Now in his fourth season at the helm of the American Hockey League’s (AHL) Lehigh Valley Phantoms, Ian Laperrière became the fourth head coach in franchise history to reach 100 wins earlier this season. Prior to transitioning to the front office and coaching ranks, the Montreal native played parts of 16 seasons in the NHL. The longtime enforcer was a fan-favorite at every stop of his career.
Despite only playing one full campaign in a Philadelphia Flyers uniform, the right-winger remains a beloved figure in the history of the franchise. His physicality and toughness on the ice fit in perfectly with a team that reveres hard-nosed players. As he continues to build up his coaching resume, Laperrière has become a strong candidate for future big-league jobs.
Blues & Rangers
Drafted 158th overall by the St. Louis Blues in 1992, Laperrière broke into the NHL with the club during the 1993-94 season. His one game in the league that campaign on March 3, 1994, served as the debut for a long and productive career. The following season, the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) product played in 37 games, recording 27 points (13 goals and 14 assists) and 85 penalty minutes. Known as an enforcer throughout his career, Laperrière had 87 penalty minutes in 33 games before being dealt to the New York Rangers on Dec. 8, 1995, for Stéphane Matteau. After joining the Rangers, he added another 53 penalty minutes in 28 games.
Los Angeles Kings
The 1995-96 campaign saw Laperrière join his third team on March 14, 1996. The 22-year-old was traded with Ray Ferraro, Mattias Norström, Nathan LaFayette, and a draft pick to the Los Angeles Kings for Jari Kurri, Marty McSorley, and Shane Churla. Laperrière played 10 games in his debut season with the Kings, adding two goals, three assists, and 15 penalty minutes to his campaign totals.
During the 1996-97 season, Laperrière appeared in 62 games for the Kings. One of his best seasons with Los Angeles came during the 1999-00 season when he recorded 185 penalty minutes and 22 points (nine goals and 13 assists) in 79 games. His popularity in the locker room and outstanding leadership on the ice ultimately earned him the alternate captain’s “A” during the 2001-02 campaign. Between 2001 and 2004, in three full seasons as alternate captain, Laperrière appeared in 216 games, racking up 63 points and 305 penalty minutes. His Kings made it to the postseason once during this three-year stretch, falling to the Colorado Avalanche 4-3 in the 2002 Western Conference quarterfinals.
Colorado Avalanche
Laperrière signed a free-agent contract with the Avalanche on July 2, 2004. The 2004-05 NHL lockout and ensuing season cancellation delayed “Lappy” from suiting up for Colorado until the 2005-06 campaign. He was again rewarded with the alternate captain’s “A,” an honor he maintained for his four seasons with the Avalanche. In his first season with Colorado, the right-shot forward exploded offensively, earning 45 points, his career high in the NHL. His 21 goals, 24 assists, and 116 penalty minutes helped propel Colorado into the 2006 postseason. After defeating the Dallas Stars in the opening round (4-1), the Avalanche fell to the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim 4-0 in the Western Conference semifinals.
After missing the playoffs during the 2006-07 season, Colorado returned to their winning ways for the 2007-08 campaign. That season, Laperrière had 19 points and 133 penalty minutes in 69 appearances. In 10 playoff games, the 34-year-old had one goal, an assist, and 19 penalty minutes. His Avalanche beat the Minnesota Wild 4-2 in the Western Conference quarterfinals before running into the eventual Stanley Cup champion Detroit Red Wings in the semifinals. Detroit swept the Avalanche in the series.
In his final season with Colorado, Laperrière appeared in 74 games, recording 19 points (seven goals and 12 assists) and 163 penalty minutes. That season, he also reached a major career milestone, playing in his 1,000th career NHL game on April 11, 2009, against the Vancouver Canucks. A beloved member of the Avalanche, Laperrière failed to come to terms on a new contract with the franchise that offseason.
Philadelphia Flyers
On July 1, 2009, Laperrière signed a three-year contract with the Flyers. The veteran forward was an instant hit with the Philadelphia faithful. The 36-year-old again established his physicality with his fifth career team. In 82 games with the Flyers, Laperrière collected three goals, 17 assists, and 162 penalty minutes. He appeared in 13 playoff games for Philadelphia that postseason, adding an assist and six penalty minutes to his season totals.
Laperrière entered the annals of Philadelphia sports history on April 22 when he was hit in the face with a puck that injured his orbital and gave him a mild concussion. After missing the second round of the playoffs against the Boston Bruins, he returned for Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Final against the Montreal Canadiens. The Flyers ended their playoff run at the top of the Eastern Conference, falling to the Chicago Blackhawks 4-2 in the Stanley Cup Final. The 2010 Stanley Cup Final was Laperrière’s first appearance in the championship series.
Laperrière’s career came to an end the following preseason, when he started exhibiting symptoms of post-concussion syndrome and nerve damage in training camp. He was sidelined the entire 2010-11 campaign, being placed on long-term injured reserve to allow for recovery. Laperrière was forced to sit out again during the 2011-12 season. Despite missing significant playing time, he continued to demonstrate outstanding leadership by mentoring young players in the Flyers organizations. Seeing no path to a full return to playing, he officially retired from the NHL on June 12, 2012.
Post-Playing Career
Just under two weeks after his retirement from the league in 2012, the Flyers named Laperrière director of player development. During the 2013-14 season, he was named assistant coach of the Flyers. He served as an assistant coach for the club until June 5, 2021, when he was named head coach of the Flyers’ AHL affiliate, the Phantoms.
His Phantoms teams have made it to the postseason during the last two seasons. During the 2024 Calder Cup Playoffs, Lehigh Valley defeated its in-state rival, the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, 2-0 in the Atlantic Division first-round series. The Phantoms went on to fall to the eventual Calder Cup champion Hershey Bears 3-1 in the next round. On Oct. 24, 2024, Laperrière reached yet another career milestone, this time behind the bench, when he won his 100th game with a 2-1 victory over Hershey on the road.
As Laperrière’s popularity grows in the organization, all signs point to the 50-year-old being a potential successor to Flyers head coach John Tortorella when his tenure comes to an end. After all, Laperrière has the respect of the Flyers front office and fans alike, both as a player and coach. His continued success in the AHL only strengthens the case for him to get a shot behind the bench on professional hockey’s biggest stage.
