Lapierre
With two former Montreal Canadiens head coaches — Alain Vigneault and Claude Julien — behind the benches for Vancouver and the Bruins, respectively, the upcoming Stanley Cup Final already has a Habs flavor to it.
Center Maxim Lapierre sounds like he wants to add to that.
The former Montreal pivot has been at his pesky best in the Stanley Cup playoffs for Vancouver after joining the team in a midseason trade with Anaheim. In a prior portion of his career, right up to last December, Lapierre was one of those Canadiens players the Bruins and their fans loved to hate.
The feeling is still mutual as far as Lapierre is concerned. Here’s what he told Ben Kuzma of The Province:
“I was raised to hate the Bruins. That’s the way it is for pretty much everybody in Montreal. They [Canadiens] had to win every year or people would be pissed off for the whole summer.”
That hate boiled over back in the ’09 Bruins-Canadiens playoff matchup, when Milan Lucic cross checked Lapierre in the head and received a one-game suspension. The Bruins got the last laugh that spring when they swept the series.
It sounds like Lapierre is looking forward to a postseason rematch with Lucic:
“Of course. He’s a great player, a big, strong, solid guy. He’s tough to play against, but you’ve got to show him you want to be the same and win as bad as he does. When it’s tight and you have to block a shot or make a hit, this is when I enjoy playing.”
With Montreal, Lapierre was a player so detested that even mild-mannered Bruins coach Julien made veiled references to the player’s shady on-ice actions.
If the hockey matches the rhetoric, sounds like there’ll be plenty of collisions and chicanery in the Cup Final when Lapierre is around.
Boston brings the game into the gutter. They are slow, less skilled players than vancouver, that is for sure. So the only way they can win is by playing rough, cheap shots galore and intimidating the other team. Ocassionally, it works. Not tonight. The best irony of it all? A former Canadien scores the goal against Boston in the Cup finals. EVERYONE in Montreal is lovin’ in. Boston still sucks.
Hey BG, did you just lay a bambino curse on them? Hilarious.
First of all, thanks for the kind words but I don’t think they are necessary.
It’s true, I don’t like the Chara / Pacioretty incident and I don’t think Boston or Montreal have been objective about what happened. I also don’t think Chara was completely honest in his role in the incident. But, this is a really dead horse at this point and I’m not exactly going to succeed in changing people’s minds here on that subject.
If Vancouver beats Boston, it will have nothing to do with Chara apologizing or not. It will have to do with Vancouver’s superior speed, offense, balanced defense. Boston has plenty of strengths too starting with depth, goaltending, toughness etc.
Who knows who wins. I just hope those green guys piss off the bruins.
Wow RD, you are really patient. Leave it as that. Chara will never say anything other than it was an unfortunate hockey play. Saying I’m sorry is such a hard thing to do for a hockey player..organisation…
I really envy your patience towards other posters. It is my assumption that you are a better father than most people posting on here. I am really impressed with you and your cleverness and willingness to try to educate people regardeless of how disrespectfull they are of your opinion and thinking matrix. I would like to tell you, quit right now, but that would mean unfinished business and somebody needs to volunteer. You are so patient you are now tagged as being an evanlegist, get Chara to publicly apoligized for murder in broad day light and you will win the Nobel peace prize.
But that will never happen, and that will prove to be an after the fact reasoning that wins over anything else.
Van will win becuz Chara never said the truth about PAX. He wanted to kill him or seriously harm his very soul. Never ever leave the incident without the 30 days that lead to the Chara’s sinister scheme.
Until Chara makes a hard felt apology for going overboard on Pax he desserves nothing but booooos across NA. Clumsiest Norris nominess ever ever forever.
RD-
“Hockey is a year long passion. My team’s out but I follow the game all year long and play it all year long”
Well said
Hockey is a year long passion. My team’s out but I follow the game all year long and play it all year long. Kick your own ass for suggesting Neely the Canadian be president.
If I ever went on a rivals blog to post, 4 weeks after my team was knocked out I’d kick my own ass. Habs fans get a life, or another sport lol.
[...] — Former Montreal Canadiens center Maxim Lapierre, now with the Canucks, has already expressed his hate for the Bruins both as a former Hab and a native of [...]
ya…… sooooooooooooooo….did you guys know we’re playing Vancouver this week? nice….. im pumped.
