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Thursday, July 12, 2001
Lapointe gives Boston 'element of toughness'
Associated Press
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BOSTON -- Unrestricted NHL free agents Martin Lapointe and
Sean O'Donnell signed contracts with the Boston Bruins on Monday.
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| O'Donnell |
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| Lapointe |
Agent Gilles Lupien said Lapointe signed a four-year deal worth
about $5 million per season. The right wing had 27 goals and 30
assists for Detroit last year.
"Martin decided to go in Boston because of the style of play.
They're a young team, and they've got a future," Lupien said. "I
phoned (Bruins general manager Mike O'Connell) at about 12:30 last
night and said, `You've got Martin Lapointe.' He was very happy."
Lapointe said Monday that the money also was a factor.
"When you go out on the market, you have kind of an idea where
you stand moneywise, but when an offer comes in like that, you have
to think about it," he said. "I've got a family and kids.
"Detroit was in the picture. They had a budget. I respect that.
And they decided to go out in another direction."
Lapointe averaged 18 goals over his last five full NHL seasons
and was a member of the Red Wings' Stanley Cup championship team in 1997 and
1998.
Lapointe became an unrestricted free agent on Sunday. He
qualified for free agency because last season was his 10th in the
NHL and his salary, about $1.35 million, was below the average
salary by about $100,000.
Detroit's first-round pick, 10th overall, in the 1991 draft is
coming off his most productive season. He has 108 goals and 230
points in 552 career games.
Red Wings associate coach Dave Lewis said losing Lapointe and
veteran left wing Vyacheslav Kozlov, who was traded to the Buffalo
Sabres over the weekend for Dominik Hasek, will force the team to
make up for the loss of major scorers.
"That's one area that has to be shored up. Between the two of
them, you put Igor (Larionov) in the middle, that's two-thirds of a
line. There are going to be changed responsibilities offensively.
"We can still sign free agents and possibly make some trades."
O'Donnell, who had four goals and 13 assists in 80 games with
the Minnesota Wild and New Jersey Devils last season, signed a
three-year deal worth $7.5 million, according to his agent, Larry
Kelly.
"For a good Irishman who can play a physical game at his own
end, he'll be appreciated and get a chance to play his own game,"
Kelly said. "It was more hockey than money."
O'Donnell was drafted by Buffalo in 1991. He's also played with
the Sabres' and Kings' organizations.
"Sean adds toughness and bite to our defense and he will
certainly deepen our depth on the blue line in an area we wanted to
bolster," O'Connell said.
O'Connell called Lapointe a "steady scorer" and "a proven
winner" who will add "an element of toughness to our forward
lines."
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