Maxim Lapierre Maxim Lapierre ( born March 29 , 1985 ) is a Canadian professional ice hockey forward currently playing for the Vancouver Canucks of the National Hockey League ( NHL ) . Drafted out of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League ( QMJHL ) , he was selected 61st overall in 2003 by the Montreal Canadiens . He spent parts of his first three professional seasons with the Canadiens ' minor league affiliate , the Hamilton Bulldogs of the American Hockey League ( AHL ) before playing his first full NHL season in 2008 – 09 . Lapierre spent five - and - a - half seasons in the Canadiens organization before being traded to the Anaheim Ducks in December 2010 . Two months later , he was traded again to the Canucks . Early life . Lapierre was born in Saint - Léonard , Quebec , and grew up in Repentigny . Beginning to play hockey at age nine , Lapierre ' s midget team was based out of Cap - de - la - Madeleine , Quebec . One of his teammates , Jean - Francois Jacques , went on to play with him on the Hamilton Bulldogs , as well . Playing career . QMJHL . During the 2001 – 02 season , Lapierre made his Quebec Major Junior Hockey League ( QMJHL ) debut with the Montreal Rocket , appearing in nine games , during which time he scored two goals . Playing in his first full QMJHL season in 2002 – 03 , Lapierre 22 goals and 43 points over 72 games . He added four points in seven playoff games . Following his rookie year in the juniors , Lapierre was selected in the second round , 61st overall , of the 2003 NHL Entry Draft by the Montreal Canadiens . Following his draft , Lapierre was returned to junior early in the Canadiens ' 2003 training camp . His QMJHL club had relocated to Charlottetown , Prince Edward Island , to become the PEI Rocket in 2003 – 04 . Lapierre recorded a junior career - high 61 points over 67 games in his third season with the Rocket . Remaining in junior ranks for a fourth season in 2004 – 05 , he recorded 52 points over 69 games . Montreal Canadiens . In the off - season , he was signed by the Canadiens to a three - year , entry - level contract on July 28 , 2005 . Lapierre played his first professional season in the American Hockey League ( AHL ) with the Canadiens ' minor league affiliate , the Hamilton Bulldogs . He was called up to the NHL in November 2005 for a five - day stint , playing his first NHL game on November 15 against the Florida Panthers . He registered three minutes of ice time in 4 – 3 Canadiens win , his lone NHL game during the 2005 – 06 season . In the AHL , Lapierre recorded 13 goals and 36 points over 73 games with the Bulldogs . During the 2006 – 07 season , Lapierre received four separate call - ups from Hamilton . Playing in the first game of a call - up in December , he registered his first career NHL point in a 4 – 3 win against the Boston Bruins , earning the first assist on the game - winning goal by Guillaume Latendresse on December 12 , 2006 . The following game , he scored his first NHL goal in a 4 – 2 win against the Tampa Bay Lightning , tipping a Mike Komisarek shot past goaltender Marc Denis . In late - January 2007 , he received his last call - up of the campaign , remaining with the club until the end of the NHL regular season . Over 46 NHL games , he recorded 6 goals and 6 assists , while also tallying 24 points over 37 games in the AHL . With Montreal not qualifying for the Stanley Cup playoffs , he was sent back to the Bulldogs for their 2007 playoff season . Hamilton advanced to the Calder Cup Finals , where they defeated the Hershey Bears in five games . Lapierre scored a goal and an assist in Hamilton ' s 2 – 1 win in the championship - deciding game . He totaled 12 points ( 6 goals and 6 assists ) in 22 playoff games . After competing for a Canadiens roster spot in the 2007 NHL pre - season , Lapierre was returned to the Bulldogs to start the 2007 – 08 season . On December 5 , 2007 , he was recalled to the Canadiens , earning a role as the club ' s third or fourth line centre . His time with the Canadiens increased as he spent 53 games in the NHL with 7 goals and 18 points , while registering 14 points over 19 games in the AHL . By the 2008 – 09 campaign , he had established himself as a full - time NHLer and earned a roster spot with the Canadiens out of training camp for the first time in his career . Just over a month into the season , he was elbowed in the head by opposing forward Jarkko Ruutu during a game against the