@MCK
1. Tremblay
2. Tremblay
3. Whether it is meant to be or not, comments about race can be taken different ways by different people.
Paddywan definitely race baited. Darren Pang also did inadvertently but I don’t think he posts here…or can reach the keyboard with his short stubby arms.
1. Lapierre is a diver and ex-Hab
2. When discussing divers and Habs, impossible to not mention PK
3. No
1. Why are we talking about the Canadiens?
2. Why are we talking about PK Subban?
3. Did someone seriously play the race card?
You’re right digger. Maybe some more Bruins fans would be needed?
The problem with our boards is that they are too full. There isn’t much point in posting a comment in a thread that has 400 replies. It all gets lost in the chaos. Here, you have about a dozen consistent posters and the occasional neanderthal that post their opinions and we can engage in a respectable discussion. Of course, I am not counting the crayola scribble from Kevin…
Dan, we’ll have to agree to disagree. Do we seriously have to listen to Don Cherry about anything.
Don: “hey hey there let me tell you about this kid Meelan Loooocheeech. He’s a good boy from Medicine hat, his mom and dad and uncles were firemen”
Ron Maclean: “Actually, Milan is from Vancouver”
Don: “hey hey hey….what da ya say? I don’t know my hockey? He’s from Medicine hat. Now kids, if you’re watching, don’t turn from a check like this those European pinkos. Take it on the shoulder like a good Canadian like that kid Kessler”
Ron: “Actually, he’s American…”
And Darren “Do it the White Way Pang”? The only guy on the list who’s opinion counts for something is Vinnie LeCavalier. And honestly, he did a double axe handle on Subban. He didn’t actually make any disparaging remarks about Subban, he just described the infractions he committed before retaliating.
I think the comparison to Marchand is fair. I think PK has far more upside but the mental lapses are common between the two. Didn’t Marchand do a headshot to RJ Umberger? Given that Bergeron and Savard have severe damage from their concussions, wouldn’t you guys be able to hold your tongue before listing off PKs infractions?
Maybe we should ask Savard if he’d rather deal with Subban or an elbow to the skull? Nobody’s perfect but I have yet to see PK headshot anyone. He can body check Marchand into next week but there was no head contact.
George, thank you for taking the high road with respect to Pk’s skin colour. Since you mention this, pay attention from now on how many comments hint at racism. You’ll find them from time to time.
RD- the absolute last thing we need on this board is more Hab fans. I suppose if more of you were able to read and write you’d have your own.
Dan, I was definitly too vague about Subban/Marchand. To clarify, I think they are similar in that sometimes they make poor decisions because they are a little immature. They both can have trouble walking the fine line of helping and hurting the team with their aggressive play. I do agree that Marchand does not dive like Subban does.
George, I disagree with the Marchand comparison. I don’t feel that Marchand dives quite like Subban and I also dont recall countless slewfooting’s from Marchand as we have seen from Subban.
I think Marchand skates hard and sometimes gets out of hand for sure, but it is usually a result of Marchand’s hard skating will to win a battle that gets him to take a penalty. Where Subban cheats to win battles and thinks dive/draw penalty first and will to win secondary.
PK Subban is going to be one of the elite defenseman in the league for years to come. He will stop the nonsense play as he matures, there is no difference between his play and that of Marchand’s. Anyone who makes jokes involving the color of his skin is a complete idiot.
RD:
you forgot vinny lecavalier http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H2cTdP4jEQ4
Darren Pang:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-tNVwQUJoik&feature=related
MSG: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uQTmiOe7dTc
Don Cherry: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VPYohasZS3E (@ 4:20)
Its more than just a few isolated incident’s for Subban.
Subban doesnt have any respect for the game or for any of the players out there. I put Subban up there right now with Matt Cooke, Tuomo Ruutu, Sean Avery, etc. There is no doubt in Subban’s skill. The kid has the making of a great player for years to come. However, he needs to mature and smarten up or it could be his demise.
Subban does not back it up. Subban continually avoided fighting Horton throughout the playoff series. Pretty sure that would have been an even exchange, given how he sent the Canadiens home for the summer and all.
And nobody who makes atrocious dives like the one Subban did in game 7, trying to get a call on Campbell, can be called a franchise player. He’s got the skills to be a franchise player, but he needs to cut the histrionics before we can even broach that subject.
