Lafleur

[@robertchflynn]

Lafleur is a top 15 player of all time but I would argue that no one looked better on the ice in full flight...

[@nebula6084]

Came here after the announcement of his death, Rest In Peace Flower

[@mikalevio]

in the canada cup he played on a line with wayne gretsky and gilbert perrault in exhibition games and it was the best line i have ever seen...unfortuneatly gilbert broke his leg and the line split up

[@cofoppyplop]

I still remember that tagline in that hockey commercial for I don't remember what. The line was: Can Guy Lafleur skate? Can Larry Robinson check? Can Don Edward kick 'em out?. The rest is lost in the sands of time for me

[@why-why-whywhywhy]

Whether a fan of *”Le Bleu-Blanc-Rouge”* or not, Guy *”Le Démon Blond"* Lafleur was *must watch* TV whenever he took to the ice. And that in a nutshell, is all of you who never had the distinct pleasure of watching him play *’need to know’.*

[@hockeytownluv2012]

What a great player!

[@Phoiba]

Do a video about teams against the cap and teams with the most cap.

[@MANSIKKAPUURO-jl9zm]

MY IDOL AND HEROE

[@philly5-014]

Hearing he's going to Leafs

[@thanewage403]

I met Guy after an old timers game when I was young, along with Bobby Hull and others, including Gretzky, who was a prick. But Guy was great, even remembered my father from a meeting they had in the past.

[@matthewdaley746]

Bobby was a prick among pricks.

[@nathanbaca5131]

I love this "Career of" series.

[@answeris4217]

Guy Lafleur played as a ringer for Rockland while playing for Turso. Basically he played for two towns in two different age group at the same time. Larry Robinson talked about playing against Guy when he was playing Pewee. That's how much of a fenom he was. He had news articles on him as a pewee after Quebec city's world pewee tournament for beating all the scoring records.

[@SITRUUNAUTZFY]

one of my idols

[@jeffmiller8115]

Great display of Guy’s career, could you consider doing one on Gary Unger? He was a star for the Blues during the early 70’s, or maybe Red Berenson?

[@michaelleroy9281]

The Canadiens got Guy La Fleur with a #1draft choice from the Seals the gift that keeps on giving

[@doctorx3]

Maybe not the greatest player in Canadians history, but almost certainly the most universally beloved. Damned near everybody in hockey either respects or looks up to Guy LaFleur.

[@matthewdaley746]

Except Don Cherry, I'll show myself out.

[@humankirk9196]

All fans of the sport of hockey recognizes when someone brings beauty and excitement. Helmets are necessary for player safety... but man would it be nice to see someone's hair flying in the wind like that and score another beauty

[@FischerFan]

@@matthewdaley746 That's not entirely true. Grapes has gone on the record stating the two most exciting players he had ever seen were Bobby Orr and Guy Lafleur.

[@Hexinvir]

You should make more videos for some more iconic canadiens players, like Beliveau, Dryden, Plante etc.

[@lancemilliken9078]

It is incredible that he took three years off and came back. That is absolutely ridiculous that he can maintain a skill level high enough to compete at the highest level

[@appletile2887]

Coach Lemaire tried to change LaFleur into a player he wasn't...hockey wasn't fun anymore. That's what happened to Cole Caulfield under DuCharme....1 goal in 30 games 22 the rest of the way under St. Louis

[@teresajoy4804]

Actually, Lafleur did request to be traded in the 84/85 season but Savard, who was the GM at the time, was afraid on how the MC fans would react if he did. Lafleur's only other recourse was to retire. He didn't put up the "numbers" because, under the coaching of Lemaire, the team had adopted a more defensive minded strategy something that didn't suit Lafleur's playing style. According to Guy, he wasn't getting enough playing time because of this. When he did, his shifts were relegated to about 20 seconds claiming it wasn't enough time to build momentum hence the poor outcome. Lafleur DID NOT want to retire but felt he was pressured into doing so since the Habs wouldn't trade him. His "comeback" was well thought out. The biggest obstacle Guy faced was finding a team that would sign him. The NY Rangers did just that. Phil Esposito, the Rangers GM at the time, put a lot of stock into his comeback to the NHL. Even though Guy didn't put up those old numbers he proved he still had something left to contribute.

