Guy Lapointe
Hall of Fame defenceman, key member of Canadiens' Big Three.
Guy Gerard Lapointe was born on March 18, 1948, and played defence in the NHL for the Montreal Canadiens, St. Louis Blues, and Boston Bruins. He hung up his skates as a player in 1984 after a string of injuries, but his hockey career continued long after. He finally retired from the sport in 2020, having spent 20 years as the Minnesota Wild’s Coordinator of Amateur Scouting.
His teammates called him “Pointu”—a French nickname playing on his last name that means something like “sharp” or “pointy.” On the ice, he was known for a heavy slapshot and bone-rattling bodychecks. Alongside Larry Robinson and Serge Savard, Lapointe formed the Canadiens’ famous “Big Three” on the blue line, a group that helped Montreal win six Stanley Cups: 1971, 1973, 1976, 1977, 1978, and 1979. He was traded to St. Louis in 1982 and signed with Boston a year later before retiring.
Lapointe entered the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1993. Over 884 NHL games, he scored 171 goals and added 451 assists for 622 points. He still holds Montreal’s record for most goals in a season by a defenceman (28) and most goals by a rookie defenceman (15). His number 5 was retired by the Canadiens on November 8, 2014. Since Bernie Geoffrion’s number 5 was already retired, both players share the honour. During the ceremony, the banners of Savard and Robinson were lowered and then raised back up alongside Lapointe’s, just as had been done earlier for Geoffrion and Howie Morenz.
Off the ice, Lapointe had a reputation as a prankster. One famous stunt involved coating his hand with Vaseline before shaking hands with Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau during a locker room visit. Another time, he “stole” rookie Mario Tremblay’s new Pontiac Grand Prix, moving it to a different level of the parking garage. He waited several days before telling Tremblay, who had already filed a police report and contacted his insurance company.
After his playing days, Lapointe became general manager of the Longueuil Chevaliers in the QMJHL, then worked as an associate coach for the Quebec Nordiques. He later served as an assistant coach and scout for the Calgary Flames. From the Minnesota Wild’s founding in 2000 until 2020, he was the team’s chief amateur scout.
He has three children: Guy Jr., Stephanie, and Jordan.
Early in his NHL career, Lapointe was chosen for the historic 1972 Summit Series against the USSR.
Quick Facts
- Position
- Defence
- Shoots
- Left
- Height Ft
- 6
- Height In
- 0
- Weight Lb
- 205
- Played For
- Montreal Canadiens / St. Louis Blues / Boston Bruins
- League
- NHL
- Ntl Team
- CAN
- Birth Date
- 1948-03-18
- Birth Place
- Montreal, Quebec, Canada
- Career Start
- 1968
- Career End
- 1984
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Nicknamed 'Pointu' (a play on his name in French, where 'pointu' carries most of the same meanings as 'sharp' or 'pointy' in English), Lapointe was famous for his powerful slapshot and brutal body-checks. Along with defencemen Larry Robinson and Serge Savard, Lapointe was a member of the 'Big Three' and played a key role in the Canadiens' winning the Stanley Cup six times in 1971, 1973, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979. He was traded to the St. Louis Blues in 1982 and signed with the Boston Bruins after the following season, retiring in 1984 following a series of injuries.
Lapointe was also known for his sense of humour and being a prankster. One of his most famous pranks is probably the Vaseline coated handshake with then-Prime Minister Pierre Elliot Trudeau as he was visiting the Canadiens' locker room. Another time, Lapointe 'stole' rookie Mario Tremblay's new Pontiac Grand Prix and relocated it to a different level of that parking garage, then waiting a few days before disclosing this to Tremblay who had already filed a police report and contacted insurance.
Following his retirement from playing, Lapointe became general manager of the Longueuil Chevaliers of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, followed by a stint as associate coach with the Quebec Nordiques. He later served as an assistant coach and later as a scout with the Calgary Flames. He was the Chief Amateur scout with the Minnesota Wild, a position he has held from the franchise's inception in 2000 to 2020.
Reader's Guide
Guy Lapointe's significance lies in his role as a cornerstone of the Montreal Canadiens' dynasty of the 1970s. As part of the 'Big Three' defencemen with Larry Robinson and Serge Savard, he helped the team win six Stanley Cups. His individual achievements include being named to the NHL First All-Star Team in 1973 and the Second All-Star Team in 1975, 1976, and 1977, as well as playing in four NHL All-Star Games. Lapointe still holds the Montreal Canadiens' record for most goals in a season for a defenceman (28) and most goals for a rookie defenceman (15). His number (#5) was retired by the Canadiens on November 8, 2014, sharing the honour with Bernie Geoffrion, with the banners of Savard and Robinson lowered and raised alongside his. He also represented Canada in the historic 1972 Summit Series, the 1976 Canada Cup, and the 1979 Challenge Cup. After his playing career, he contributed as a scout and executive, notably serving as Chief Amateur Scout for the Minnesota Wild from their inception in 2000 until 2020.
Did You Know?
- Lapointe was nicknamed 'Pointu', a French play on his name meaning 'sharp' or 'pointy'.
- He played in the historic 1972 Summit Series against the USSR while his wife was giving birth to their first child.
- Lapointe once pranked rookie Mario Tremblay by hiding his new Pontiac Grand Prix, leading Tremblay to file a police report.
- His number #5 was retired by the Canadiens on November 8, 2014, alongside the banners of Serge Savard and Larry Robinson.
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