Martin Lapointe is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey player who played in the National Hockey League (NHL) for over 15 seasons. He was born on September 12, 1973, in Ville St. Pierre, Quebec, Canada. Lapointe began his hockey career in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) with the Laval Titan in 1989. He played for the Titan for three seasons, scoring 118 goals and 129 assists in 174 games.
In 1991, Lapointe was drafted by the Detroit Red Wings in the first round, 10th overall, in the NHL Entry Draft. He made his NHL debut with the Red Wings in the 1991-92 season and played for the team for eight seasons. During his time with the Red Wings, Lapointe was known for his physical play and his ability to score goals. He won the Stanley Cup with the Red Wings in 1997, 1998, and 2002.
In 1999, Lapointe signed as a free agent with the Boston Bruins. He played for the Bruins for five seasons, serving as the team's captain for two seasons. Lapointe was again known for his physical play and his ability to score goals. He was also a key penalty killer for the Bruins.
In 2004, Lapointe was traded to the Chicago Blackhawks. He played for the Blackhawks for two seasons before being traded to the Ottawa Senators in 2006. Lapointe played for the Senators for one season before signing as a free agent with the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2007. He played for the Penguins for one season before retiring from the NHL in 2008.
Throughout his NHL career, Lapointe played in 991 games, scoring 181 goals and 196 assists for a total of 377 points. He was known for his physical play, his ability to score goals, and his leadership on and off the ice. Lapointe was also a member of the Canadian national team, winning a gold medal at the 1994 World Championships.
After retiring from the NHL, Lapointe worked as a scout for the Montreal Canadiens and as an assistant coach for the Quebec Remparts of the QMJHL. In 2017, he was named the director of player development for the Tampa Bay Lightning.
In conclusion, Martin Lapointe had a successful NHL career, playing for five different teams and winning three Stanley Cups with the Detroit Red Wings. He was known for his physical play, his ability to score goals, and his leadership on and off the ice. After retiring from the NHL, Lapointe continued to work in hockey as a scout and coach.
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