The Pittsburgh Penguins brought in some agitating new presences in 2014-15, but it sounds like at least one of them won’t be back.
TVA’s Renaud Lavoie reports that the team won’t re-sign Maxim Lapierre, allowing him to hit the unrestricted free agent market.
The 30-year-old was best known for getting under opponents’ skin. In 80 regular season games, he managed 11 points and 32 PIM, and probably received a wide array of profane insults for his pesky ways. After 45 games wih the St. Louis Blues, he joined the Penguins via a trade (the Blues nabbed defensive forward Marcel Goc in the deal).
Penguins fans and observers seem pleased that he’s on his way out:
The fact that we know Dupuis is cleared, Letang is working out, and the #Pens aren’t resigning Lapierre/Adams… Things are looking up.
— Mike Necciai (@Michael29Angelo) June 11, 2015
In the nearly 50 minutes of 5v5 time where Scuderi and Lapierre were on the ice together, the penguins did not score.
— Micah Blake McCurdy (@IneffectiveMath) June 11, 2015
I was somewhat concerned about Lapierre staying, as Pens like to throw money at perceived "playoff performers" and instigators. He's both.
— Pens Report (@pensreport) June 11, 2015
The Penguins have other fish to fry this offseason, including a tougher decision to make regarding another (more productive) pest, as Steve Downie’s also heading toward free agency.