10 CAREER DEFINING
GUY LAFLEUR CARDS
Who was the greatest player ever to wear La SainteFlanelle? Maurice Richard inflamed the passions of an entire province with his fiery demeanor and relentless thirst for goal scoring. Jean Beliveau exemplified grace and excellence on and off the ice. Jacques Plante was the innovative goalkeeper who backstopped the team to six Stanley Cups.
Legends all of them, but no one thrilled the Forum die-hards quite like Guy Lafleur.
“Night a er night, game a er game, he would electrify all of us with his skating, his control and his shot,” legendary columnist Red Fisher wrote.
Lafleur, who passed away in April at 70, is remembered as the centerpiece of Montreal’s last era of dominance. e flashy right winger helped lead the team to five Stanley Cups and was the first player in NHL history to score at least 50 goals and 100 points in six consecutive seasons. And while he created a larger-than-life image on the ice, he proved to be humble and approachable away from the rink.
“I was lucky,” said Canadiens owner Geoff Molson. “I got to see him from the very beginning. I was able to watch him as a young kid. And in those days, you look up at this big hockey player in admiration, and you can’t believe how privileged you are to be able to speak to the best hockey player in the world at that time.
“He’s a winner. He’s somebody who was completely dedicated to being the best he possibly can be every single day.”
Lafleur skated 14 seasons for the club until his first retirement in 1984, but his legacy in Montreal extends to this day.
“(You feel) the impact that he had on every single Montreal Canadiens fan,” said current Hab Brendan Gallagher. “How much he meant to so many people growing up… the joy he brought people. He was a special person. We’re really proud to wear this Montreal Canadiens logo in part because of individuals like Guy Lafleur.”
e magic of e Flower extended off the ice into the hobby. Whether growing up watching him play or hearing the tales of him flying down the ice, long blond hair trailing behind, collectors have always revered Lafleur and his cards. Whether current or contemporary, his singles can be counted on to draw a crowd.
Even so, many of Lafleur’s cards remain relatively affordable allowing for anyone to build an enviable collection of this Hall of Famer. ere’s only one challenge: Where to start? He has thousands of options to pursue – nearly 4,500 base, parallel, autograph, relic, and oddball singles in total – so narrowing down the field can be overwhelming. Looking for a little guidance? ese 10 cards serve as an excellent representation of his playing career, making them the foundation of a Lafleur PC you can be proud of.
“HE’S A WINNER. HE’S SOMEBODY WHO WAS COMPLETELY DEDICATED TO BEING THE BEST HE POSSIBLY CAN BE EVERY SINGLE DAY.”