RD – The truth hurts don’t it – now tell some more lies about it but I don’t want to hear your bu!!sh!! & neither does anyone else in the league outside of Montreal. The lies told & the way that whole incident was blown out of proportion by Hab fans has sickened the rest of the NHL & many of you are still wining about it. News Flash!! People are tired of the Chara,Pansierotti incident, it’s old news. Who cares?
RD, I respectfully disagree. Boucher was putting pressure on one particular referee before game 6, painting the picture that this one ref was being unfair to the Lightning. In fact, as of when I’m typing this TB has enjoyed the 2nd most PP’s in these playoffs.
Boucher was not talking about how many PP’s the team had as a whole, he was blatantly putting pressure on a ref before a game with the hopes of getting more PP’s. To me that takes away from how I feel about Boucher in terms of “class”.
You’re right. Lucic doesn’t cross check people in the face for no reason. He does it because they are wearing the opposing jersey. Lucic isn’t the perfect example of on-ice conduct. He’ll back away from Laraque who is the same height as him and 15 lbs heavier but challenge Pouliot who is 20-30 lbs lighter. He doesn’t need to wuss out. He did amazing against Komisarek who is the bigger man.
Dan, you have to consider the sources. Richards didn’t like Subban’s attitude but honestly, after Richards started head-shotting people, I classified him as a piece of garbage. What does his opinion count for?
Lupul was mad at Subban for fighting with him while he was fumbling with his helmet strap. Watch the replay, Lupul skated towards him while doing it. What is he? Retarded? Of course the punches will start flying if you skate into range. He was just embarrassed that he lost to a rookie.
Most players are respectful towards Subban. Often, it’s the ones that didn’t have things go their way that run to the reporters.
Nobody ever admits to being guilty of a trip. Everybody is a diver and every fan is an expert. Running to reporters and ranting about other players is the type of thing I’d expect from Sean Avery, not respectable players.
Speaking of rocks, where did you crawl out from? I’ve been stating my opinion here for weeks and I haven’t seen squat from you.
Lots of people don’t like Subban. Sure, he’s cocky, but he backs it up. It’s not like he isn’t performing well out there and he’s certainly fought when he had to. You have to realise this kid is getting into franchise player territory. Unlike Boston, most teams don’t want their franchise players getting into continuous scraps. Of course the goons want to fight Subban. What a trade off. Imagine the enforcer and Subban sitting in the box. Who gets the better out of that exchange?
@RD – Yes Lapierre can be an agitator, no one is denying that, and he is clearly good at what he does. Issues arise however, when he continually refuses to answer the bell. He hides behind the linesmen faster than PK falls to the ice when someone breathes on him. I know people could take issue with how Lucic carries himself at times, and his temper can get the best of him, but he doesn’t cross check people in the face for no reason
RD: you said: “I think you’ll find plenty of Bruins making disrespectful comments about players that you usually don’t see (ahem Krejci towards Subban and all the Habs, Thomas towards Subban”
What are you talking about? You don’t usually see comments being made about Subban? All 28 other teams have been talking about Subban and how class-less he is and if he doesn’t stop his ways how he’s going to get stomped. Not just the Bruins. What Boston’s players say about Subban, every other player, coach, etc in the league has already said twice over.
You need to get out from that rock you’re living under.
The refs have their eye on Lapierre. He’s been tagged for diving more than once.
Still, he has the potential to have a decent career. He potted 15 goals a couple years back and he’s found himself on a very strong team.
Kevin, you need to get your facts straight. I can’t find a single thing in your rant that is 100% accurate.
Eugene Philip Trembling – Yeah, the Scabitants are real classy alright,lying about the extent of Pansierottis injurys, saying he almost died, grade 3 concussion when he goes to the theater the night following, saying he will never play again when Dr’s
told him that very night he would make a full recovery, stupid fans flooding 911 lines trying to have Chara arrested, Molson going to the media with a statement filled with lies, Montreal & there fans are far from classy, you are a bunch of lying scumbags including you Mr. Trembling. It’s not just Bruin fans that saw through your lies either, the whole league did, you all just have your heads up your asses to far to realize it!
Lapierre is a marginal player that has a knack for getting under peoples’ skin. The Bruins simply have to ignore him as best they can. Lapierre will take some bad penalties so let him do his thing ans concertrate on Kesler, the Sedins and the rest of the talented Canucks.
What is this his fourth team in two years. Lapierre is a tool.
People wouldn’t know who this guy was if it wasn’t for the antics.
Hey guys, you need more habs fans here so I’m piping in.
Yeah, Max Lapierre is a pain in the butt but he’s an effective player. Personally, I don’t want this player to fight because I’ve seen him in about 6 fights and he hasn’t won one. He’d be the perfect match for the feather fisted Krejci if not for the size discrepancy. (Max is heavier).
Max is a very fast skater and and excellent body checker. He can also occasionally contribute some offense. He’s also useful on the penalty kill and has the potential to be a solid 3rd line center.
As for hating him, of course you hate him. First of all, he’s an agitator. Second, he gets under everybody’s skin and third he’s elusive when someone wants to rip his head off. This kind of player completely throws cement head type players off their game.
Sometimes though, you need to get out of your angry mindset and read the actual quote. I actually think Maxime’s response was quite complimentary and respectful towards Lucic. If you roll back the tapes after these playoffs are done, I think you’ll find plenty of Bruins making disrespectful comments about players that you usually don’t see (ahem Krejci towards Subban and all the Habs, Thomas towards Subban, Rechhi towards Pacioretty etc etc). It used to be men didn’t run to reporters when they weren’t happy with a guy.
Paddywan…what the hell was that? Why would PK Subban replace Tiger Woods? Oh wait, what do these 2 guys have in common? Any of you care to comment on the Paddywan’s so called “Class”?
George, your posts are irritating. Boucher was actually very classy in congratulating the Bruins and praising them as a team after he lost to them. For you to attack Boucher on class is just embarassing. If the penalties were called 24-9 against the Bruins, I assure you there would have been similar comments from Julien.
You guys have a good team, Vancouver has a good team also. Good luck.
Lapierre is the quintessential Hab. Turtle and dive, turtle and dive.
BTW JPT, it will be nice to see Bergeron’s name on the cup….he is a much better example of how French Canadiens should play the game.
Class from Guy Boucher? You mean the coach that when asked about a ref went on to make sure everyone knew the ref in question had a penalty discrepancy with Tampa? As much crap Claude gets from the fans, he’s as classy a coach as there is in the NHL.
I love reading JPT’s posts. Only confirms further that Habs and their fans are whiny classless wimps. Why are u still online? Isn’t it golf season for u?
mildly surprised the quebec prison system gives internet access to convicted pederasts.
All rise! Jean Paul Tremblay has blessed us with his presence.
Karl, come quick! And bring Chris Hansen!
JPT, in playing the “holier than thou” card (which you have done throughout the playoffs in support of your Habs and at the expense of the Bruins), you ironically show a tremendous lack of class. It’s not very becoming or gentlemanly of you, and it’s a disgrace to the values promoted by hockey.
Come down to Boston and troll to a Bruins fan’s face. I guarantee you that you’ll be laughed at and dismissed, as opposed to getting the brutish, immature response someone like you would expect out of us.
Also, I don’t exactly understand what it means to be turned into “mashed potatoes”, but I’m pretty sure Lapierre enjoyed being destroyed by the Bruins in his last playoff series with Montreal.
The Hab’s apparently shouldn’t have let Vigneault or Julien go either unless they enjoy playing golf in may/june.
Then again with the ease in which they fall over these days golf would be much more suited to their skill set. Does diving work in golf? With Tiger Woods’ downfall P.K Subban could have a great career in the sport.
Clearly you know class JP Troll.
What a piece of s41t player. I think everyone outside of MTL and VAN would agree. Turtles everytime he’s challenged, and hides behind the linesmen before he mouths off. I someone does a Paciocrappy on his candy ass!
It will be nice to see Lapierre get his name on the Stanley Cup this year. The Habs shouldn’t have let him go, I loved watching him turn Lucic, Chara and all into mashed potatoes as they went crazy going after him.
I am also surprised by all the posters saying how surprised they are by the class shown by Coach Boucher after the Tampa series. Why is everyone surprised. 28 teams in the NHL pretty well always act with class so why wouldn’t Boucher show class. I won’t mention the 2 teams that don’t show class except to say their initials are BB and PF.