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RIP Flower

The first NHL game I ever saw live was March 1, 1984 at Joe Louis Arena in Detroit. I was thrilled to see Guy Lafleur score in the third period in a 3-1 Habs win. It was a trademark Lafleur goal, breaking in on the right wing and rifling one past Greg Stefan.
It was one of the many great memories he gave the fans.
 
Beliveau and Lafleur, my two favourite players, now gone. For those who didn't have the pleasure of watching Guy on TV or live on a regular basis, I believe he was unique. I can't name a player that really reminds me of Guy. Kovalev on his best shifts, McDavid, Kane all had or have elements of Guy. but that doesn't really describe him very well. I would rank him with Orr and Lemieux as the most watchable players I ever saw-the kind that just takes your breath away. He was not a big man, didn't really have a power element.Pure arist who could do everything at top speed. For a period in the mid to late seventies, Guy was simply head and shoulders above everyone else in the game...it wasn't even close. Never have I seen an athlete rise from ordinary to a star so quickly (after his third ordinary season), burn so brightly, and fall so fast back to ordinary with brief glimpses of what was. R.I.P. Guy Lafleur.
 
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I never got to watch Lafleur play, unfortunately. I'm too young.

Every franchise & its' fanbase have a type of player that fits the mold of what that franchise would want. In Bawstun, it's the Cam Neely / Milan Lucic powerforward, behave like a neanderthal type. In Detroit, it's the Gordie Howe, supremely skilled and tougher than well-done steak.

When you describe the type of player that fits the Montréal market perfectly, it's Guy Lafleur. He was as big a showstopper as you could ever imagine. It's why the two most popular Habs players in my adult lifetime were Kovalev & Subban. They were both showstoppers, both with that "Fuck you, watch this." type of attitude that just couldn't be ignored. And there are still people who are absolutely bitter at that Subban trade. (A trade we lost, btw, but has gotten better as time has gone along. Another debate for another day, though!)

It's a very sad week for older hockey fans, but an especially sad week for Quebec hockey.
 
Beliveau and Lafleur, my two favourite players, now gone. For those who didn't have the pleasure of watching Guy on TV or live on a regular basis, I believe he was unique. I can't name a player that really reminds me of Guy. Kovalev on his best shifts, McDavid, Kane all had or have elements of Guy. but that doesn't really describe him very well. I would rank him with Orr and Lemieux as the most watychable players I every saw-the kind that just takes your breath away. He was not a big man, didn't really have a power element.Pure arist who could do everything at top speed. For a period in the mid to late seventies, Guy was simply head and shoulders above everyone else in the game...it wasn't even close. Never have I seen an athlete rise from ordinary to a star so quickly (after his third ordinary season), burn so brightly, and fall so fast back to ordinary with brief glimpses of what was. R.I.P. Guy Lafleur.
Gretzky had cement head, Bossy had Gillies, even Orr had big bad Bruins to protect him, no star player has ever taken the physical abuse Lafleur did, yet always managed to overcome those obstacles.
 
Gretzky had cement head, Bossy had Gillies, even Orr had big bad Bruins to protect him, no star player has ever taken the physical abuse Lafleur did, yet always managed to overcome those obstacles.

Mario also got abused on the ice
 
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Gretzky had cement head, Bossy had Gillies, even Orr had big bad Bruins to protect him, no star player has ever taken the physical abuse Lafleur did, yet always managed to overcome those obstacles.

Montreal had plenty of tough guys in the lineup though. Not many dedicated enforcers but many players that could stand up for abuse. They wouldn’t have beaten the Flyers otherwise.
 
Montreal had plenty of tough guys in the lineup though. Not many dedicated enforcers but many players that could stand up for abuse. They wouldn’t have beaten the Flyers otherwise.
None who lined up w Guy unlike the others..

Not Bouchard, Tremblay, Risebrough…
 
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