[@mikalevio]

he was a great player and its funny that he was a chainsmoker while he played...cannot imagine it helped

[@matthewdaley746]

@Eirik Rødberg Lemieux had cancer, although it wasn't related to smoking, and, certainly wasn't the reason for his skills.

[@matthewdaley746]

@putsome basilonit Absolutely, at least he didn't take to drugs.

[@tomjones2121]

Esposito was a chain smoker too

[@jpecci4832]

I heard he used to suck down cigarettes between periods with Flyer Bobby Clark have drinks together after the game.

[@Joe-to8og]

Apparently, it didn't hurt.

[@ll7868]

I remember watching the Nords in the early 90s up until they moved to Colorado, man did they suck, I actually felt sorry for them.

[@matthewdaley746]

On-ice suckage spilled over onto the ledgers, you can guess what happened afterwards.

[@catherinelynnfraser2001]

I remember the disco album and the fragrance “for the man who likes to win”. I was disappointed that none of this was in the Hockey Hall of Fame museum.

[@matthewdaley746]

Disco, and, everything associated with it, has been intentionally expunged from society at large's collective consciousness.

[@bskinny9009]

60 goal scorer one year, great slapshot, the flower.

[@herrbaron72]

Great video. But over the numbers, what make his legend was his ability to score that desperately needed goal. I'm sure Don Cherry still has nightmares about that goal in the 3rd period of the 7th game in 1979.

[@Tomatohater64]

Back in the 70s, Lafleur and his Canadians made my Penguins look like the minor league affiliate of the California Golden Seals. They would routinely beat us 10 -1, 8-2, 7-0, 9-3. You get the idea.

[@matthewdaley746]

They did that to EVERYONE.

[@dnasty312]

#Godspeed, Flower 🙏🏻 *🏒🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆#10*

[@patch8376]

His Flower Power beverage was underrated. Got overshadowed by the wave of Gatorade.

[@asleep909]

You hinted at his party life...you forgot to mention his DISCO RECORD! Guy LaFleur's Power Play!

[@bluebear1985]

That's interesting that Minnesota very briefly held his rights. I believe his old Canadiens teammate Bob Gainey was coach there at the time, so it's hard to say if he would have lasted the season had he stuck around just a bit longer.

[@OttawaRocks]

Those were the days. RIP Thurso's finest, Guy Lafleur. Mes condoleances a sa famille.

[@svenusling]

Was he in the all star games in 1991 as the board says or 1981 as you say? :)

[@matthewdaley746]

@Eirik Rødberg Back when more people cared about the All-Star Game.

[@smithryansmith]

You did Brett Hull a few days ago. He's a hall of famer, too.

[@ryguy6577]

What a genuis general manager

[@Bjornontour]

RyGuy 65 True legend.

[@jacknumberone600]

The great Guy! he did a card show here, took a smoke break, I mooched a DuMaurier kingsize off him! He was better even than people think.

[@charleshartz4814]

Guy, Guy, Guy

[@CountElvis]

This is why Bill Torrey was so protective of his draft picks- he worked for the Seals and saw what happened to them.

[@CoupleOCux]

You should do a video on the San Jose expansion. I’m a little confused/curious on how the seals/north stars are related to the sharks. You very well might have done one already tho lol

[@mcfleury]

Will there be an nhl awards live stream?

[@answeris4217]

Quebec city was LaFleur second home. He used to drive there when he could and party. Then again he would drive to Rockland to party

[@CdeHavillandMosquito]

Guy was my very young age hero. But, then, the Nordiques happened. For a time he was just someone we had to fight through. At the end, before the end, he became a Nord! He really was the next Béliveau.

[@AweShiyte]

The Guy LaFleur thing almost sounds like the Ottawa Senators situation today, except the first overall pick was traded, instead of being 4th overall by lottery.

[@justjohnny420]

rip legend

[@johnbrowne3950]

As a Bruins fan I hated all of the Canadiens and especially Guy Lafleur before I met him. Turns out he's a great guy, darn it.

