Quiet Robert said:
I don't think anyone's denying that Lafleur is considered better than Bossy in terms of overall career. I think it's pretty clear Lafleur had a longer career and overall is considered better. For reasons that you stated, among others, Lafleur is probably on top.
But this notion that Lafleur was a better or as good a goalscorer is false. I know you love Lafleur, but you also know your stats, so look at Bossy's numbers. You can manipulate the stats any way you want, Bossy's are simply better. Bossy was a better goalscorer, plain an simple.
Bossy
Season
GP G
752 573
Playoffs
GP G
129 85
Lafleur
Career
GP G
1127 560
Playoffs
128 58
Bossy will always be remembered as one of the greatest goalscorers of any position. Lafleur isn't in that category.
Also it should be noted that when Bossy played in the playoffs he played a lot more games in his prime then Lafleur did. Here are both men's 6 best playoffs.
Guy Lafleur:
11 GP 12 G 7 A 19 P
13 GP 7 G 10 A 17 P
14 GP 9 G 17 A 26 P
15 GP 10 G 11 A 21 P
16 GP 10 G 13 A 23 P
3 GP 3 G 1 A 4 P
Total: 72 GP 51 G 59 A 110 P
Mike Bossy
16 GP 10 G 13 A 23 P
18 GP 17 G 18 A 35 P
19 GP 17 G 10 A 27 P
19 GP 17 G 9 A 26 P
21 GP 8 G 10 A 18 P
10 GP 5 G 6 A 11 P
Total:103 GP 74 G 66 A 140 P
Now let's see their goals, assists and points per game averages.
Guy Lafleur: 0.71, 0.83, 1.54
Mike Bossy: 0.72, 0.64, 1.36
Now here's what both men would've had if they had played in the same number of games in their primes.
Guy Lafleur: 103 GP 73 Goals, 84 assists, 157 Points
Mike Bossy: 103 GP 74 Goals, 66 assists, 140 points
Still pretty close but Lafleur actually has the lead now doesnt he? They're pretty much the same in goal scoring except Lafleur is much better in playmaking. No knock on Bossy but he was no Guy Lafleur.
And you know if the following things hadn't taken place their stats wouldnt be even close.
1- Not take care of himself, smoke 2 packs a day and go out drinking every night.
2- Accident which nearly killed him and took a toll on him both phisically and mentally.
3- A defensive minded coach in Lemaire who was rarely playing him.
4- Lack of great players around him... as in no Bryan Trottier making plays.
5- Pressure to perform at the same level and boy what a high level it was and if you dont win the cup then you're nothing.
6- Being burned out after 4 cups in a row.
If those things hadn't happened then Guy would've been much better statisticaly and wouldnt have dropped all of a sudden from a 130 point man to a 70 point one. So all in all Bossy was great but he was no Guy Lafleur.
I thought I should post that again because its basically the answer. And no I never said Lafleur was better goals scorer then Bossy but he was just as good IN HIS PRIME. I mean if those 6 things I mentioned hadn't happened which in Bossy's case didnt Lafleur would've had at least 7 to 10 50 or more goal seasons. I know I got no proof but can you explain to me how a 60 goal guy like Lafleur drops to 27 goals all of a sudden? And they were so close in goal scoring even with the problems Lafleur had and in playmaking and pressure play and clutch/playoff play Lafleur was better so in the end Lafleur was the better player. Why else would you think Bossy was ranked number 20 by the hockey news and Lafleur number 11?