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Lafleur: The Legend
INSTANT BESTSELLER
A celebration of one of the most electric and magnetic hockey players of all time—the incomparable Guy Lafleur—in the words of his peers and admirers, from Joe Sakic to Chris Nilan.
Foreword by Wayne Gretzky.
Guy Lafleur. The name alone sizzles on the tongue, eliciting memories of Lafleur’s tremendous flow (in Quebec he is nicknamed “The Demon Blond”), his on-ice flair, his fiery play, and his incredible touch. He was fast and furious, the modern-day version of the legendary Maurice “Rocket” Richard. Lafleur played for the Canadiens during the Habs’s fabulous seventies era when they won multiple Stanley Cups. Lafleur was the ’70s, from his wardrobe to his hairstyle to his sideburns. He not only fought for the league lead in scoring—he was known to go to discos and even put out his own disco album. He absolutely mesmerized a generation of fans, changed the culture, and has influenced future draft classes ever for a generation.
For the first time, authors Steven Finn (who played with Lafleur) and Pierre Gince reveal an intimate portrait of Lafleur, the player and the man, in the words of those who enjoyed him, or who spent all their ice time pointlessly chasing him down the wing. Every chapter evokes different memories of the man nicknamed in English Canada as The Flower. Gilbert Perreault, who battled Lafleur at centre for almost two decades, is here. As is Scotty Bowman, who coached Lafleur, and Larry Robinson and Serge Savard, the Hall of Fame defencemen who skated behind him. Joe Sakic and Steven Finn recount their days playing with Lafleur when he was a Quebec Nordique. Lanny McDonald and Darryl Sittler share their thoughts on Lafleur’s rivalry with the Toronto Maple Leafs. In all, there are forty profiles by forty prominent players, coaches, family, and media, all of whom admired le Demon Blond.
A celebration of one of the most electric and magnetic hockey players of all time—the incomparable Guy Lafleur—in the words of his peers and admirers, from Joe Sakic to Chris Nilan.
Foreword by Wayne Gretzky.
Guy Lafleur. The name alone sizzles on the tongue, eliciting memories of Lafleur’s tremendous flow (in Quebec he is nicknamed “The Demon Blond”), his on-ice flair, his fiery play, and his incredible touch. He was fast and furious, the modern-day version of the legendary Maurice “Rocket” Richard. Lafleur played for the Canadiens during the Habs’s fabulous seventies era when they won multiple Stanley Cups. Lafleur was the ’70s, from his wardrobe to his hairstyle to his sideburns. He not only fought for the league lead in scoring—he was known to go to discos and even put out his own disco album. He absolutely mesmerized a generation of fans, changed the culture, and has influenced future draft classes ever for a generation.
For the first time, authors Steven Finn (who played with Lafleur) and Pierre Gince reveal an intimate portrait of Lafleur, the player and the man, in the words of those who enjoyed him, or who spent all their ice time pointlessly chasing him down the wing. Every chapter evokes different memories of the man nicknamed in English Canada as The Flower. Gilbert Perreault, who battled Lafleur at centre for almost two decades, is here. As is Scotty Bowman, who coached Lafleur, and Larry Robinson and Serge Savard, the Hall of Fame defencemen who skated behind him. Joe Sakic and Steven Finn recount their days playing with Lafleur when he was a Quebec Nordique. Lanny McDonald and Darryl Sittler share their thoughts on Lafleur’s rivalry with the Toronto Maple Leafs. In all, there are forty profiles by forty prominent players, coaches, family, and media, all of whom admired le Demon Blond.
- GenresHockey
320 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 14, 2025
5 people are currently reading
27 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
January 11, 2026
Certainly an interesting read! I don't know if I've ever read a biography before that is made up solely of interviews. It was unique...I'd of liked a more standard biography style but I believe their are other Lafleur bios out there. The interview set up is unique and offers an interesting lens to view Guy Lafleur as more than just a hockey player but as a member of society as well --- a normal human being! A great debut from his former teammate, Steven Finn.
January 2, 2026
Guy was my favourite hockey player growing up. Interviews with fellow NHLers, his family and others who knew the real Guy Lafleur.
September 3, 2025
I’m a Lafleur. My great-grandfather was Charles Eugene Lafleur.
On Saturday nights, as a young boy in New Brunswick, I’d sit cross-legged in front of the TV watching the Montreal Canadiens on Hockey Night in Canada. I remember watching Guy Lafleur flying down the ice with his hair flowing in the wind. My father would look up and tell me, “That’s your cousin.”
For years, I believed and was proud of that. I’d tell classmates. And I’d be mocked.
As an adult, I started questioning if I was or not. I would look at the origin story and would find flaws. Once I did the Ancestry DNA test and started looking at family history, I could find no connection between my Lafleur family and Guy’s Lafleur family.
It was ruse told by a drunk parent for kicks and giggles.
