RIP Guy Lafleur

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Damn. Prettiest play maker ever.
 
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I grew up with Guy as my absolute hero. An exceptional athlete. A heart as big as Montreal. Saw many games at the Forum. He was electric. Every time he streaked down the right wing, flying…and he had one of the most wicked snap shots ever..he leaves us way too young. Same as gentleman Bossy. Certainly both are some of the finest players to have ever lived. RIP Mike and Guy
 
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RIP to a rare talent.

Admittedly, I hated him. I had to. He played for the Habs (Montreal Canadiens to those outside Canada). This was long before Calgary had the Flames, and I was a diehard Leafs fan. I lived and breathed the (rather lousy) 1970’s Toronto Maple Leafs. I so had to hate all Habs. 😜

Seriously, though, just as any Flames fan in the 80’s or, indeed, any hockey fan would have to admit about Wayne Gretzky, everyone knew Guy Lafleur was simply spectacular. And a fine fellow, too, from all accounts. While it ultimately caught up with him, his chain-smoking between periods is the stuff of legend.

2022 hasn’t been kind to our hockey hero’s from back in the day.
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"The Flower" was a great player, part of the Habs dynasty in the 70's, won 5 cups. Never heard a bad thing about him.
 
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The Flower was my favorite in the 1970's when Montreal was absolutely loaded with stars - the Pocket Rocket, the Roadrunner, the Little M, Savard, Gainey, Lapointe, Lamaire, etc.

As a kid, he epitomized what it was to be cool - heavy smoker, long hair, didn't wear a helmet, car commercials,and there was the hockey prowess with the breakaways and goals.
 
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The Flower was my favorite in the 1970's when Montreal was absolutely loaded with stars - the Pocket Rocket, the Roadrunner, the Little M, Savard, Gainey, Lapointe, Lamaire,
Wholly F…..those names…the dynasty. The days when players hearts were tattooed with the team’s logo. Today’s players go where the money is. The team concept has changed since then IMO.
Now, almost 30 years have gone by when the last of the Mohicans (Roy, Carbonneau, Damphousse….) brought it home. I wonder if any other than Brendan Gallagher have that CH tattooed on their chest?
 
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RIP to my hero growing up. What a thrilling player, the best in the world. But more importantly, he was one of the people. A outspoken & flawed human (like the rest of us) who always had time for the fans. That’s why he was so loved.
 
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The interview with Yvan Cournoyer on last night’s news was so emotional. His eyes were welling up. The deep respect for his teammate and friend was incalculable.

It was great to see Dick Irvin (90!!) interviewed; he did a play-by-play analysis of ‘the goal’ Lafleur will be most remembered for. That sure brought me back a few decades to Saturday night HNIC broadcasts.
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He was a treat to watch him simply skate. Like all great athletes, he did it so effortlessly! RIP
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I had a close friend in high school whose father was the President of a fairly large bank in Chicago. He controlled the corporate box on the glass at the Blue Line in Chicago Stadium, and took us kids to a number of Blackhawk games, including playoffs, and I remember marveling at Lafluer, among other greats of the (fantastic) era.

RIP