Maxim Lapierre

At 39 years old, Maxim Lapierre has this physical status:

Maxim Lapierre (born March 29, 1985) is a Canadian professional ice hockey forward who is currently playing for Eisbären Berlin of the Deutsche Eishockey Liga (DEL). He was drafted by the Montreal Canadiens in 2003 and ranked 61st overall in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL).

He spent portions of his first three professional seasons with the Hamilton Bulldogs of the American Hockey League (AHL), before playing his first full NHL season in 2008-09. Lapierre spent five-and-a-half seasons in the Canadiens organization before being traded to the Anaheim Ducks in December 2010.

He was transferred to the Vancouver Canucks two months later and helped the team advance to the 2011 Stanley Cup Finals, where they lost to the Boston Bruins.

Lapierre signed as a free agent with the St. Louis Blues on July 5, 2013.

In exchange for Marcel Goc, Lapierre was traded from St. Louis to the Pittsburgh Penguins on January 27, 2015.

Early life

Lapierre was born in Saint-Leonard, Quebec, and grew up in Repentigny, Quebec. Lapierre's midget team was based in Cap-de-la-Madeleine, Quebec, where they first started to play hockey at the age of nine. Jean-François Jacques, one of his teammates, continued to play for the Hamilton Bulldogs as well.

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Playing career

Lapierre made his Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) debut with the Montreal Rocket in 2001-02 season, scoring two goals in nine games. Lapierre had 22 goals and 43 points in his first full QMJHL season since 2002–03. In seven playoff games, he scored four points. Lapierre was selected in the second round of the 2003 NHL Entry Draft by the Montreal Canadiens, following his rookie season in the juniors. Following his draft, Lapierre returned to junior hockey early in the Canadiens' 2003 training camp. His QMJHL team had relocated to Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, to become the P.E.I. on returning from the field. In 2003-2004, the Rocket was launched in a new direction. In his third season with the Rockets, Lapierre scored a career-high 61 points in 67 games. He was in last year's junior ranks for the fourth time from 2004-05, having scored 52 points in 69 games.

He was contracted by the Canadiens to a three-year, entry-level deal in the offseason. Lapierre was in his first professional season in the American Hockey League (AHL) with the Hamilton Bulldogs, the Canadiens' minor league affiliate. He was called up to the NHL in November 2005 for a five-day stint, and he appeared in his first NHL game against the Florida Panthers on November 15. In a 4–3 Canadiens victory, he had three minutes of ice time, his first NHL game since the 2005–06 season. Lapierre's AHL career boasted 13 goals and 36 points in 73 games with the Bulldogs.

Four call-ups from Hamilton were received by Lapierre during the 2006–07 season. In a 4–3 victory over the Boston Bruins on December 12, 2006, he scored his first game of a call-up in his career, earning his first appearance in the game-winning goal by Guillaume Latendresse. In a 4–2 victory over the Tampa Bay Lightning, Mike Komisarek shot past goaltender Marc Denis for his first NHL goal. In late-January 2007, he received his last call-up of the season, and he stayed with the team until the end of the NHL regular season. He played in over 46 NHL games, six goals, and six assists, while still scoring 24 points in the AHL.

Lapierre was sent back to the Bulldogs for their 2007 playoff season, with Montreal not qualifying for the 2007 Stanley Cup playoffs. Hamilton advanced to the Calder Cup Finals, where they defeated the Hershey Bears in five games. In Hamilton's 2–1 victory in the championship-deciding game, Lapierre scored a goal and an assist. In 22 playoff games, he scored 12 points (six goals and six assists).

Lapierre returned to the Bulldogs in 2007 after playing for a Canadiens roster spot in the 2007 NHL pre-season. He was called back to the Canadiens on December 5, 2007, and he was recalled as the club's third or fourth line center. His time with the Canadiens soared as he played 53 games in the NHL with seven goals and 18 points, while his AHL teammates saw 14 points in 19 games.

Lapierre had established himself as a full-time NHLer and had earned a roster spot with the Canadiens out of training camp for the first time in his career. During a game against the Ottawa Senators on November 11, 2008, he was elbowed in the chest by beating forward Jarkko Ruutu. Lapierre was not injured on the game, but Ruutu received a two-game suspension for the infraction. In a 6–2 victory over the New York Rangers on December 4, 2008, Lapierre produced a Gordie Howe hat trick (a goal, an assist, and a fight). During a 5–2 victory over the Florida Panthers earlier this month, Lapierre's first NHL hat-trick was recorded for the first time in his career. In 2008-09, Lapierre had a fruitful career, with 15 goals and 13 assists in 28 games. The Canadiens were eliminated in the first round by the Boston Bruins after going scoreless in four playoff games. In the off-season, he underwent surgery but recovered in time for the 2009 training camp.

