Laperriere Takes Avalanche's Offer
(from the Los Angeles Times)
By Mike Bresnahan
From Times Staff and Wire Reports
July 3, 2004 - Forward Ian Laperriere, a checking-line fixture for the Kings since 1996, signed a three-year, $4.2 million contract Friday with the Colorado Avalanche, declining bigger offers from other teams to play for the perennial Stanley Cup contender.
Laperriere, who made $900,000 last season and became an unrestricted free agent Thursday, was never a top scorer for the Kings, but he endeared himself to fans with his plucky play. Laperriere had 61 goals in 595 games with the Kings, but he was fifth in team history with 1,017 career penalty minutes.
Laperriere, 30, jumped at the chance to play for Colorado, which won the Stanley Cup in 2001 and 1996. If he plays in enough games, he could receive a fourth year that would increase the contract value to $5.6 million.
"I turned down more money from other teams to go there," Laperriere said. "I've been playing the way I play for 10 years and I think that's what they expect me to do. I know what my job is. In L.A., it was a defensive role playing against the best line and I'm sure that's the way it will be in Colorado."
At the same time, Laperriere said he would miss playing for the Kings, who offered a three-year deal worth $3.6 million.
"For sure it's tough," he said. "I was in L.A. for eight years and I wanted to re-sign there. I also told them if the deal wasn't right, I was going to test my free-market value. It's security for me and security for my family."