Maxim Lapierre used to get under my skin but so far this year he has been impressing.
He reminds me a lot of Ryan Kesler, of the Vancouver Canucks. They have a lot of similarities in their game.
I believe they are both really really fast right-handed centerman. Before Kesler exploded last season with 21 goals, he was mostly regarded as a guy that wasn't that good defensively, didn't play the PK much, wasn't great on faceoffs, didn't have much playmaking ability and was a shoot-first energy type of player. He was a grinder with a mean streak.
This description fits Lapierre well, and it seems as though Lapierre has improved defensively as well as in the faceoff dot, and I think his work on the PK has been amazing thus far.
I'd like to see Lapierre keep up what he's doing so far, and once he's got the defensive play down, who else thinks Lappy could score 15-20 goals for the Habs in a 3rd-line role, sorta like what Ryan Kesler is doing right now for the Nucks?
Because let's face it, with Lapierre's up-tempo style of play, speed and intensity, if he had a good shot and any sort of hockey sense, and the necessary ice time, he could score a lot of goals.
I know some like to compare him to Mike Fisher from the Ottawa Senators, but in my book Fisher is a much better playmaker, has better on-ice vision, and is MUCH better in his own zone than Lapierre as of right now.
He's not really good offensively. He's alright, but I can't see him getting anywhere near Kesler. IMO, it's a bad comparaison. Kesler is just better at everything!
Lapierre don't have the shot and the shot accuracy to be a scorer. He'll be alright, creating things here and there, but that's about it.
if only Lapierre had more of a scoring touch he'd probably rack up 10 shorthanded goals a season. He's not great offensively but gets a ton of shorthanded chances due to his speed and work along the boards. How many times has he come out of the corners with the puck after battling two guys on the PK?
I posted this somewhere else but kesler is mike peca in his prime... and bigger
Lapierre can be a good 4th liner in this league... kesler already is a very good 3rd liner... and can play in the top 6 if you want shift his role a bit... so he's more versatile too.
Right now, it's not even close. And I've been high on Lapierre the past 3 years. Kessler is miles ahead of Max at this stage, & I can only hope he comes close to being as good as him.
Last edited by Blades 0f Steel: 10-23-2008 at 03:12 PM.
Maxim Lapierre used to get under my skin but so far this year he has been impressing.
He reminds me a lot of Ryan Kesler, of the Vancouver Canucks. They have a lot of similarities in their game.
Well ... I think you need to have some core offensive abilities or ''offensive potential'' in order to improve drastically from 3 to 20 goals a season.
I don't like making a case against one of our players... but lapierre doesn't a good vision... and although he places himself surprisingly well sometimes in the offensive zone, his puck carying abilities and his simple lack of technique and shooting abilities doesn't exite me that much ...
He is a good 4th line center, an excellent bottom lines winger ... and what makes him good right now is the fact that he knows his role... which is one of the most important thing for that team.... having dandy, laraque, begin, kosto, lapierre knowing their roles..
kesler has a lot more potential that lapierre ... the comparison is far fetched...
You know, with all these chances that Lapierre's been getting (especially during the PK), you think he might pull a Bulis on the team?
This is starting to look an aweful lot like the same scenario.....
You know, with all these chances that Lapierre's been getting (especially during the PK), you think he might pull a Bulis on the team?
This is starting to look an aweful lot like the same scenario.....
We' ll see...We have 3 more games vs philly and their d is dreadful 4 g for laps doesnt seem impossible rly
I never said Lapierre was as good as Kesler. Did you guys even read? His style reminds me of him, and if he ever finds a way to bury a couple of those chances, he could score 15-20.
He plays a lot like Kesler, but there's no denying Kesler is more talented. Lapierre is starting to do those little things that Kesler has learnt to do, perhaps if you give more time to Lapierre to reach his full potential he could come close to Kesler one day.
To the guy that said Kesler is Mike Peca in his prime this is ****ing laughable hahahaha.
Hahahaa! True! Oh and remember the guy who said that Lapierre plays like Kessler? That was funny too!
loool seriously though; I also though the Kesler kid was overrated but he is actually pretty good. The Kesler Burrows due is working pretty well for the nucks so far.
At least this gives Ottawa fans some comic relief. They could use a break right now.
Hey, I got some Ottawa Senator sarcasm humour for ya.
"Our top 3 forwards are soooo good when separated."
"Jason Spezza is SUCH a good player when given new wingers."
"Mike Fisher is TOTALLY a good replacement for Spezza for Alfie and Heatley."
"Heatley is turning into SUCH a good leader."
"Brian Lee is NOT the most generic name for a person since John Smith."
Hey, I got some Ottawa Senator sarcasm humour for ya.
"Our top 3 forwards are soooo good when separated."
"Jason Spezza is SUCH a good player when given new wingers."
"Mike Fisher is TOTALLY a good replacement for Spezza for Alfie and Heatley."
"Heatley is turning into SUCH a good leader."
"Brian Lee is NOT the most generic name for a person since John Smith."
