Maxim Lapierre eager to put his time in with Ducks

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Center Maxim Lapierre acknowledged he knows very little about the Ducks, who acquired him from the Montreal Canadiens Friday for defenseman Brett Festerling and a fifth-round draft pick in 2012.

“I’ve played them only once in my whole career,” he said by phone Friday from Florida, where he had traveled with the Canadiens before being traded.

“But they have good character and I know a few of their players. I know Saku Koivu, Kyle Chipchura and Paul Mara.”

Lapierre, 25, said he is excited about getting a new start with the Ducks after getting progressively less playing time with the Canadiens. He averaged 11:41 over 38 games this season, slightly down from 12:16 last season and a big drop from his average of 14:48 in 2008-09.

The 6-foot-2, 200-pound native of St. Leonard said he didn’t ask out, though he did ask for clarification of his role under Coach Jacques Martin.

“We had a discussion. I didn’t really ask to be traded but I wanted to know where things were at for me,” he said. “I asked if I was part of their plans and they pretty much said no.

“When Guy Carbonneau was our coach I played 15 to 17 minutes a game. I played 14, 15 last year in the playoffs and I always had good results.”

Lapierre, who shoots right-handed, had five goals, eight points, a -7 defensive rating and a team-leading 63 penalty minutes in 38 games with the Canadiens this season. He was awaiting information on his travel plans as of mid-afternoon and won’t make it to Anaheim in time for the Ducks’ game Friday against the Philadelphia Flyers.

When he does arrive, he said he plans to work as hard as necessary to earn his playing time.

‘This is a new start for me,’ he said. ‘Nothing is easy in life. I’m going to go out and prove I deserve to play a lot.

‘It’s a special way to start the new year.’

--Helene Elliott