Thank you NetGalley and Simon & Schuster Canada for the Advanced Reader’s Copy of Lafleur: The Legend by Steven Finn & Pierre Gince. This book is to be published on October 14, 2025.
This is a collection of 40 interviews from former teammates, rivals, coaches, executives and family members reflecting on the impact that Guy Lafleur had both on and off the ice. The authors make a point in the Preface that a lot of what you read here will be repetitive. And that’s only because Guy Lafleur had the same impact on each and every person he met whether that was a teammate, rival, or fan.
Ten stars retired to the rafters at the Forum.
On Saturday nights, as a young boy in New Brunswick, I’d sit cross-legged in front of the TV watching the Montreal Canadiens on Hockey Night in Canada. I remember watching Guy Lafleur flying down the ice with his hair flowing in the wind. My father would look up and tell me, “That’s your cousin.”
For years, I believed and was proud of that. I’d tell classmates. And I’d be mocked.
As an adult, I started questioning if I was or not. I would look at the origin story and would find flaws. Once I did the Ancestry DNA test and started looking at family history, I could find no connection between my Lafleur family and Guy’s Lafleur family.
It was ruse told by a drunk parent for kicks and giggles.
Thank you NetGalley and Simon & Schuster Canada for the Advanced Reader’s Copy of Lafleur: The Legend by Steven Finn & Pierre Gince. This book is to be published on October 14, 2025.
This is a collection of 40 interviews from former teammates, rivals, coaches, executives and family members reflecting on the impact that Guy Lafleur had both on and off the ice. The authors make a point in the Preface that a lot of what you read here will be repetitive. And that’s only because Guy Lafleur had the same impact on each and every person he met whether that was a teammate, rival, or fan.
Ten stars retired to the rafters at the Forum.
December 29, 2025
A 360 degree look at the life and legend of Guy Lafleur. The authors of this book interviewed 50 different people about their experience of Guy Lafleur, asking very similar questions, with slight variations to make it more relevant to the specific nature of their relationship with Guy.
The interview subjects ranged from his immediate family, childhood friends, long time teammates, rivals, the doctor who treated Guy Lafleur as he was battling cancer, his helicopter instructor, his employers, coaches, equipment managers, and even Viggo Mortensen.
It was interesting to see which themes and impressions repeated throughout multiple interviews, and also it was funny to see people who tried to put a spin on certain events get contradicted by most other accounts. Here were my main takeaways:
-He smoked way too much.
-He was always absurdly early for everything.
-He liked driving very fast.
-He skated so fast his blond hair flowed behind him.
-He cared a lot about his ice time.
-He worshiped Jean Beliveau and tried to live up to being his successor.
-Despite his star status he was very kind, down to earth, and approachable.
-He had crazy aura and charisma on and off the ice.
-He was extremely generous to fans (a little less so with his family).
-He didn't take very good care of his body (smoking, partying, etc).
-He could not play within a coach's system. He played on instinct, for better or worse.
-He was very outspoken and critical of the Montreal Canadiens at times.
The only perspective I wish we could have added to this collection, was an interview with Jacques Lemaire, who is mentioned in probably 80% of these interviews, usually as an antagonist. I can't help but wonder if he and Lafleur patched things up before Lafleur's death.
The interview subjects ranged from his immediate family, childhood friends, long time teammates, rivals, the doctor who treated Guy Lafleur as he was battling cancer, his helicopter instructor, his employers, coaches, equipment managers, and even Viggo Mortensen.
It was interesting to see which themes and impressions repeated throughout multiple interviews, and also it was funny to see people who tried to put a spin on certain events get contradicted by most other accounts. Here were my main takeaways:
-He smoked way too much.
-He was always absurdly early for everything.
-He liked driving very fast.
-He skated so fast his blond hair flowed behind him.
-He cared a lot about his ice time.
-He worshiped Jean Beliveau and tried to live up to being his successor.
-Despite his star status he was very kind, down to earth, and approachable.
-He had crazy aura and charisma on and off the ice.
-He was extremely generous to fans (a little less so with his family).
-He didn't take very good care of his body (smoking, partying, etc).
-He could not play within a coach's system. He played on instinct, for better or worse.
-He was very outspoken and critical of the Montreal Canadiens at times.
The only perspective I wish we could have added to this collection, was an interview with Jacques Lemaire, who is mentioned in probably 80% of these interviews, usually as an antagonist. I can't help but wonder if he and Lafleur patched things up before Lafleur's death.
November 13, 2025
A comprehensive look into the player and the person as told through his coaches, friends and teammates. Thoroughly enjoyed the book and had the good fortune of meeting Guy. He was as friendly and nice as everyone said he was. He was an amazing player to watch in the 1970's.
January 24, 2026
A must read for all Hab fans.
A great collection of interviews that reflect on life of Guy and an insight into the great man he was.
RIP Guy!
A great collection of interviews that reflect on life of Guy and an insight into the great man he was.
RIP Guy!
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews