Canucks Sign Lapierre and Alberts to Two-Year Contracts

[BROKEN*ORBITAL]

Vancouver, B.C. - Vancouver Canucks President & General Manager Mike Gillis announced today that the Canucks have signed centre Maxim Lapierre and defenceman Andrew Alberts each to two-year contracts.

Lapierre, 26, recorded 12 points (6-6-12) and 80 penalty minutes in 78 games played in the 2010.11 season with the Canucks, Anaheim Ducks and Montreal Canadiens. In the 2011 playoffs, Lapierre recorded five points (3-2-5) and 66 penalty minutes in 25 games played. He also ranked second in the League in hits (83) in the playoffs and notched the game-winning goal in game five of the Stanley Cup Final versus Boston on June 10.

The Saint-Leonard, Quebec, native has appeared in 333 NHL games, recording 84 points (41-43-84) and 301 penalty minutes over the span of six NHL seasons with the Canadiens, Ducks and Canucks.

The 6’2”, 207-pound centre was originally selected 61st overall in the 2003 NHL Entry Draft by the Montreal Canadiens.

Alberts, 29, appeared in 42 games in 2010.11, recording seven points (1-6-7) and 41 penalty minutes. The 6’5”, 209-pound defenceman led Canucks blueliners in hits with 113. In the 2011 playoffs, Alberts played in nine games, collecting six penalty minutes.

The Minneapolis, Minnesota, native has appeared in 381 career games, recording 51 points (6-45-51) and 420 penalty minutes over the span of six NHL seasons with the Boston Bruins, Philadelphia Flyers, Carolina Hurricanes and Canucks.

Alberts was originally selected 179th overall in the 2001 NHL Entry Draft by the Boston Bruins.

[Captain Crunch28]

Biggest diver in the league.

[JKidd]

Figures... bunch of purse swingers bringing back the biggest purse swinger in the league.

[thruby]

Originally Posted by Captain Crunch28

Biggest diver in the league.

Burrows is coming for him.

[ghjkfdhgfd]

Can't wait for Powe and CC running him every game.

[RayzorEdge]

Canuckfan just jizzed his pants

[GIANTSFAN]

12 points is worth 1 million per year? fuk, maybe I do have a chance.

[BobNystromOwnsU]

Originally Posted by jkidd

Figures... bunch of purse swingers bringing back the biggest purse swinger in the league.

Purse swinger is too kind.

[Wild_KO King]

This is exactly the type of "player" that would be on the first flight to Sweden should Bettman ever remove his head from his troll ass and take out the instigator penalty.

I have to believe there is a long list of players that wouldn't mind taking a game or two suspension, just to shut this clown up. Most notably the Boston Bruins 4th line....

[canuckfan]

Originally Posted by RayzorEdge

Canuckfan just jizzed his pants

Yeah right...nearly.

Not crazy about this one. It could be downright difficult sometimes defending the Canucks and their antics, but when Lapierre is going full tilt its damn near impossible.

There's a good side to Lapierre, and a downright ugly and embarrassing side. I think he can be a real effective hockey player, be it a third or a fourth line role, he's got size, is good on the forecheck, can hit and chip in the odd goal, and is great on the PK - but thats only when he's composed and under control. When he's not - like he was in the finals - he can be a terribly humiliating distraction, for all the wrong reasons, and by game 6 I was sick of the antics and the diving.

Its such a damn shame because through the first three rounds of the playoffs, I thought he was doing a terrific job filling in for Malhorta and justified Gillis picking him up for next to nothing. Then the Bruins seemed to bring out the worst in him and it was all downhill from there. Seems like he can be such a risk on any given night, but when he's on and just concentrating on playing the game, he can be a real effective hockey player. Its just that ugly side of him....

Well - its only for two years, and at a managable price - if his act gets old, its not like its an unmovable contract. But I hope the leash Vigneault keeps him on is a short one....

[bengino]

Originally Posted by Wild_KO King

This is exactly the type of "player" that would be on the first flight to Sweden should Bettman ever remove his head from his troll ass and take out the instigator penalty.

I have to believe there is a long list of players that wouldn't mind taking a game or two suspension, just to shut this clown up. Most notably the Boston Bruins 4th line....

right.... because Boston surely would get suspended for anything...

on topic, Lapierre was with a Conference finalist last year, and cup finalist this year... he's not the main reason, but he's a decent role player, just not at that price tag.

[J_Shelley45]

Why bother when you could sign a character player instead?

[Loosey]

Said this when he was traded, I don't think Max Lapierre will ever hoist the cup

[Isles4life]

Watching Lapierre and Burrows in the playoffs was stomach-turning, as they led the Canucks in an effort that made a mockery of the sport with all the diving antics. This guy is an embarrassment to the game of hockey, and the Vancouver organization happily welcomes him back for another couple years.

I do appreciate loyalty to your team, and watching these antics must be hard to stomach for any halfway-intelligent Canuck fan. So it should be understood that the rest of self-respecting hockey fans should have no choice but to root for the Canucks to fail miserably as long as they continue to reward guys like Lapierre for their style of play.

[Humpzilla]

Well at least he'll be able to purchase a really expensive purse.

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