NHL: Who is the greatest goal scorer of their generation?

Guy Lafleur

Reign: 1975-78
Team: Montreal Canadiens
Goals Scored during Reign: 172
Games Played: 238 out of a possible 240
Adjusted Goals per Game: 0.72
Goals per Game of Era: 3.34
Scoring Titles: 1

Guy Lafleur was the second best goal scorer in 1974-75, finishing with 53 goals in a breakout campaign. He remained second in scoring the next two seasons, finishing with 56 each until 1977-78, where he put home 60 goals, playing for perhaps one of the greatest teams of all time. He helped lead a dynasty that won four Cups in a row, and five Cups in six years.

Lafleur’s excellent skating and shooting led him to score 50 goals in each season between 1974-80. He was a dominant force on the ice, leading Montreal’s faithful to chant “Guy! Guy!” every time he touched the puck. His defensive play wasn’t very strong, and that led to a less than ceremonious exit from the NHL for a few years.

Lafleur’s scoring helped shape a dynasty that is famous in hockey lore. While Lafleur was still a dominant scorer at the tail end of that dynasty, another young player who could score in droves helped shape another famous dynasty, and took the scoring crown from LaFleur. That player? Mike Bossy.