Claude Lapointe is a former professional ice hockey player who played in the National Hockey League (NHL) for over a decade. He was born on February 22, 1968, in Lachine, Quebec, Canada. Lapointe began his hockey career in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) with the Laval Titan in 1985. He played for the Titan for three seasons, scoring 97 goals and 146 assists in 181 games.
In 1988, Lapointe was drafted by the Detroit Red Wings in the eighth round of the NHL Entry Draft. However, he did not make his NHL debut until the 1990-91 season when he played in 12 games for the Red Wings. Lapointe spent the majority of his first few seasons in the NHL playing for the Adirondack Red Wings, Detroit's American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate.
In 1993, Lapointe was traded to the New York Islanders, where he played for the next six seasons. He had his best season in 1995-96 when he scored 23 goals and 25 assists in 81 games. Lapointe was known for his physical play and his ability to play both center and wing positions.
In 1999, Lapointe signed as a free agent with the St. Louis Blues. He played for the Blues for two seasons before being traded to the Philadelphia Flyers in 2001. Lapointe played in 67 games for the Flyers that season, scoring 10 goals and 10 assists.
After one season with the Flyers, Lapointe signed as a free agent with the Montreal Canadiens in 2002. He played in 72 games for the Canadiens that season, scoring 10 goals and 14 assists. Lapointe played one more season with the Canadiens before retiring from professional hockey in 2004.
Throughout his NHL career, Lapointe played in 879 games, scoring 181 goals and 235 assists for a total of 416 points. He also played in 70 playoff games, scoring 10 goals and 13 assists. Lapointe was known for his hard work and dedication to the game, and he was a respected teammate and leader on and off the ice.
After retiring from hockey, Lapointe worked as a scout for the Montreal Canadiens and later for the New York Islanders. He also coached youth hockey in his hometown of Lachine, Quebec. Lapointe was inducted into the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League Hall of Fame in 2012.
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