Penguins Acquire Lapierre From Blues For Goc
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) –The Pittsburgh Penguins got back in the win column Tuesday night, but made a trade shortly after the game ended.
According to the team's officials website, the Penguins acquired center Maxim Lapierre from the St. Louis Blues in exchange for Marcel Goc.
The deal was announced in the immediate aftermath of the Penguins' 5-3 win over the Winnipeg Jets.
Lapierre, 29, has recorded 65 goals and 72 assists in 579 career games with Anaheim, Montreal, St. Louis and Vancouver.
The 6-foott-2-inch, 215-pound Lapierre will likely fill the fourth line center and penalty killing roles left behind by Goc.
Lapierre brings an added bit of toughness to the bottom six forwards. Lapierre is also good on faceoffs, winning 55 percent of his draws this season.
St. Louis Blues analyst Darren Pang joined the Starkey and Mueller Show on 93-7 The FAN to talk about Lapierre and what he'll bring to the Pens.
"You'll be pleasantly surprised at Lappy's skill level and how well he skates and gets around the ice," Pang said. "I think he's a better player with the puck than what he's actually shown the last couple of years as well so I think there's some real upside for Lappy there in Pittsburgh."
Many Pens fans are expecting Lapierre to take on the agitating role he has been known for throughout his career, but Pang said that may be in his past.
"He came into the league that way with Montreal in a big way," Pang told us. "He was an agitator, he was a big time talker between the benches. He would do whatever it would take to get under the skin of the opposition, especially while he was in Montreal...As he came to St. Louis, I saw a bit of the transformation. He went from that real agitating style to, honestly, a real honorable player."
Goc, won 54 percent of his draws this season. In 55 games with the Penguins, Goc recorded two goals and six assists.
The Penguins will be back in action tonight against the Washington Capitals.
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