Remembering NHL Legends Mike Bossy (1957-2022) and Guy Lafleur (1951-2022)

[Sal]

Today, on the eve of the NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs, I would like to pause to remember the lives of two of the NHL's best players of all time - Mike Bossy and Guy Lafleur - who combined for over 1400 goals and 9 Stanley Cup victories. Sadly, they died this April within a week of each other. I saw both of them play for most of their brilliant careers and I want to share part of their story with you along with a few links where you can find more info about their lives and NHL careers.


MIKE BOSSY - January 22, 1957-April 15, 2022

Mike Bossy played his entire career with the New York Islanders and was a key part of their dynasty where they won 4 straight Stanley Cups between 1980-83. The Isles were also led by future Hall Of Famers Denis Potvin, Bryan Trottier, Billy Smith and Clark Gillies, who also passed away earlier this year on Jan.21. Bossy was chosen at 15th overall in the draft after an outstanding career in junior hockey, which his critics feared would not translate well in the NHL, since they felt that his defensive game was fairly weak. Bossy proved all his doubters wrong by scoring 53 goals in his rookie season of 1977-78 and won the Calder Trophy as Rookie Of The Year. He scored 50 goals for 9 straight seasons, which remains an NHL record, and would have made it 10, but chronic back problems, which had been bothering him for many years, put a premature end to his career and he had to retire at the young age of 30. Other career highlights included winning the Conn Smythe as the MVP of the playoffs in 1982, leading the Isles to the 3rd of their 4 straight Cups, and becoming the 2nd NHL player to score 50 goals in 50 games in 1981, matching a feat first achieved by his hero Maurice "Rocket" Richard. After retirement, he became a TV commentator with the French-language sports channel TVA in Quebec where he worked until his death on April 15 of lung cancer at the age of 65.


GUY LAFLEUR - September 20, 1951-April 22, 2022

Unlike fellow Quebec superstar Mike Bossy, Guy Lafleur seemed destined for greatness from a very young age. It was no surprise when Montreal made him the first overall pick in the 1971 NHL Draft, just ahead of another legend in Marcel Dionne. Lafleur was picked one day after the retirement of franchise icon Jean Beliveau and it was hoped that he would follow in Beliveau's footsteps during his career. During his first 3 seasons, he struggled so badly that the demanding Montreal fans were thinking that their team had made a mistake. The Habs themselves had even thought about trading him but then wisely reconsidered and chose to be patient with the young prodigy. Their patience would soon pay off in a big way. After scoring 29, 28, and 21 goals in his first 3 seasons, he suddenly exploded for 53 goals in his 4th season and would go on to score 50 or more goals in 6 straight seasons, with a high of 60 during the 1977-78 season. During the mid-1970s, when Bobby Orr was close to retirement and before Wayne Gretzky arrived, Lafleur was considered the best player in the NHL, winning 3 scoring titles, 2 MVP awards, and 5 Stanley Cup championships, including 4 in a row from 1975-76 to 1978-79, highlighted by a goal which fans still talk about today. It was against the Boston Bruins in the playoffs where the winner of the series would advance to the Stanley Cup final. With Montreal trailing by a goal late in the game and having been awarded a power-play thanks to a blunder by Bruins coach Don Cherry that cost his team a penalty for having too many men on the ice, Lafleur took a pass from Larry Robinson and blasted the puck in the net to tie the game and set the stage for a Habs victory in overtime. After that season, both Lafleur and the Canadiens could not regain their past glories and Lafleur remained unwilling to accept a diminished role with the team. He retired 4 years later but then came back after 4 years away from the game to play 3 more seasons with the New York Rangers and his hometown Quebec Nordiques. After retiring, Lafleur would often speak out to the media and say that the Canadiens of today could never compare to the team he played for because they weren't good enough. Fans would initially be shocked by his candor but eventually he would be forgiven because of his legendary status in Montreal. They also would forgive him for being a heavy smoker during his playing days which was a favorite pastime of his during and between games. It didn't affect how he played but it did eventually catch up to his body and cost him his life. Lafleur would die of lung cancer on April 22, 2022.


LINKS

MIKE BOSSY

NYIslanders Pre-Game Tribute

Career Highlights - Sportsnet

50 in 50 - January 24, 1981

MSG TV Tribute

Hockey Hall Of Fame - Biography & Profile

NHL.com - 100 Greatest Players

GUY LAFLEUR

Montreal Canadiens Pre-Game Tribute

Sportsnet Tribute

Ken Dryden Remembers Lafleur - Sportsnet

Lafleur's Greatest Goal vs Boston - 1979

Hockey Hall Of Fame - Biography and Profile

100 Greatest Players


THE LEGENDS MEET