Ottawa Senators on November 11 , 2008 . Lapierre was not injured on the play , while Ruutu received a two - game suspension for the infraction . The following month , Lapierre recorded a Gordie Howe hat trick ( a goal , an assist and a fight ) in a 6 – 2 win against the New York Rangers on December 4 , 2008 . Later that month , on December 29 , 2008 , Lapierre recorded his first career NHL hat trick during a 5 – 2 win against the Florida Panthers . Lapierre had a career year in 2008 – 09 , finishing with 15 goals and 13 assists for 28 points over 79 games . After going scoreless in four playoff games , as the Canadiens were eliminated in the first round by the Boston Bruins , it was revealed that Lapierre had played the majority of the season in pain with an ankle injury . He underwent surgery in the off - season , recovering in time for the 2009 training camp . Lapierre ' s offensive production decreased to 14 points in 2009 – 10 , his lowest total in the NHL since his rookie season . On March 5 , 2010 , Lapierre was suspended four games for a hit against opposing forward Scott Nichol during a game against the San Jose Sharks the previous day . Nichol left the game injured after Lapierre pushed him from behind , causing him to crash into the end boards . In addition to the suspension , Lapierre lost approximately $ 14 , 000 in pay , which went to the NHL Players Association ' s emergency fund . In the 2010 playoffs , Lapierre helped the Canadiens advance to the semifinals , scoring goals in Game 6 of the first round against the Washington Capitals and the second round against the Pittsburgh Penguins , both elimination games . The Canadiens were eliminated in the third round by the Philadelphia Flyers ; Lapierre finished the playoff season with 3 goals and 1 assist in 19 games . Anaheim and Vancouver . After five - and - a - half seasons playing within the Canadiens organization , Lapierre was traded to the Anaheim Ducks for defenceman Brett Festerling and a fifth - round draft pick in 2012 on December 31 , 2010 . He made his Ducks debut on January 5 , 2011 , in a 4 – 1 loss to the Nashville Predators . The following game , he recorded his first point as a Duck , assisting on a goal by Matt Beleskey in a 6 – 0 win against the Columbus Blue Jackets . Lapierre played 21 games with the Ducks , recording three assists in that span , before being dealt again prior to the NHL trade deadline on February 28 , 2011 . He was sent to the Vancouver Canucks , along with forward MacGregor Sharp , in exchange for minor - league forward Joel Perrault , and a third - round draft pick in 2012 . Canucks head coach Alain Vigneault had reportedly recommended him to general manager Mike Gillis , having coached Lapierre in junior . Upon his arrival in Vancouver , Lapierre ' s reputation as an agitator was addressed by Vigneault and he was asked to reduce activity in between whistles , such as trash talking and unnecessary hits . Lapierre scored his first goal as a Canuck on March 16 , 2011 , in a 4 – 2 win against the Colorado Avalanche . While the Canucks originally acquired Lapierre with the intention of playing him on the fourth line , he soon moved up to the third with the injury of Manny Malhotra late in the season . Between Montreal , Anaheim and Vancouver , he finished the season with 6 goals and 6 assists over 78 games . Centring the third line with wingers Raffi Torres and Jannik Hansen during the 2011 playoffs , Lapierre added 3 goals and 5 points over 25 games . He helped Vancouver reach the Stanley Cup Finals for the first time in 17 years . During the Finals , Lapierre scored the only goal of Game 5 against the Boston Bruins , helping Vancouver to a 1 – 0 win . With a 3 – 2 lead in the series , the Canucks went on to lose the next two contests , losing the Stanley Cup in seven games . Set to become an restricted free agent in the off - season , Lapierre was re - signed by Vancouver to a two - year , $ 2 million contract on June 27 , 2011 . Playing style . Lapierre is known primarily as a checking forward , centring either the third or fourth line . He has a reputation as an agitator , distracting and provoking opposing players to take penalties . He plays with an aggressive edge and led all Canadiens forward in hits in his last full season with the club . Defensively responsible , he earns time on the penalty kill . In 2008 – 09 , he ranked third on the Canadiens in average short handed time on ice per game .