Lafleur: The Legend, written by Steven Finn and Pierre Gince, provides an in-depth look at the life and legacy of NHL hockey player Guy Lafleur.
Lafleur includes 40 chapters that serve as mini-profiles of Guy Lafleur. Each chapter is an interview with someone who knew Lafleur. Interviewees include family members like Guy’s mother Pierrette and his sons Martin and Mark, athletes who played with or against him at various levels, neighbours, trainers, and others.
“Because of the variety of people interviewed, readers gain insight into Guy Lafleur’s childhood,”
Lafleur: The Legend includes interviews with Vladislav Tretiak, the famous Russian goaltender who played against Lafleur in international competitions, Michel Bergeron and Scotty Bowman, who coached Lafleur, and NHL stars like Marcel Dionne, André “Moose” Dupont, Denis Potvin, Darryl Sittler, and Lanny McDonald. NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman and Geoff Molson, current president, chief executive officer, and co-owner of the Montréal Canadiens, are in the mix as well.
Those who followed the Canadiens during their glory years of the 1970s will recognize interviewees like Réjean Houle, Yvan Cournoyer, Guy Lapointe, Peter Mahovlich, Serge Savard, Larry Robinson, and Ken Dryden, who were Lafleur’s teammates. There is even an interview with Viggo Mortensen, an actor and director who was a long-time fan of Lafleur’s.
Joe Sakic, Michel Goulet, and Peter Stastny, who were Lafleur’s teammates on the Québec Nordiques, are also interviewed. Some interviewees interacted with Lafleur in more than one way; for example, as an NHL opponent and Canada Cup teammate. This provides an additional layer of perspective.
Chapters begin with a brief introduction of the interviewee and their connection to Lafleur, then proceed with a question-and-answer structure. While some questions are tailored to the individual being interviewed, others are fairly consistent throughout. Some of the consistent questions, like those asking interviewees about their oldest memories of Guy, their last encounters with him, their thoughts on his legacy, and “unforgettable stories” about Lafleur, provide some of the most interesting, funny, and moving moments in the book.
Because of the variety of people interviewed, readers gain insight into Guy Lafleur’s childhood, his early days in hockey, and his junior and professional career, as well as his later life. Both teammates and opponents talk about the electrifying nature of Lafleur’s game when he received the puck in full stride, speeding toward the net with his hair flowing.
Interviewees comment on Guy’s work ethic, his passion for the game, his humility, and his willingness to spend time with fans. His son Mark recalls that sometimes, when the family went to a restaurant, Guy’s meal would go cold as he signed autographs or posed for photos. The interview with former Canadiens’ trainer Gaétan Lefebvre highlights Lafleur’s kindness and generosity.
Many teammates point to Lafleur’s dedication, as he would often arrive at practices and games well before other players, spending extra time perfecting his shot from different angles.
Lafleur, who won five Stanley Cups as a member of the Montréal Canadiens, retired in 1985 at the age of 33, despite having the physical ability to play longer. Though reasons given vary, they seem to revolve around his lack of playing time and the fact that the Canadiens’ defensive style and systems clashed with his particular talents and aptitudes.
Lafleur was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1988, and subsequently returned to the NHL to play for three more seasons, with the New York Rangers and the Québec Nordiques. Lafleur’s early retirement and later return to the NHL was included as one of the topics discussed with several of the interviewees.
Later, Lafleur became an ambassador for the Montreal Canadiens, a role he undertook with passion. He also participated in NHL Legends Tour events, continuing to show his characteristic joy and enthusiasm when on the ice.
Lafleur died in April 2022 at the age of 70, so capturing the stories and memories of those who knew him is timely. Lafleur: The Legend is an entertaining read, and serves as a fitting tribute to a standout hockey player who was respected by teammates and opponents alike, who remained humble despite his stardom, and who always made time for the fans.
About the Author
Steven Finn played twelve years in the NHL with the Québec Nordiques, the Tampa Bay Lightning, and the Los Angeles Kings. He spent ten of those years with the Nordiques, where he was co-captain with Guy Lafleur. Today, he is a successful entrepreneur, sports analyst, and public speaker.
Pierre Gince is a communications strategist. Founding President of Mesure Média, he regularly comments on the effect of the media on the reputation of companies, brands, and personalities. He is also the coauthor of Robert Bourassa and Us, René Lévesque and Us, as well as Félix Leclerc and Us.
About the Reviewer
Lisa Timpf lives in Simcoe, Ontario, where she writes poetry, book reviews, short stories, and creative nonfiction. Lisa’s speculative poetry collections Cats and Dogs in Space (2025) and In Days to Come (2022) are available from Hiraeth Publishing. Lisa is a member of SF Canada and the Science Fiction and Fantasy Poetry Association. You can find out more about Lisa’s writing projects at http://lisatimpf.blogspot.com/. Lisa is also on Bluesky, @lisatimpf.bsky.social
Book Details
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Publication date: Oct. 14 2025
Language: English
Print length: 320 pages
ISBN-10: 1668204061
ISBN-13: 978-1668204061