Maxim Lapierre

Forward Ben Maxwell has been returned this morning to the Hamilton Bulldogs. Suspended Maxim Lapierre, who sat out the past four games, is eligible to return tomorrow vs. Boston.

Given the NHL's wildly inconsistent manner of dealing with injurious hits, the four games assessed yesterday to Maxim Lapierre is fodder for discussion.

Blogger/Canadian Press correspondent Arpon Basu has put together this excellent video look at suspension-producing checks as he wonders whether four games is suitable punishment for Lapierre, shelved until next Saturday for Thursday's check of San Jose's Scott Nichol.

Maxim Lapierre has been suspended for four games by the NHL after a  hit from behind on Scott Nichol during the Canadiens' 3-2 loss to the San Jose Sharks on Thursday night.

Meanwhile, Sergei Kostitsyn has been dropped to the fourth line. Replacing him on a line with Tomas Plekanec and Andrei Kostitsyn is Tom Pyatt.

• Maxim Lapierre is in good shape but still feeling a little discomfort after summer surgery to clean up his right ankle (that part's not on the audio). He spent a month in Ottawa doing some high intensity training with Canadiens' new strength and conditioning coordinator Lorne Goldenberg.

• Guillaume Latendresse, who worked out with Lapierre in the nation's capital, appears to be in superb shape. He jokes that he and Lapierre, with Georges Laraque the only francophones on the team, will be enlisting a few English-speaking players on the club to learn French to give the trio a break with the francophone media.

• Josh Gorges likes Travis Moen. On the Canadiens' team web site, it would be news if he didn't. Over here at the more objective (and WAY more readable) Habis I/O, we like Moen, too. We like him because he defends his teammates from jerks like Steve Ott. The video link, for those reading on cell phones.

• Max the Good Samaritan. Habscore found this cool news report on Maxim Lapierre visiting some homeless people living under a tarp in a Montreal alley.

• Giant Finnish goaltender Petteri "Not the Same But" Simila – the last player chosen at the June draft – has signed to play with the Niagara IceDogs of the O.

• The NHL web site lists 10 breakout stars. No Canadiens.

• Kevin van Steendelaar interviews Marc-André Fortier, the sculptor who created the Canadiens immortals in Centennial Plaza.

• Who are these guys? The list of Canadiens' unsigned UFAs includes Chad Anderson, Ryan Flynn and T.J. Kemp.

• One of our favourite Penguins, Maxime Talbot, brings the Stanley Cup to St. Bruno.

•The NHL back to Quebec City? Quebecor wants to make it happen, and the Remillard brothers, who own the TQS network (110%) are interested. (Thanks to Lyse Lavallée for the link)

• Rumour in TO that Mike Milbury is off Hockey Night in Canada. Other than a breakthrough in cancer research, I can't conceive of a happier Saturday story.

• A feature on Shane Doan, just because we like him, he's Carey Price's cousin ad we think that anti-francophone slur story was a load of crap.

• The touching sentimentality and undying loyalty of pro sports: the day before Victor Martinez Bobblehead Night at Progressive Field in Cleveland, the Indians traded the catcher/first baseman to the Red Sox.

Th-th-th-th-th-that's all folks. Unless the Canadiens announce they've acquired Patrick Marleau, I'm taking Sunday off.

Saku Koivu – Our Captain. The 34-year old Finn is a stalwart of leadership, determination and perseverance. He’s battled through adversity both on and off the ice. He deals well with fans and with the media. He’s made Montreal his home. Unfortunately, he is also a reminder of our failures and our short-comings. We’re an under-sized team and during his tenure, we haven’t made a convincing run in the playoffs.

Saku’s best numbers were in 2006-07 when he notched 22 goals and 53 assists for 75 points. He also had a +/- of -21.
Critics point out that he’s not getting any younger and he’s never been the big number one center that we need. In Koivu’s defense, he’s never claimed to be.

If Gainey doesn’t ink Koivu – and we don’t trade for Lecavalier – then who do we sign to replace him? We could go after Henrik Sedin, but he’s a package deal with Daniel. The purported salary demands of the twins don’t appear exorbitant, but 12-year deals? That’s a long time.

Members of the media covering the Montreal Canadiens voted Maxim Lapierre as the Jacques Beauchamp Molson Trophy winner for the 2008-09 season. Awarded annually, the trophy recognizes the Canadiens player who had a dominant role during the regular season, without obtaining any particular honour.

Pat Hickey reports that Mike Komisarek and Maxim Lapierre got their sticks up at practice today.

The combatants discuss the incident here and here.

More audio: Komisarek  Ryan O'Byrne  Alex Kovalev

If you have read my mini-bio, you'll know that I have a soft spot for hard players. I love the guys that do their best work along the boards or in front of the net. If you stretch, dive, get hit, hit back and skate hard - you've made my good books.

Last night no one epitomized that type of player more than Maxim Lapierre.

As reported by CKAC on the weekend, the Canadiens have signed Maxim Lapierre to a new two-year contract.

Lapierre will make
$575,000 this season and $800,000 in 2009-'10.

These are modest, cap-friendly numbers for the Canadiens.

Lapierre has just completed a three-year deal that paid $625,000 in his first pro season, followed by $562,000 each of the last two seasons.

Lots of money left over in the kitty for AK46 and Josh Gorges.

The Canadiens today announced that they have recalled forward Maxim Lapierre and defenceman Ryan O'Byrne from the Hamilton Bulldogs of the American Hockey League.

The team also announced that Mikhail Grabovski has been sent to Hamilton to make room on the roster for Lapierre and O'Byrne.

This is from the team's official release:

Lapierre, 22, ranks second in scoring with the Bulldogs with 14 points in 19 games (seven goals, seven assists). He is a plus-2 with 63 penalty minutes.

O'Byrne, 23, collected eight points in 18 games (two goals, six assists). He is a plus-4 with 43 penalty minutes.

Grabovski, 23, played in 12 games for the Canadiens this season. He recorded two points (one goal, one assist).