Montreal Canadiens legend Dude Lafleur has died at the age of 70 just after a three-12 months struggle with most cancers.
In accordance to the NHL, he died although in palliative treatment not far from his suburban Montreal house.
The 5-time Stanley Cup winner experienced wellbeing issues in latest a long time, with his lung most cancers returning in Oct. 2020. Prior to that, the hockey icon underwent quadruple bypass heart surgery in Sept. 2019, adopted by lung surgical procedure two months later on.
Lafleur expended the 1988-89 time with the Rangers right after his occupation in Montreal finished.
“We are deeply saddened to learn of the loss of life of Guy Lafleur,” Canadiens owner Geoff Molson explained in a statement. “All members of the Canadiens firm are devastated by his passing. Male Lafleur had an fantastic job and normally remained basic, accessible, and shut to the Habs and hockey enthusiasts in Quebec, Canada and close to the entire world. During his job, he allowed us to knowledge excellent times of collective pride. He was one of the finest gamers in our business although getting an incredible ambassador for our corporation and for hockey.
“Guy is portion of the Canadiens relatives and the firm will offer all the essential support to the members of his loved ones and his close circle of close friends in the course of this particularly difficult time. On behalf of the Molson family and all associates of the Montreal Canadiens business, I increase my deepest sympathies to his wife Lise and his sons Martin and Mark.”
Lafleur was drafted very first all round by the Canadiens in 1971 — a shift orchestrated by the Canadiens to increase a single of the most remarkably anticipated French-Canadian skills to the franchise — and played 14 seasons with Montreal, exactly where he broke several documents and earned many awards.
Throughout his tenure with the Canadiens, the winger won the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP in 1977 was a a few-time Art Ross Trophy winner as the NHL’s details leader a two-time Hart Trophy winner as league MVP and a 3-time winner of the Lester B. Pearson Award (now the Ted Lindsay) as most superb player in accordance to the NHL Players’ Association.
Lafleur, whose nicknames included “The Flower” and “Le Demon Blonde,” grew to become the initial participant in league historical past to record six consecutive seasons with 50-in addition objectives and 100-furthermore details, performing so from 1974-80.
“You didn’t require to see Man Lafleur’s title and quantity on his sweater when ‘The Flower’ experienced the puck on his adhere,” NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman mentioned. “As distinctively fashionable as he was remarkably proficient, Lafleur slash a dashing and unmistakable figure each time he blazed down the ice of the Montreal Discussion board, his very long blond locks flowing in his wake as he organized to rifle an additional puck previous a helpless goaltender — or set up a linemate for a purpose.”
In all, he appeared in 1,126 video games and tallied 560 aims and 1,353 factors. His No. 10 was retired by the Canadiens on Feb. 16, 1985.
That marked only his first retirement, nevertheless, right after his trade request was denied by Montreal standard manager Serge Savard. At the time, Lafleur was at odds with coach Jacques Lemaire, who took about during the 1983-84 time. The two experienced played collectively throughout the Canadiens’ dynasty several years in the 1970s.
In 1988, Lafleur arrived out of retirement months following he was inducted into the Hockey Corridor of Fame. He returned to the NHL to perform for the Rangers, spending one season in New York in advance of returning to his native Quebec to end his job.
The French-Canadian star spent two a long time with the Quebec Nordiques just before he decided to retire from participating in for excellent in 1991.
Lafleur was named on of the NHL’s 100 greatest players through the league’s 2017 centennial celebration.
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