Lemieux and Penguins Mourn the Loss of Lafleur

As one of the best to ever play the game, Guy Lafleur had the respect and admiration of everyone in the hockey world.
But the Canadiens legend, who passed away on Friday at the age of 70, was particularly adored by those from his native Quebec … including a kid from Montreal named Mario Lemieux.

Lemieux watched in awe as 'The Flower' led the franchise to glory in the 1970s with his long locks and unparalleled goal-scoring prowess, becoming the cornerstone of their five Stanley Cup wins that came after he was drafted first overall in 1971.
"He was the best in the world in the '70s when I was watching the Montreal Canadiens," Lemieux said.
The night Lafleur scored his 1,000th point in the NHL on March 4, 1981, he stood to acknowledge the ovation from the crowd at the Montreal Forum, waving at the Canadiens faithful cheering the achievement. And one of those fans was a then-15-year-old Lemieux, smiling and clapping directly behind the bench.
"As a boy in Montreal, Guy was larger than life to me," Lemieux said. "I idolized him as a player, I respected him as a person, and always cherished him as a friend. He will be missed."
Three years after that night, Lemieux became a first overall pick himself, and we all know what happened from there. Le Magnifique was the most gifted player to ever lace up the skates, and his career was filled with iconic moments - including one that was voted the best of the NHL's first 100 years during their centennial celebration.
Lemieux flew to Ottawa for the announcement during the 2017 Scotiabank NHL100 Classic between the Montreal Canadiens and Ottawa Senators at Lansdowne Park. During a TV timeout in the second period, Lemieux was presented with a specially commissioned painting of his five goals, five ways by none other than Lafleur himself.
"I had a chance the last couple years to spend some time with him on different occasions," Lemieux said that evening. "So to get this painting from him tonight is even more special."
Longtime Penguins vice president of communications Tom McMillan, who retired last year, accompanied Lemieux to the event along with president and CEO David Morehouse. McMillan knows Lemieux well, and knows that night is one he'll never forget.
"I know it was a great moment for Mario," McMillan said. "He was very proud that it was Guy who presented him with that painting on the ice."
Today, young Penguins fans know Lemieux's legend despite never seeing him play - and that was the case for Sidney Crosby with Lafleur.
Crosby grew up a passionate Canadiens fan in Cole Harbour, Nova Scotia, as his father Troy had been drafted by Montreal in 1984, the same summer that Lemieux went to the Penguins and changed the course of franchise history forever.
Between that and Crosby's love for the history of the game, Lafleur left a huge impact on yet another first overall pick who would go on to join him as one of the all-time greats.
"I am saddened to hear of the passing of Guy Lafleur," Crosby said. "I was too young to watch him play live, but him flying down the wing was etched in my mind growing up following the Montreal Canadiens. Guy was someone you wanted to emulate. He was always kind to the next generation, and he will forever be remembered as hockey legend."