MONTREAL, QC. — Guy Lafleur is a member of the Hockey Hall of Fame, was part of five Stanley Cup championships and has been honoured with numerous NHL awards. There’s little argument that Lafleur is one of the top five greatest Canadiens of all time.

The accolades thrown his way for his on-ice accomplishments are well-deserved. Off-ice his record has been far more spotty. No need to go into detail here, but suffice to say, Lafleur’s words, conduct and choices have spanned from ignorant to criminal.

Lafleur has made news again questioning the members of the Canadiens and media for praising their successful season. Lafleur said, “Do not settle for a good season. You do not play hockey to have a good season. You play to win the Stanley Cup. It has to be the objective.”

He went further calling out Canadiens forwards Max Pacioretty and Thomas Vanek for their performance in the playoffs.

Speaking in French to La Presse, Lafleur said, “Guys like Vanek and Pacioretty, you can’t keep these guys on your team. They should remain at home if they are not willing to pay the price. Your team will never win with players like them who disappear when they face adversity.”

Interestingly, Sean Fitz-Gerald writing in the National Post, noted that Lafleur had 14 points in his first 29 post-season games, an average of 0.48 points per game. Pacioretty has 11 points in 21 playoff games for a 0.52 point per game average.

Lafleur did say that he was impressed by goaltender Dustin Tokarski. In his opinion, the injury to Carey Price was not a factor in the Canadiens being eliminated by the New York Rangers.

While Lafleur and others are welcome to voice their opinions, it is up to savvy fans to recognize the fading relevance of the words of former stars who have left the game, especially those who have a history of questionable statements about the organization.