He also was a stalwart on the blue line for victorious Canada in the 1972 Summit Series, the eight-game series pitting an NHL all-star team against one from the Soviet Union.
From late February into early March, Lapointe underwent aggressive cancer treatment with 35 sessions of radiation and three bouts of chemotherapy. Doctors have declared him cancer-free, but there remain challenges for a robust 72-year-old whose legendary appetite matches his sense of humor.
"I had no idea this was the anniversary," Lapointe said from his home west of Montreal. "I feel pretty good but half of my tongue is paralyzed. Sometimes I have problems speaking some words. And I still can't taste any food or any drink. I'm limited with food because I have a hard time swallowing.
"I can't eat pizza, burgers or steak. I saw the doctor last week and he said it's 50-50 that I'll get my taste back. It might take another year. I had very strong treatment because my cancer was very advanced."
But it seems the radiation and chemotherapy didn't touch his lighter side.
"I feel like a garbage can: You open my lid, throw food into me and put my lid back on," Lapointe joked. "It's stressful at times. I can smell the food my wife makes me but I can't taste any of it. On the bright side, I've lost 50 pounds. I was 270, overweight with some reserves, and now I'm at 220, about 10 pounds over my playing weight. The doctor told me I had to lose some weight. It didn't come off the way I wanted to lose it, but I feel strong physically so I have no problem with that."
With a weakened immune system, the famously social Lapointe hasn't seen a former teammate in the past year, staying in touch by phone, and has only rare visits with his children. But he knows that too will improve with time.
"They want me to be careful, especially with the pandemic now," he said. "It's been a tough ride. I won't lie to you, some mornings are hard. But the positive thing is that my cancer is gone. Some people have it a lot worse than me."
