At Age 35, Laperriere Quickly Found A Taker
(Translated from Cyberpresse.ca)
Read the original text here
By Mathias Brunet
La Presse
August 7, 2009 - NHL teams are reluctant to offer long-term contracts to players aged 35 and over in this era of the salary cap.
Especially to defensive players who have not spared themselves physically over the years.
The Philadelphia Flyers were not afraid to sign the Quebec-native Ian Laperriere for three years on the opening day of the free agent market.
Laperriere signed a three-year contract that will allow him to pocket $3.5 million.
"I was a little nervous even though my agent told me that I would be hired," admitted Laperriere yesterday by phone from his residence in the region north of Montreal. "But by three o'clock on July 1st, five clubs had called and offered me long-term contracts. It was flattering because they knew that I am not 20 years old anymore and that I have my pains like everyone else.
"We must also realize that there is a risk in giving a three-year contract to a player aged 35 and over because the salary is recorded in the payroll even in cases of retirement or dismissal to the minors (which is not the case for players 34 and under)."
But Laperriere enjoys an excellent reputation all over the NHL. He has only experienced a single season with more than 20 goals in his 15-year career, but his contribution is measured differently. He is a tremendous leader; he has served as assistant captain in Colorado and Los Angeles, he’s always positive, a unifier, a tireless worker, a quality defensive player, a robust attacker ready to break bones on the ice, and durable as well, since he has never played less than 70 games in his last 11 seasons.
"I always trained extremely hard. What I am the most proud of, and I mentioned it when I played my 1000th game, is that I am often teased because I train twice a day and because I go to bed early; they used to say I was boring but I am laughing about it today," he says in jest.
Laperriere has subjected himself for several years to a particular off-ice training. The bench press is not on the menu.
"I have practiced yoga and I do a lot of stretching exercises.
"It's Joe Sakic who initiated me. I arrived in Denver and I saw how he had a cranked up routine. I told myself: ‘I'm not Joe Sakic, but if it works for him, it can only help me.’ When I started to do it, Joe ordered some DVDs of the man who had taught him the method. He also offered some to the guys, but nobody took it. I became a fan.
"The guys laughed at me when I was doing my stretching at the gym so I decided to do them at our place!" he says while laughing. "They did not do it maliciously and this really did not bother me. These exercises, they are so that I can still move as necessary on the ice."
Four offers, but not from the Canadiens
Four teams, two from the Eastern Conference and two from the West, made an offer to Laperriere on July 1. The Canadiens were not among them.
"I have been a free agent twice and the Canadiens have never shown themselves, so I was not expecting that the Montrealers would be interested this time either," he said. "I was pleasantly surprised by the interest of the Flyers, especially since I played in the Western Conference for 15 years, aside from 28 games with the Rangers a few years ago. Phoenix offered me more money, but I did not want to play for a rebuilding team at 35 years old. I refused a 2-year offer in Denver last winter precisely for this reason.
"The Flyers were those who were most likely to win in the short term," he added. "This is a very robust team, but there is also a lot of talent. Seven guys scored 20 goals or more last year. Apart from that, the captain (Mike Richards), this goes to Daniel Briere, the small (Claude) Giroux, (Scott) Hartnell, and (Jeff) Carter, they have good stock. And when you go looking for a guy like Chris Pronger, it shows that you want to do everything to win. I can’t wait to go meet the guys. I already know Daniel Brière. He played with the Voltigeurs after my departure from Drummondville and we continued seeing each other with Joel Bouchard, who was his teammate in Phoenix."
The question marks that remain in front of the Flyers net do not seem to worry Laperriere. "Talent, Ray Emery has always had it. There are doubts about him, but I met him and I am sure he is aware that this is his last chance. Nobody offered him a contract two years ago. If he does not want to go back to Russia, he might do things differently. He is smart enough to realize it."
The Flyers will have a talented team. And the leadership will fail no more in this locker room.