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Entries with the tag: Ian+Laperriere

What Is Colorado Thinking?

by Paul on 06/15/09 at 08:41 AM ET
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from Adrian Dater of the Denver Post,

Like a lot of things this summer involving the Avalanche, it doesn’t make much sense. Ian Laperriere, heart-and-soul forward, fan favorite and locker-room leader, will no longer be on the team after July 1.

That in itself is not the part that is mystifying. It’s not unreasonable a team would want to jettison a 35-year-old player, with 40 goals in the 307 games he played with the Avs. The Avs want to get younger, and maybe a little cheaper. We get that.

But why in the world are the Avs letting Lappy go for nothing — contract talks have essentially ended between him and the team — when the Avs probably could have gotten a pretty nice draft pick from another NHL team at the trade deadline? Why did a team that was out of the playoff picture not deal one of its more marketable assets, especially when the team knew Laperriere could become an unrestricted free agent and wanted a raise?

continued

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 Tags: Ian+Laperriere,

Evening Line

by Paul on 03/27/09 at 06:06 PM ET
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“It’s a nightmare. I’m embarrassed. Hopefully my teammates are embarrassed. I’ve been in bad situations, but this is the worst of my career. 15 goals in two games? I mean, we have to have more pride than that, to show that we care more about one another. I know it’s tough; guys can use the injury factor. But what can you do - quit?”

-Ian Laperriere of the Colorado Avalanche after losing to the Ducks.  More from Adrian Dater of All Things Avs.

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 Tags: Ian+Laperriere,

The Softer Side Of Ian Laperriere

by Paul on 03/22/09 at 10:04 AM ET
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from Rick Sadowski at NHL.com,

About a dozen current and former patients from The Children’s Hospital in Denver, along with family members, strolled through the room to pose for pictures with players who happily chatted with the youngsters and signed autographs.

Not surprisingly, forward Ian Laperriere’s locker was the most popular destination for the kids. A hard-nosed agitator on the ice, “Lappy” is a soft touch away from the rink, especially when it comes to children.

“Everybody stopped by and talked to the kids and put a smile on their face,” he says. “I just can’t imagine being in their shoes. For me and my teammates, we know we’re lucky in life, being in the NHL. If we can change these kids’ lives for even a minute ...

read on and nice to see Rick (formerly of the Rocky Mountain News) continue his hockey writing.

Filed in: NHL Teams, Colorado Avalanche | KK Hockey | Permalink
 Tags: Ian+Laperriere,

Wings Show Interest In Laperriere

by Paul on 02/26/09 at 12:00 PM ET
Comments (15)

from Adrian Dater of All Things Avs,

You can take this one to the bank - the ones that aren’t soon to be run by the government, too: The Detroit Red Wings are interested in Ian Laperriere as a deadline rental.

Lappy hoisting the Cup in a Wings uniform this June - how does that sound, Av-Ahaholics?

continued

Filed in: NHL Teams, Colorado Avalanche, Detroit Red Wings | KK Hockey | Permalink
 Tags: Ian+Laperriere,

Laperriere Hopes To Stay In Colorado

by Paul on 02/23/09 at 07:46 AM ET
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from Adrian Dater of the Denver Post,

Negotiations have been ongoing between Ian Laperriere and Avalanche management toward a contract extension. But no agreement has been reached, and Laperriere is aware he could be dealt to another team by the NHL’s March 4 trade deadline if one can’t be made.

But Laperriere made it clear after Sunday’s 5-2 defeat to the Carolina Hurricanes that he wants to finish his career with the Avalanche.

“I don’t want to go anywhere else. But I’ve got no control over that,” said Laperriere, who has had a good season, at plus-2 with seven goals and 17 points. “If I do go somewhere else, I’ll go wherever they tell me to go. It’s a business, and we’ll see what happens in the next couple weeks.”

continued

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 Tags: Ian+Laperriere,

Laperriere Cares

by Paul on 06/15/08 at 08:28 AM ET
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from Adrian Dater of the Denver Post,

Fighters are always the nicest guys. It is a common saying in hockey, and Ian Laperriere has done nothing but keep it true in his NHL career.

Need a player to give some time for a good cause? Call Lappy. Need a player to say a few words to a group of kids at a school? Call Lappy.

And when the American Diabetes Association and the Denver Father’s Day Council went looking for father of the year candidates, they called Lappy. This month, Laperriere was named one of the city’s four fathers of the year by the ADA.

continued

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 Tags: Ian+Laperriere,

Players Study HockeyFights.com

by Paul on 03/14/08 at 10:22 PM ET
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from Jim Matheson of the Edmonton Journal,

His favourite website is hockeyfights.com. The site lists all the fights over an NHL year, describes them, and lets fans vote on who won or lost.

“We all look at it, even if guys say they don’t,” said Laperriere, who’s had 15 fights this year.

“I’m 34, that’s pretty good. More than I expected.”

He played Thursday with a sore finger on his left hand, so he wasn’t in a mood to drop the mitts, but he’s willing, if he’s able.

“Hockeyfights is a great study. There’s no better tool than that. You know if a guy throws right or left. You better know that before you get a shiner.”

more

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 Tags: Ian+Laperriere,

Laperriere Back for Avs

by Alanah McGinley on 12/05/07 at 01:49 PM ET
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From the CP via TSN,

The Colorado Avalanche activated forward Ian Laperriere from the injured reserve list Wednesday.  He missed nine games after suffering a knee injury during a game on Nov. 11 against Minnesota.

*numerous other Avalanche players are still having injury/illness issues however, including Joe Sakic

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 Tags: colorado+avalanche, ian+laperriere, injuries,

Laperriere Will Protect Colorado Stars

by Paul on 10/01/07 at 08:13 AM ET
Comments (2)

from the Denver Post,

The affable Laperriere has been fighting throughout training camp and the preseason, making sure everyone on his team and around the league knows they’ll have to go through him to get to Colorado’s numerous (and healthy) stars, including additions Ryan Smyth, Scott Hannan and Jaroslav Hlinka.

Lappy’s face is a mess, and he’s proud of it. He has multiple cuts around his nose, which has been pointing toward his right ear for years, and a black eye. He exceeds the definition of toughness and team pride, and uses those things to defend his teammates and provide motivation during rough times.

read on

Filed in: NHL Teams, Colorado Avalanche | KK Hockey | Permalink
 Tags: colorado+avalanche, Ian+Laperriere,