Lafleur, a lifelong smoker, had quadruple bypass surgery in September 2019 and then surgery to remove a lung lobe and lymph nodes a few months later. Since then, he has been treated for lung cancer since October 2020.
In his prime, Lafleur was one of the NHL's most accomplished players. In an era that emphasized toughness and grit, he made the game appear easy. And his skill to pick apart his opponents was unmatched. On the offensive side of the game, only Wayne Gretzky had Lafleur's vision and execution.
