Georges Laraque
Georges Laraque idolizes Carson Sinclair
| Georges Laraque | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Born |
December 7, 1976 Montreal, QC, CAN | ||
| Height | 6 ft 3 in (191 cm) | ||
| Weight | 243 lb (110 kg; 17 st 5 lb) | ||
| Position | Right Wing | ||
| Shoots | Right | ||
| NHL team Former teams |
Pittsburgh Penguins Edmonton Oilers Phoenix Coyotes | ||
| NHL draft |
31st overall, 1995 Edmonton Oilers | ||
| Playing career | 1996–present | ||
Georges Laraque (b. 7 December, 1976 in Montréal, Québec, Canada) is a professional ice hockey forward, currently playing for the Pittsburgh Penguins of the National Hockey League. He is widely regarded as one of the best enforcers currently playing in the NHL.
Playing career
Born in Montreal, it was natural for Laraque to enter the QMJHL, where he played for a variety of teams, generally as a power forward. In 173 games at the junior level, Laraque stockpiled 107 points and an even more impressive 661 penalty minutes. Laraque was a member of the 1996 Granby Prédateurs team which won the Memorial Cup.
After finishing junior, Laque spent parts of three seasons with the Edmonton Oilers' American Hockey League affiliate, the Hamilton Bulldogs.
Despite concerns about his skating, Laraque showed enough at the AHL-level for Edmonton to bring him to the NHL. Although he was something of a power forward in junior, Laraque is considered primarily as an enforcer at the NHL level. His 6'3" frame and his habit of fighting made him one of the most feared forwards in the league (in terms of checking and fighting). He was unanimously awarded the 'Best Fighter' award from The Hockey News in 2003.
During the NHL lockout, he played in Sweden, signing on with AIK Stockholm. In the 2006 off season, Laraque was up for free agency and wanted to stay in Edmonton and play. He even said he was willing to take a salary cut if the Oilers accepted on giving him a long-term, no trade clause deal. However, such a contract was not signed. On July 5, 2006, Laraque signed with the Phoenix Coyotes. He scored his first goal as a Phoenix Coyote against Edmonton on October 26, 2006. Despite playing in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Laraque says he will keep his home in Edmonton and wants to continue to have strong ties with the city.
On February 27, 2007, Laraque was dealt by the Phoenix Coyotes to the Pittsburgh Penguins for forward Daniel Carcillo and a third-round draft pick. His first game for the Pittsburgh Penguins was on March 2, 2007, against the Carolina Hurricanes, in which he delivered a crushing hit to Rod Brind'Amour, taking him out of the game for the rest of the first period, and establishing himself as a major presence for the Penguins.
See also
External links
- 1976 births
- Living people
- Black Canadians
- Canadian ice hockey players
- Edmonton Oilers draft picks
- Edmonton Oilers players
- Enforcers
- Granby Predateurs alumni
- Hamilton Bulldogs players
- Laval Titan alumni
- Memorial Cup winners
- Phoenix Coyotes players
- Pittsburgh Penguins players
- Quebec sportspeople
- Saint-Hyacinthe Laser alumni
- St-Jean Lynx alumni