[@ll7868]

I watched the movie "Goalie" about the life and sudden death of Terry Sawchuck the other night, any chance on doing a video for him?

[@iBMcFly]

Can you do Jean Béliveau?

[@kenreyes214]

Do a video of your thoughts on the Puljujarvi trade request!

[@BrettHornby]

Perfect name for a Montreal Canadien legend from Quebec.

[@John572d4]

He might have unretired because of the Habitants playoff streak against Boston being broken the previous spring, & may have felt that if he had somehow stayed with Montreal during that time (through ‘88) that he could have prevented it (from ending).

[@PeterCPRail8748]

As much as a hate the Montreal toilet seats. He was one my favourite player looking back at old time hockey.

[@renlessard]

Guy has a disco album he was so big

[@sylviolebrun3032]

You don't have Nordiques magnets ?? lol

[@MrSharkster59]

Top two picks in 1971 were LaFleur and Dionne. If Pollack had't made that trade to make LA better, the Habs could have ended up with Marcel Dionne. Not bad either way !!

[@John-tp5gc]

In 1983-84, he had 30 goals over the first 65 games. Hardly a man who's finished. But then Lemaire replaced Bob Berry and what transpires is tragic. After Lemaire shows up Lafleur fails to score in the final 15 games of the season, failed to score a single goal in 12 playoff games, and scored only 2 goals over the first 19 games of the following 1984-85 season before retiring. That's 2 goals in 46 games under Lemaire. Talk about a coach sucking the life out of a player.

[@Ballpython77]

in 84-85 he had a diminish role in the team because of Jacques Lemaire, they didn't agree on anything and Guy got so frustrated, he retired.

[@matthewdaley746]

If only he'd waited one more year.

[@wilnerolivier7971]

@@matthewdaley746 Would've won a Cup with a young goalie named Patrick Roy!!

[@matthewdaley746]

@@wilnerolivier7971 Perfect ending to a perfect career, alas, it wasn't to be.

[@cloudsopowera6248]

Guy later admitted that if he had publicly said he wanted out of Montreal, things could've been difference from him beyond the 70s dynasty

[@matthewdaley746]

@@cloudsopowera6248 I still will always remember the glory years, however he turned out.

[@Joe-to8og]

He did have a major knee injury in the 1980 playoffs. That and some personal problems away from the game caused his playing to suffer.

[@joenieuwendyk91]

It's Lafleur not LaFleur

[@robertchflynn]

his old centre Jacques Lemaire was coach the year Lafleur retired as a Montreal Canadian. I don't recall too much of what actually occurred but I do recall Lafleur was playing very little for most of those games. I really hated Lemaire for doing that, although I was a kid rooting for my hero so pretty biased at the time. I think had Lafleur been traded he would have had a couple of good years left. However, no doubt Montreal was unlikely to do that either...

[@Kariakas]

It's worked out great but who knows, Marcel Dionne would have been something else on that Habs team also.

[@smithryansmith]

basically, if Guy Lafluer had been drafted by the Seals, he would have been just like Marcel Dionne. A great French-Canadian player no one remembers because he played in California on a losing team.

[@patch8376]

Dionne's judged too harshly for never having won a cup. Lafleur wouldn't have carried LA over Montreal, Islander, and Edmonton teams. Gretzky couldn't win a cup in LA either. It's a team sport.

[@smithryansmith]

@@patch8376 total agreement. Had Dionne player for the Habs, he'd be the legend Guy is. Had Guy played for the Seals, he'd be the forgotten talent Dionne is.

[@matthewdaley746]

@@smithryansmith He might have even rage quit hockey, although that's unlikely.

[@humankirk9196]

Marcel Dionne never won anything in Junior either. Lafleur beat Dionne's team for the Richardson Cup and won the Memorial Cup in 1971, with Lafleur as team captain. Dionne didnt just never win the Cup, he never even made it past the second round. Lafleur isnt just remembered for which sweater he wore, but for his team accomplishments and for how beautifully he played. People are constantly rediscovering his famous 1979 Game 7 too-many-men tying goal against the archrival Bruins. Guy Lafleur was a clutch player who scored beautiful goals when it mattered most.