Former Montreal Canadiens player Maxim Lapierre played 614 games in the National Hockey League (NHL) in five different organizations.

The least we can say is that his stint with the Vancouver Canucks, where he rubbed shoulders with the Sedin brothers and Roberto Luongo, was beyond impressive.

Celebrating the induction of these three Bettman Circuit monuments into the Hockey Hall of Fame, Lapierre explained to the podcast the dose why these three athletes were so unique and extraordinary when viewed from the inside.

A unique talent

“It’s a well-deserved honor. The Sedin brothers changed hockey primarily through their way of developing on the power play and protecting the puck.

“Their talent was really different from all the other spectacular players I’ve seen throughout my career. They stood out in their own way from Sidney Crosby, Alex Ovechkin and Alex Kovalev. They completed a unique duo.”

Listen to Maxim Lapierre’s full comments in the tab below.

“Because of Daniel’s injury, I had the chance to play on a line that consisted of Alex Burrows and Henrik Sedin. Offensively, it was probably the best moment of my career. It was so easy to play with these guys. They did magic with the puck,” added Lapierre, who defended the Canucks colors for three campaigns.

“It wasn’t their talent and their spectacular games that impressed me the most, but the class and respect of these two extraordinary men. You were so nice to everyone.”

Vancouver, nowhere like anywhere else

“I was acquired by the Canucks at the close of trade. As soon as I arrived in Vancouver, the players treated me and made me feel like an addition like Alex Ovechkin and not like a fourth row guy.

“Every single person has come to me and spent genuine, quality time with me. I’ve seen good dressing rooms, but it was unique there.

“The big names on the team thanked the depth players for blocking shots after games. You don’t see that often in the National Hockey League, in fact I’ve never seen it in my entire life.”

“How not to give body and soul afterwards. That’s it guide‘, the author finished with 139 points on the Bettman circuit.

One better than the other?

“It’s hard to say. If we draw a parallel with the Montreal Canadiens, Henrik had a similar style of play as Nick Suzuki because they are intelligent players who pass the puck well. Daniel was more of a marker. He was the Cole Caufield of Canucks if we’re looking for something comparable to the CH. That’s how we saw them internally.”

One question remains

“Would they have had the same career if they hadn’t played together? We never will be, but the question arises.

Roberto Luongo, a goalkeeper like no other

“Roberto was great Leader in Vancouver. He spoke and wasn’t embarrassed to comment between periods or during video sessions.

“Often goalkeepers find themselves in a bubble. That was not the case with Luongo.”

“You could say we had eight captains with the Canucks. The organization counted on hockey players like Kevin Bieksa, Henrik and Daniel Sedin, Roberto Luongo, Alex Burrows, Ryan Kesler, Manny Malhotra and Dan Hamhuis. It’s not just the “vs“, which defined guide this club.”