Flyers' Laperriere Laments Missing Out on Boston Series
(from the Delaware County Daily Times)
By Rob Parent
Delaware County Daily Times
May 7, 2010 - VOORHEES, N.J. – The so-called "Toughest Man in the NHL," a name accorded to Ian Laperriere after he took a slapshot in the face in the fifth and final game against the Devils, was back and looking not so bad at the Skate Zone Thursday.
Though he's a natural locker room leader, Laperriere said he wasn't one to give any pep talks.
"It would be tough for me to do that," he said. "I'm way more comfortable if I can go out there and do it. Trust me, it's hard for me watching."
He said he'd be back in there if he were allowed and he knew Jeff Carter and Simon Gagne felt the same way.
"Oh, he practiced?" the unaware Laperriere said of Gagne. "Then I'm sure he'll be playing."
The unwelcome time off did afford Laperriere the chance to take care of another medical condition that he said was affecting his balance. He was very vague about the supposed condition, though he said, "it had nothing to do with my head, though."
As for his bruised brain, so-called by the Flyers, who are always sensitive to talk about the C (concussion) word, Laperriere said he'll be re-examined in about two weeks.
"I'm so glad I broke my orbital bone," said Laperriere. He claimed after he took the shot to the face that he passed a concussion baseline test, receiving a grade "better than when I took it the first time this year."
But upon further review on the orbital break, "they found that black spot on the brain," he said. "Thankfully they did, because I would have been playing."
Laperriere recalled his friend, former Colorado Avalanche player (and coach) Tony Granato, playing two days after taking a blow to the head – and not knowing he had a bruise on the brain. "Unfortunately for him," Laperriere said, "he goes out and it starts bleeding."