Guy Lafleur

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Lafleur was born on September 20, 1951, in Thurso, Quebec. He started playing hockey at the age of five after receiving his first hockey stick as a Christmas present. As a youth, he played at the Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament three consecutive years from 1962 to 1964, and scored a tournament record of 64 points. In his teens, he gained considerable recognition for his play as a member of the Quebec Remparts of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, where he led his team to the Memorial Cup in 1971, scoring 130 regular season goals. At the time, Lafleur idolized Jean Béliveau and Bobby Orr. He gained the nickname "Le Turbo de Thurso" while playing with the Remparts, coined by Radio Canada broadcaster Jean-Bernard Rainville. Lafleur was selected first overall by the Montreal Canadiens in the 1971 NHL Amateur Draft. He wore No. 10, as Béliveau originally asked Lafleur to take his No. 4, then had second thoughts, saying, "Don't try to be a second Jean Beliveau. Be the first Guy Lafleur. Take a number and make it your own." Lafleur was a cornerstone of the Canadiens' four straight Stanley Cup championships from 1976 to 1979, including being named playoff MVP in 1977. After Montreal won the Stanley Cup in 1978, he borrowed it for the weekend without telling anyone to show his friends back home in Thurso, where he set it out on his front lawn for all his neighbours to see. In 1979, Lafleur released the album Lafleur!, consisting of Guy Lafleur reciting hockey instructions, accompanied by disco music. After retiring from the Canadiens, he returned to the NHL for three more seasons, from 1988 through 1991, with the New York Rangers and the Quebec Nordiques.

In Their Own Story

The 1980s brought a stark contrast to Lafleur's golden era. Following the retirement of key teammates like Ken Dryden and Jacques Lemaire, the Canadiens' dominance faded, culminating in a second-round playoff loss in 1980. Injuries took a toll during the 1980–81 season, where he played only 51 games and scored just 27 goals, failing to reach the 50-goal mark for the first time since 1973–74. A tragic car accident on March 24, 1981, saw Lafleur fall asleep at the wheel; a metal post pierced his windshield, grazing his ear but missing his head by an inch. Tensions rose when coach Jacques Lemaire demanded stricter defensive play from the offense-minded star, creating a rift that could not be healed. On December 20, 1983, he scored his 500th career goal against Glenn Resch of the New Jersey Devils, becoming only the tenth player in NHL history to do so. By 1985, with no trade offered by general manager Serge Savard due to fan backlash fears, Lafleur made the acrimonious decision to retire from the Canadiens.

Reader's Guide

Lafleur played right wing. He was known for his smooth skating style and scoring touch. Fans chanted "Guy, Guy, Guy!" whenever he touched the puck. Opposing players often hooked and slashed Lafleur, but he never retaliated. He was nicknamed "the Flower" among English-speaking fans and "le Démon Blond" (the Blond Demon) among French fans. He was one of several players nicknamed "the Flying Frenchman". Lafleur remained one of the few players who did not wear protective helmets due to a grandfather clause. According to Wayne Gretzky, Lafleur "was quicker and faster without wearing full shoulder pads."

Did You Know?

• Lafleur was the first player in NHL history to score 50 goals in six consecutive seasons.
• He scored his 500th career goal on December 20, 1983, against the New Jersey Devils.
• Lafleur was named playoff MVP in 1977.
• He released a disco album titled Lafleur! in 1979.