Guy Lafleur: "Aren't you the best?"
April 22, 2022 8:20 AM Subscribe
Farewell to The Flower One of hockey's legends, Lafleur's career with the Montreal Canadiens resulted in 5 Stanley Cup wins during the 1970s. I'll leave it to others to post a link to the disco album. During interviews in English, Lafleur was as articulate as the next hockey player.. but on ice, he could be pure poetry. This Sportsnet feature provides a decent overview.
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(as a Canadian born in the 60s, there weren't many bigger names in my childhood)
posted by bcd at 8:35 AM on April 22, 2022 [5 favorites]
(as a Canadian born in the 60s, there weren't many bigger names in my childhood)
posted by bcd at 8:35 AM on April 22, 2022 [5 favorites]
🏒🌼
posted by Superilla at 8:44 AM on April 22, 2022 [1 favorite]
posted by Superilla at 8:44 AM on April 22, 2022 [1 favorite]
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posted by Lawn Beaver at 9:09 AM on April 22, 2022
posted by Lawn Beaver at 9:09 AM on April 22, 2022
I knew a guy a few decades ago who spent a cup of coffee in the NHL. One, maybe two seasons. I asked him what his highlight of his career was. Without hesitation he had two. One, was the only goal he scored on Chico Resch of the Islanders. The other was meeting Guy LaFleur.
Losing Bossy and Lafleur in the same few weeks is a huge blow to hockey fans everywhere.
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posted by JohnnyGunn at 9:18 AM on April 22, 2022 [3 favorites]
Losing Bossy and Lafleur in the same few weeks is a huge blow to hockey fans everywhere.
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posted by JohnnyGunn at 9:18 AM on April 22, 2022 [3 favorites]
I left hockey fandom a long time ago, and kind of actively hate pro sports now, but man, when I was young, I loved watching that guy. He was just an incredible player.
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posted by kitten kaboodle at 9:54 AM on April 22, 2022 [1 favorite]
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posted by kitten kaboodle at 9:54 AM on April 22, 2022 [1 favorite]
Yes you can do it! I know you can do it! All you gotta do is try!
posted by Monochrome at 10:01 AM on April 22, 2022 [3 favorites]
posted by Monochrome at 10:01 AM on April 22, 2022 [3 favorites]
Lafleur's career with the Montreal Canadiens resulted in 5 Stanley Cup wins during the 1970s.
I grew up in the 1980s, and I didn't know anything about hockey except that the Montreal Canadiens were clearly the best team. I never really knew why, but now I realize those 5 cups were probably in the air.
posted by jb at 10:31 AM on April 22, 2022 [2 favorites]
I grew up in the 1980s, and I didn't know anything about hockey except that the Montreal Canadiens were clearly the best team. I never really knew why, but now I realize those 5 cups were probably in the air.
posted by jb at 10:31 AM on April 22, 2022 [2 favorites]
I left hockey fandom a long time ago, and kind of actively hate pro sports now, but man, when I was young, I loved watching that guy. He was just an incredible player.
I hear you, kitten kaboodle.. I still watch games, but mostly don't. Once in a while I get a flash of joy from things like Puljujarvi's goofy grin from the bench, or Matthew Tkachuk getting flattened by (anyone), but it sure felt special to be a kid and see Lafleur in action.
posted by elkevelvet at 10:44 AM on April 22, 2022 [1 favorite]
I hear you, kitten kaboodle.. I still watch games, but mostly don't. Once in a while I get a flash of joy from things like Puljujarvi's goofy grin from the bench, or Matthew Tkachuk getting flattened by (anyone), but it sure felt special to be a kid and see Lafleur in action.
posted by elkevelvet at 10:44 AM on April 22, 2022 [1 favorite]
🌹
posted by BozoBurgerBonanza at 10:44 AM on April 22, 2022
posted by BozoBurgerBonanza at 10:44 AM on April 22, 2022
I had a high school French teacher who, being a Habs fan, kept four pictures on his classroom bulletin board as both vocabulary aids and a declaration of his team allegiance:
One was a picture of Queen Elizabeth II, beside which was a picture of Patrick Roy. Above them, he'd put a sign that said "La reine, et le roy."
Below them was a picture of a flower, and beside that was a picture of Guy LaFleur, and the sign above those two, of course, read "Une fleur, et Lafleur."
posted by mandolin conspiracy at 11:17 AM on April 22, 2022 [17 favorites]
One was a picture of Queen Elizabeth II, beside which was a picture of Patrick Roy. Above them, he'd put a sign that said "La reine, et le roy."
Below them was a picture of a flower, and beside that was a picture of Guy LaFleur, and the sign above those two, of course, read "Une fleur, et Lafleur."
posted by mandolin conspiracy at 11:17 AM on April 22, 2022 [17 favorites]
Yes you can do it! I know you can do it! All you gotta do is try!
Tracks from his disco album were often featured on our old dance mix tapes. deke! deke!
posted by ovvl at 11:41 AM on April 22, 2022 [2 favorites]
Tracks from his disco album were often featured on our old dance mix tapes. deke! deke!
posted by ovvl at 11:41 AM on April 22, 2022 [2 favorites]
Bob and Doug Mackenzie with Guy LaFleur for Molson.
posted by blob at 2:37 PM on April 22, 2022 [2 favorites]
posted by blob at 2:37 PM on April 22, 2022 [2 favorites]
I'm also going to link this here for everybody's viewing pleasure....
posted by WaterAndPixels at 2:44 PM on April 22, 2022 [5 favorites]
posted by WaterAndPixels at 2:44 PM on April 22, 2022 [5 favorites]
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Coached by the legendary Scotty Bowman, for whom Detroit is grateful
posted by JoeXIII007 at 5:14 PM on April 22, 2022
Coached by the legendary Scotty Bowman, for whom Detroit is grateful
posted by JoeXIII007 at 5:14 PM on April 22, 2022
“I was saddened to hear of the passing of hockey legend, Guy Lafleur. He was unlike anyone else on the ice – his speed, skill, and scoring were hard to believe.“
— Prime Minister J. Trudeau
”Who’s Guy Lafleur?”
— Prime Minister P. Trudeau
posted by Capt. Renault at 5:52 PM on April 22, 2022
— Prime Minister J. Trudeau
”Who’s Guy Lafleur?”
— Prime Minister P. Trudeau
posted by Capt. Renault at 5:52 PM on April 22, 2022
Legend… Hero… most probably the last local hockey hero who’ll play in Mtl.
If you have bad news to make public today was your day, the Montreal Canadiens usually generate ‘media eclipses’ when they have big news but this is a supernova, pretty sure a bunch of stations ran on this subject exclusively today.
Even the sport radio guys were having difficulty holding the sobs, one was reading a message from a listener about what Guy meant to him and had to stop mid message because he couldn’t hold it in. I’m still amazed how everybody seems to have a positive anecdote with or in connection with Guy.
posted by WaterAndPixels at 6:03 PM on April 22, 2022 [3 favorites]
If you have bad news to make public today was your day, the Montreal Canadiens usually generate ‘media eclipses’ when they have big news but this is a supernova, pretty sure a bunch of stations ran on this subject exclusively today.
Even the sport radio guys were having difficulty holding the sobs, one was reading a message from a listener about what Guy meant to him and had to stop mid message because he couldn’t hold it in. I’m still amazed how everybody seems to have a positive anecdote with or in connection with Guy.
posted by WaterAndPixels at 6:03 PM on April 22, 2022 [3 favorites]
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I don't follow hockey the way I used to; I haven't in decades. But, I was a huge fan in the 70s and my team was the Montreal Canadiens and I was very fortunate indeed.
After the idiotic goonery of the Flyers the Canadiens were such a refreshing change of direction. And a big part of that was the electrifying Guy LaFleur, who had so much when he was at his peak.
As far as sports moments go, that goal in game 7 against the Bruins in '79 is my favourite of all time. Not only one of the greatest goals in NHL history but one of the greatest shots as well.
Go with grace, Guy, just like you did all those years ago steaming down the wing in the old Forum and thank you.
posted by Phlegmco(tm) at 8:43 PM on April 22, 2022 [1 favorite]
I don't follow hockey the way I used to; I haven't in decades. But, I was a huge fan in the 70s and my team was the Montreal Canadiens and I was very fortunate indeed.
After the idiotic goonery of the Flyers the Canadiens were such a refreshing change of direction. And a big part of that was the electrifying Guy LaFleur, who had so much when he was at his peak.
As far as sports moments go, that goal in game 7 against the Bruins in '79 is my favourite of all time. Not only one of the greatest goals in NHL history but one of the greatest shots as well.
Go with grace, Guy, just like you did all those years ago steaming down the wing in the old Forum and thank you.
posted by Phlegmco(tm) at 8:43 PM on April 22, 2022 [1 favorite]
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posted by kneecapped at 8:37 AM on April 23, 2022
posted by kneecapped at 8:37 AM on April 23, 2022
Some follow-up....
https://montrealgazette.com/news/local-news/fans-line-up-to-pay-tribute-to-no-10
Kudos to whoever got the league to let them expose him along side the Stanley Cup and the Hart, Art-Ross, Conn-Smythe and Ted-Lindsay trophies.
That guy must have met with everybody in province... there's somebody in the line who's story literally was 'I was wasn't feeling well after drinking and he helped for half an hour'!
posted by WaterAndPixels at 6:24 PM on May 1, 2022
https://montrealgazette.com/news/local-news/fans-line-up-to-pay-tribute-to-no-10
Kudos to whoever got the league to let them expose him along side the Stanley Cup and the Hart, Art-Ross, Conn-Smythe and Ted-Lindsay trophies.
That guy must have met with everybody in province... there's somebody in the line who's story literally was 'I was wasn't feeling well after drinking and he helped for half an hour'!
posted by WaterAndPixels at 6:24 PM on May 1, 2022
Four of the best players who played against Lafleur on his bitter rival, the abominable Toronto Maple Leafs - Brendan Shanahan, Wendel Clark, Doug Gilmour and Rick Vaive - came out to pay their respects.
posted by Superilla at 7:33 PM on May 1, 2022
posted by Superilla at 7:33 PM on May 1, 2022
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posted by They sucked his brains out! at 8:34 AM on April 22, 2022