Guy Lafleur
Guy Damien Lafleur, OC, CQ ( born September 20, 1951 in Thurso, Quebec ) is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey player. The because of its waving blond hair Démon Le Blond ( the blond demon) called Lafleur was one of the best right winger in the history of this sport. He was the first player in the history of the National Hockey League, who scored at least 50 goals and 100 points per season in six consecutive years.
- 3.1 International
Career
Even as a child was inspired by Guy Lafleur Hockey. Sunday morning he crept to the rink to train. Sometimes he slept in his hockey equipment. He was an avid fan of the Montreal Canadiens and emulated his example after Jean Béliveau.
As a junior Lafleur drew attention to himself with strong performances at the Quebec Remparts in the QMJHL. In 1971, he led his team to the Memorial Cup. For Sam Pollock, the general manager of the Montreal Canadiens was clear that he wanted to commit Lafleur for his team. It took a series of exchanges until the Canadiens were able to purchase the first draft laws in the NHL Amateur Draft 1971 by the California Golden Seals. Lafleur had indicated in advance that he really wanted to stay in his home province of Quebec and would replace if necessary also in a different league.
Jean Béliveau, who had previously announced his retirement in the spring, offered to the top draft pick of the Canadiens, his shirt number 4 to carry, which he also wore in the juniors. But Lafleur feared the associated pressure and dialed the number 10
Equal to the 1971/72 season he made his breakthrough in the NHL. In his first three seasons, he brought it each to well over 50 points scorer. Received a significant boost his stats in the 1974 season / 75th With 119 points, he had almost doubled his previous best and over the next five seasons he surpassed this value each time. In the 1976/77 season he made 80 templates and 136 points on their personal best, in the following year he reached 60 goals a record. No other player had achieved before him in six consecutive seasons over 50 goals and 100 points. In his 720th game in the NHL, he reached the 1,000 point mark. No player had succeeded quickly in front of him. In his fourteen years with Montreal, he was five times the Stanley Cup win. In 1978, he borrowed without permission from the trophy and took it to his hometown of Thurso. There he placed them in the garden in front of his house, lest his neighbors could see it.
In addition to his impressive game, he also fell through his long blond hair, which earned him the nickname " Le Demon Blond " on. He used his popularity and participated in a variety of advertising contracts. In addition to ice hockey equipment he applied cars, food and much more. A serious car accident in 1981 brought an incision in Lafleurs life. He decided then to take things his life a little quieter. Known as a heavy smoker, he was previously often seen in the nightlife of Montreal. After the accident, he put more weight on his family. After a weak start to the 1984/85 season, in which his only two goals and three assists were managed in 19 games, he finished his career. He wanted to be not only the second best.
In his time with the Canadiens, he represented the Canadian national ice hockey team at the Canada Cup in 1976 and 1981 and at the World Ice Hockey Championships in 1981. During Challenge Cup 1979, a series in three games against the Soviet national ice hockey team, he played for the NHL All-Stars.
When the Canadiens hung his jersey with the number 10 under the stadium roof, he was the sixth player in team history, which was bestowed this honor. He took a position on the staff of the Canadiens, but soon it came to a dispute over his salary and thus also to the separation.
In 1988, he was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame and was after Gordie Howe of the second player, who again returned to the NHL after this honor as a player. The New York Rangers had submitted to him an offer and he played for the team in the 1988/89 season, 67 games in which reach 18 goals and 27 Assists him. After the season, he was a well- doped offer the Los Angeles Kings, but after a year in a foreign country, he decided to return to Quebec. He followed his friend and coach Michel Bergeron of the Quebec Nordiques to the Rangers. The Rangers received a draft law of Quebec in the fifth round as compensation. This they used well and took Sergei Zubov so. After two seasons, he finally ended his career in Quebec, where they had begun.
The Minnesota North Stars secured in the NHL Expansion Draft 1991, the rights to Lafleur, but Quebec took it back a day later.
Career Stats
Internationally
Represented Canada at:
- Canada Cup 1976
- 1981 World Championship
- Canada Cup 1981
Represented National Hockey League at:
- Challenge Cup 1979
( Key to Career statistics: Sp or GP = Games Played, T or G = goals scored, V or A = achieved assists; Pts or Pts = scored points scorer, SM or PIM = received penalty minutes, / - = Plus / Minus balance sheet; PP = scored majority gates; SH = scored shorthanded goals, GW = achieved victory gates; Play-downs/Relegation 1 )