Guy Lafleur is never sure whatB次元官网网址檚 around the next corner.

When his cancer treatments arenB次元官网网址檛 quite as draining, the Montreal Canadiens great has energy.

And then there are other times when all he wants to do is rest.

B次元官网网址淚 get the immunotherapy the first three weeks, and then the fourth week I have the big chemo,B次元官网网址� Lafleur said of his regimen in a recent interview with The Canadian Press. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 the chemotherapy that really hurts you badly. ThereB次元官网网址檚 not a week thatB次元官网网址檚 the same. The last two weeks, I was feeling very, very bad and sleeping a lot.

B次元官网网址淏ut the last three days I feel a lot better B次元官网网址� a lot of ups and downs.B次元官网网址�

A cancerous white spot was discovered on LafleurB次元官网网址檚 right lung by chance in September 2019 when he was undergoing quadruple bypass heart surgery. Two months later, the Hockey Hall of Fame winger went under the knife again to remove both the upper lobe of his lung and lymph nodes.

B次元官网网址淚 had no idea,B次元官网网址� Lafleur said of his cancer, thankful it was caught early. B次元官网网址淚 maybe would have ended up with Stage 4 and maybe it would have been too late.B次元官网网址�

But he received bad news in October 2020 that the cancer was back, which is when Lafleur began his current treatment.

B次元官网网址淭hereB次元官网网址檚 not too many people that have a chance to grab it from the beginning,B次元官网网址� said the 70-year-old Lafleur, who has partnered with Merck Canada for its new B次元官网网址淏e The MVPB次元官网网址� campaign to raise awareness about early lung cancer detection.

The Canadian Cancer Society estimates 21,000 people will die of lung cancer in this country in 2021 B次元官网网址� some 25 per cent of all cancer deaths.

B次元官网网址淢ost people when they find out, itB次元官网网址檚 Stage 4,B次元官网网址� added Lafleur, a chain smoker until quitting cold turkey due to his health concerns in 2019. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 not too late, because thereB次元官网网址檚 miracles out there, and thereB次元官网网址檚 people that are surviving.

B次元官网网址淏ut itB次元官网网址檚 better to find out yourself.B次元官网网址�

Lafleur, who won five Stanley Cups as part of the CanadiensB次元官网网址� dynasty of the 1970s during a sparkling career, continues to watch his old team with a keen eye.

The man nicknamed B次元官网网址淭he FlowerB次元官网网址� doesnB次元官网网址檛 attend many games B次元官网网址� although Lafleur did get a thunderous ovation at the Bell Centre during last seasonB次元官网网址檚 improbable run to the final B次元官网网址� but has been disappointed by a start thatB次元官网网址檚 seen Montreal win just five times in 20 outings to sit 29th in the NHL standings.

B次元官网网址淭hey went for the Stanley Cup and now are almost last place,B次元官网网址� said Lafleur, who registered 560 goals and 1,353 points in 1,126 games with the Canadiens, New York Rangers and Quebec Nordiques.

B次元官网网址淚f youB次元官网网址檙e not ready and if you donB次元官网网址檛 have the right players, youB次元官网网址檙e not going to win.B次元官网网址�

Montreal has, of course, been minus two big pieces in 2021-22. Canadiens captain Shea Weber is dealing with injuries that could force his retirement, while goaltender Carey Price entered a residential treatment facility for B次元官网网址渟ubstance useB次元官网网址� prior to the season and continues to work his way back.

B次元官网网址淭hatB次元官网网址檚 two big guys missing,B次元官网网址� Lafleur said. B次元官网网址淏ut itB次元官网网址檚 not normal to have losing streaks like that. Even if youB次元官网网址檙e missing two guys you should be able to compensate.B次元官网网址�

While critical of the teamB次元官网网址檚 on-ice performance, Lafleur has plenty of admiration for Price and winger Jonathan Drouin, who left the team last spring to deal with insomnia and anxiety, for addressing their mental health needs B次元官网网址� and then sharing details publicly.

B次元官网网址淭hey were hiding it for a while, their problems, but it came out and itB次元官网网址檚 going to help,B次元官网网址� Lafleur said. B次元官网网址淔irst of all, themselves. And also people will understand what they go through. ItB次元官网网址檚 a good thing.

B次元官网网址淭heyB次元官网网址檙e not the only two in the league, IB次元官网网址檒l tell you that.B次元官网网址�

Lafleur believes the Canadiens need to name a captain, with Weber on the shelf indefinitely. Gritty forward Brendan Gallagher is his choice.

B次元官网网址淩ight now,B次元官网网址� he said emphatically. B次元官网网址淪orry for Shea, but heB次元官网网址檚 not playing. You need somebody that players look up to.

B次元官网网址淎nd Brendan B次元官网网址� heB次元官网网址檚 the guy that shows up for every game, he pays the price every game.B次元官网网址�

Meanwhile, the gameB次元官网网址檚 declining interest among QuebecB次元官网网址檚 youth has pushed the provincial government to unveil a strategy aimed at increasing the number of Quebecers in the NHL.

Lafleur isnB次元官网网址檛 part of the committee announced last week, but he has a few ideas.

B次元官网网址淭imes change,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淢inor hockey, itB次元官网网址檚 so expensive. For parents to bring their kids up to the junior (level), itB次元官网网址檚 unbelievable. In our day, we didnB次元官网网址檛 have that.

B次元官网网址淚t was not that much money because we didnB次元官网网址檛 travel much. Minor hockey, itB次元官网网址檚 organized like the NHL now.B次元官网网址�

Lafleur also pointed the finger at some parents.

B次元官网网址淭hey put so much pressure on the kids,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淭hey think about winning the lottery if they make (the NHL).

B次元官网网址淭hatB次元官网网址檚 why a lot of kids are quitting B次元官网网址� thereB次元官网网址檚 too much pressure. They have to perform all the time.B次元官网网址�

Pressure to perform, however, comes with the territory for a storied franchise with 24 Cup banners.

B次元官网网址淵ou have to go to war together,B次元官网网址� Lafleur said of the current Canadiens. B次元官网网址淣ot one guy one night, two guys the next night. ItB次元官网网址檚 20 guys on the team, and you go out there and you do everything in your power to win.

B次元官网网址淢ontreal is the best city in the world to play in, if you win. If you donB次元官网网址檛 win, itB次元官网网址檚 hell.B次元官网网址�

Lafleur has lived in his own form of that the last 26 months with his surgeries, the COVID-19 pandemic, the cancerB次元官网网址檚 return, and treatments that can take a heavy toll.

But the support of family, friends and fans B次元官网网址� the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League retired his number last month B次元官网网址� has been immeasurable.

B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檝e been mostly stuck in the house since 2019,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淢entally, itB次元官网网址檚 tough. Hopefully I get through this and get out of it with a victory.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 the hope for everybody that has cancer.B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址擩oshua Clipperton, The Canadian Press