Chicago Blackhawks‘ 10th year (that’s amazing) left wing Pierre-Cedric Labrie(22) went from signing a minor league deal to scoring a major one the following season now twice.
It first occurred after he was traded from his initial contract team Vancouver Canucks to St. Louis Blues, sent down and left unqualified.
The big 6’3″ 223 lbs. player signed a 2-year deal with Norfolk Admirals in 2010/2011 and started to click on the score sheet.
Parent club Tampa Bay Lightning noticed but waited for a hot start to begin the next season before inking the burgeoning power forward to a 2-year contract.
He even scored his first NHL appearances, skating 14 games and getting his first two points, assists.
In the 2nd year of his deal he would produce his best numbers for the farm club scoring 14 goals and 17 assists for 31 points through 56 AHL games, then tack on another 9 points on the way to winning the 2012 Calder Cup Championship.
He would also appear in a season high 19 games with the parent club scoring his first two goals and an assist.
These efforts would earn him a first one-way contract for 2012/2013, but unfortunately he fizzles and the unrestricted free agent was on the hunt for a new squad.
The Blackhawks were the next suitors agreeing to one year term, but the big, powerful skater continued to sputter offensively.
It would leave him yet again looking to secure a next stop.
He wouldn’t need to go far as affiliate Rockford IceHogs was quick to invite him to return despite limited output.
Working under pressure seems to suit this player well.
He notched a career best 20 goals, dwarfing his previous high from 4 years earlier and got himself another big transaction, re-signing with Chicago.
It’s also been that long since he played a big league game but the 30-year old could get that opportunity in the upcoming campaign.
Pierre-Cedric Labrie(20) Tampa Bay Lightning
5th year undrafted forward Pierre-Cedric Labrie(20) has been finding his scoring touch in the 2nd season of a standard player contract he signed in December 2010 with Norfolk Admirals.
He was initially signed to a pto to start the year with the team.
In 29 AHL games this season he is on pace for career scoring highs with 6 goals and 13 assists and a +17 plus/minus.
Through 2010/2011 he put up 7 goals and 19 assists in 64 games with an impressive +14 mark.
He’s impressed the brass with Tampa Bay Lightning enough that they signed him to a two-year, two-way NHL contract last month and he was recalled in earlier this month for his first action in the show.
So far, he has only played limited minutes in 3 games (all losses) averaging less than 5 minutes a game but already has a first big league fight on his stat sheet.
An argument could be made that December is his best month, as it’s the month he celebrates his birthday and when signed his last two major contracts.