In 2009–10, Lapierre's offensive output dropped to 14 points, his lowest level in the NHL since his rookie season. During a game against the San Jose Sharks on March 5, 2010, Lapierre was suspended four games for a foul foul against opposing forward Scott Nichol. After Lapierre pushed him from behind, Nichol was left injured, causing him to crash into the end boards, causing him to crash into the end boards. In comparison to the suspension, Lapierre's salary was worth about $14,000, which went to the National Hockey League Players Association (NHLPA)'s emergency fund. In the 2010 playoffs, Lapierre helped the Canadiens advance to the Eastern Conference Semi-Finals by scoring goals in Game 6 of the first round against the Washington Capitals and the Pittsburgh Penguins, both elimination games. However, the Canadiens were eliminated in the third round by the Philadelphia Flyers in the Philadelphia Flyers; Lapierre finished the playoff season with three goals and one assist in 19 games.

Lapierre was traded to the Anaheim Ducks in exchange for defenceman Brett Festerling and a fifth-round draft pick in 2012. In a 4–1 loss to the Nashville Predators on January 5, 2011, he made his Ducks debut on January 5, 2011. In a 6–0 victory over the Columbus Blue Jackets, he scored his first point as a Duck, assisting on a goal by Matt Beleskey. Lapierre played 21 games with the Ducks, scoring three assists in the process, before being suspended again before the NHL trade deadline on February 28, 2011. He was sent by the Vancouver Canucks with forward MacGregor Sharp in exchange for minor-league forward Jol Perrault and a third-round draft pick in 2012.

Alain Vigneault, the Canucks' head coach, had reportedly recommended Lapierre to general manager Mike Gillis after he had coached Lapierre in the QMJHL. Lapierre's reputation as an agitator had been questioned by Vigneault upon his arrival in Vancouver, and he was told to reduce involvement in whistles, such as trash talking and unnecessary hits. In a 4–2 victory over the Colorado Avalanche on March 16, 2011, Lapierre scored his first goal as a Canuck. Although the Canucks originally planned to play him on the fourth line, Manny Malhotra's injury soon brought him to his third position. He had six goals and six assists in 78 games between Montreal, Anaheim, and Vancouver. During the 2011 playoffs, Lapierre's third line, with wingers Raffi Torres and Jannik Hansen, had three goals and five points in 25 games. For the first time in 17 years, he helped Vancouver reach the Stanley Cup Finals. Lapierre scored his only goal of Game 5 against the Boston Bruins in the Finals, assisting Vancouver to a 1–0 victory. With a 3–2 lead in the series, the Canucks went on to lose the next two games, losing the Stanley Cup in seven games. Lapierre was re-signed by Vancouver to a two-year, $2 million contract, promising to be a restricted free agent in the off-season.

Lapierre decided to a two-year, $2.2 million contract with the St. Louis Blues following the conclusion of his Vancouver stint. Lapierre diagnosed Dan Boyle on the boards, hospitalizing him, and sparking a brawl between the two teams on October 15, 2013; Lapierre was banned from the game. He was then banned, and a discipline hearing was held. On October 18, 2013, Lapierre's director of player safety Brendan Shanahan suspended them for five games.

In exchange for Marcel Goc, the Blues was moved from the Blues to the Pittsburgh Penguins on January 27, 2015. Lapierre was a key figure in the 2015 playoffs by getting under the skin of the New York Rangers by drawing penalties, triggering spats, taunting, and most importantly, playing play-by-play against the Rangers' bench. In Vancouver, Alain Vigneault, he was instrumental in the face-off dot and on the penalty kill, causing the New York Rangers and his former head coach.

Lapierre signed a one-year deal with Modo Hockey of the Swedish Hockey League on September 1, 2015. For a second year, the contract will have an option. Lapierre's resignation with Modo was canceled on January 20, 2016. Larry Hurras, the head coach who was later dismissed of his Modo coach duties, was able to start the season. Andreas Johansson, Lapierre's new coach, introduced a scheme that was not appropriate for the city's style of play. Maxim Lapierre, the best Modo in scoring with 8G, 11A, 19P in 34 games, has requested that his deal be terminated in a formal manner. Jason Whitney and Kyle Wilson both left Modo ahead of Lapierre's retirement in 2015.

He signed HC Lugano of the Swiss National League for the remainder of the season on January 25, 2016.

Lapierre, a professional try-out for the New York Rangers on July 28, 2016, with the intention to make a return to the league. Lapierre was released without a contract offer on October 5 after completing training camp and pre-season. Lapierre will be re-joining the team for the remainder of the season, according to HC Lugano on October 9, 2016. The team exercised Lapierre's option on his deal for the 2017–18 season at the conclusion of the 2017 playoffs. Lapierre has agreed to a one-year contract with HC Lugano, which will continue into the 2018-19 season.

Lapierre announced on December 5, 2018 that their deal with Lugano would continue for two years. Despite a valid deal for the next two seasons, Lapierre and HC Lugano mutually decided to part ways on July 13, 2019.

On July 14, 2019, Lapierre decided to stay in Europe, continuing his career on a two-year deal with German company Eisbären Berlin of the DEL. Lapierre, a professional ice hockey player, announced his retirement from professional ice hockey on December 6, 2020.

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