![]() Inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1988, Lafleur that same year decided to unretire and return to the NHL for the New York Rangers. ![]() ![]() Lafleur asked Montreal general manager Serge Savard for a trade in 1985 and was denied. The two had played together during some of the Canadiens' best seasons of the 1970s but didn't find the same common ground as coach and player. Lafleur was hampered by injuries in the 1980s and butted heads with coach Jacques Lemaire when he took over during the 1983-84 season. ". My thoughts are with all who are mourning this tremendous loss - in Quebec, across Canada, and around the world. "His speed, skill, and scoring were hard to believe," Trudeau said in a statement. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, a noted Canadiens fan, said Lafleur was "unlike anyone else on the ice." "As distinctively stylish as he was remarkably talented, Lafleur cut a dashing and unmistakable figure whenever he blazed down the ice of the Montreal Forum, his long blond locks flowing in his wake as he prepared to rifle another puck past a helpless goaltender - or set up a linemate for a goal." "You didn't need to see Guy Lafleur's name and number on his sweater when 'The Flower' had the puck on his stick," Bettman said in a statement. NHL commissioner Gary Bettman honored Lafleur's unmistakable flair as a player. Pearson Award (now known as the Ted Lindsay) as most outstanding player according to the NHL Players' Association. Lafleur was electric on the ice, becoming the first player in league history to produce six consecutive seasons with 50-plus goals and 100-plus points (1974-80).ĭuring the height of his career in the 1970s, Lafleur was a three-time Art Ross Trophy winner as the NHL's points leader, a two-time Hart Trophy winner as league MVP and a three-time winner of the Lester B. The winger affectionately known as "The Flower" and "The Blond Demon" played 14 seasons with Montreal (1971-85) and was a cornerstone of five Stanley Cup-winning teams, including in 1977, when he was awarded the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP. He was one of the greatest players in our organization while becoming an extraordinary ambassador for our sport." Throughout his career, he allowed us to experience great moments of collective pride. Guy Lafleur had an exceptional career and always remained simple, accessible, and close to the Habs and hockey fans in Quebec, Canada and around the world. "All members of the Canadiens organization are devastated by his passing. "We are deeply saddened to learn of the death of Guy Lafleur," Canadiens owner Geoff Molson said in a statement. He had previously had a cancerous lobe removed from his left lung in 2019. No cause of death was given, but Lafleur had announced his most recent right lung cancer diagnosis in October 2020. Montreal Canadiens legend Guy Lafleur has died, the team announced Friday. Guy Lafleur, five-time Stanley Cup champion with Montreal Canadiens, dies at 70 The list could be exponentially longer, but this is my top 25.You have reached a degraded version of because you're using an unsupported version of Internet Explorer.įor a complete experience, please upgrade or use a supported browser I've put together a list of the classiest players in the history of the game. Like any sport, there are an equally large number of not-so-classy players, but given hockey's place in the lexicon of professional sports, the ratio is much smaller. Even with the 24-hour-a-day news cycle and the "look at me" culture of SportsCenter highlight reels, hockey players tend to avoid the larger-than-life persona. ![]() The most humble and grounded athletes in the world are found in the NHL. Conducting oneself with a certain grace and distinction sounds a bit out of place given the often barbaric nature of the sport. We win as a team, and we lose as a team.Ĭlass is difficult to define in an athlete, but it tends to reflect how a player carries himself on and off the ice. It reminds us that hockey is a team sport. The graciousness on either side of that line may not be as sincere as we'd like it to be, but it probably is more often than not. The handshake line at the conclusion of an often brutal playoff series requires humility from both victor and loser. To some it is the ultimate salt in the wound, but to most it is the consummate display of sportsmanship. Hockey has one of the greatest traditions in all of sports. The ability to lift your head in the face of failure will tell you more about the fiber of an athlete than the glory and exaltation of triumph. I have always been of the mindset that you can judge the character or class of an athlete best in defeat rather than in victory. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |