Montreal Canadiens legend Guy Lafleur has died at the age of 70 after a three-year battle with cancer.
According to the NHL, he died while in palliative care not far from his suburban Montreal home.
The five-time Stanley Cup winner experienced health issues in recent years, with his lung cancer returning in Oct. 2020. Before that, the hockey icon underwent quadruple bypass heart surgery in Sept. 2019, followed by lung surgery two months later.
Lafleur spent the 1988-89 season with the Rangers after his career in Montreal ended.
“We are deeply saddened to learn of the death of Guy Lafleur,” Canadiens owner Geoff Molson said in a statement. “All members of the Canadiens organization are devastated by his passing. 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. Throughout his career, he allowed us to experience great moments of collective pride. He was one of the greatest players in our organization while becoming an extraordinary ambassador for our organization and for hockey.
“Guy is part of the Canadiens family and the organization will provide all the necessary support to the members of his family and his close circle of friends during this extremely difficult time. On behalf of the Molson family and all members of the Montreal Canadiens organization, I extend my deepest sympathies to his wife Lise and his sons Martin and Mark.”
Lafleur was drafted first overall by the Canadiens in 1971 — a move orchestrated by the Canadiens to add one of the most highly anticipated French-Canadian talents to the franchise — and played 14 seasons with Montreal, where he broke multiple records and earned numerous awards.
During his tenure with the Canadiens, the winger won the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP in 1977; 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. Pearson Award (now the Ted Lindsay) as most outstanding player according to the NHL Players’ Association.
Lafleur, whose nicknames included “The Flower” and “Le Demon Blonde,” became the first player in league history to record six consecutive seasons with 50-plus goals and 100-plus points, doing so from 1974-80.
“You didn’t need to see Guy Lafleur’s name and number on his sweater when ‘The Flower’ had the puck on his stick,” NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman said. “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.”
In all, he appeared in 1,126 games and tallied 560 goals and 1,353 points. His No. 10 was retired by the Canadiens on Feb. 16, 1985.
That marked only his first retirement, though, after his trade request was denied by Montreal general manager Serge Savard. At the time, Lafleur was at odds with coach Jacques Lemaire, who took over during the 1983-84 season. The two had played together during the Canadiens’ dynasty years in the 1970s.
In 1988, Lafleur came out of retirement months after he was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame. He returned to the NHL to play for the Rangers, spending one season in New York before returning to his native Quebec to finish his career.
The French-Canadian star spent two years with the Quebec Nordiques before he decided to retire from playing for good in 1991.
Lafleur was named on of the NHL’s 100 greatest players during the league’s 2017 centennial celebration.