Laperriere Relishes Warrior Role
Veteran Avalanche winger not afraid to grind it out in corners, drop his gloves to get job done
(from the Edmonton Journal)
By Jim Matheson
The Edmonton Journal
March 15, 2009 - Colorado Avalanche winger Ian Laperriere loves to hit, fight and occasionally score a goal.
He also loves to talk and could easily slide into a broadcaster's chair when he's finished leading with his chin and by example. He has a face for radio, judging by all the scars and a nose that has often been broken.
The Detroit Red Wings were checking out Laperriere at the NHL trade deadline 10 days ago, which says a lot about a player who also tends to speak volumes. His spot in the Colorado dressing room is in a corner, which seems fitting.
Laperriere does a lot of good work in the corners on the ice, which is why the Red Wings and a few other teams wanted him as a role player for the drive to the NHL post-season.
"It was flattering ... I'm 35 years old and they still thought I could help their team," said Laperriere, who once played with current Edmonton Oilers assistant coach Kelly Buchberger as members of the Los Angeles Kings.
With no trade, however, Laperriere is now trying to get a new contract from the Avalanche.
"Probably won't be a 12-year deal, though, eh?" a reporter asked.
"Only if they come out with a magic pill. I don't think I can play that long," giggled Laperriere, who still wants to play with the Avalanche even though this is their rockiest season since they moved to Denver in 1995 from Quebec City.
Apart from the Red Wings, and maybe the New Jersey Devils, the Avalanche were a very good team season after season for a long time -- until the bottom fell out this year.
Too many losses and a dwindling fan base, too.
"I signed (originally) in Colorado because they were winning all the time and all of a sudden we are one of the worst teams in the league.
"You can't blame that on injuries (to Joe Sakic, for example). Every team has that. What's the problem? I don't know. I hope the people who do know (Avalanche general manager Francois Giguere) will do something in the summer," he said.
For now, Laperriere will keep playing the only way he knows how and, as usual, keeping an eye on anybody taking liberties and everything going on around the league. He's the ultimate fan.
Laperriere has had 177 career fights and he fights fair. The other night, he purposely cradled his hand behind the head of Blackhawks forward Colin Fraser as the Chicago player was tumbling to the ice. "If I hurt somebody with my fist ... that's one thing, but not likely with these pillows," he said. "But I saw his helmet come off. I didn't want his head hitting the ice.
"I would sure hope somebody would do the same for me. What drives me nuts is having guys still punching when guys are vulnerable. The fight is over." Laperriere knows the NHL wants to crack down on what it believes are staged fights directly off the faceoff, giving the scrappers a misconduct. But he's not sure how they can ever police it.
"If you put in a rule, like if they fight within five seconds (of a faceoff taking place), then they're going to look at each other, talk to each other, then fake like they're going ... and do it later," said Laperriere.
"Usually, if there's a fight at the beginning of a game, it's for something that happened the game before, too, and I'm all for that.
"Retaliation is part of our game ... maybe I shouldn't use that word and I'll get in trouble for saying it, but it's always going to be part of it," said Laperriere.
jmatheson@thejournal.canwest.com