Ian Laperriere

Laperriere is still dealing with post concussion symptom's that date back to April. He's out indefinitely and it's unclear where is role will be when and if he makes a return. That return is likely a ways off.

Most likely the fourth-line center to start the season, the veteran will probably impact the team with experience and off-ice leadership more than anything he does on the ice. He'll play feisty but lacks the offensive flair to crack one of the top few lines in Philadelphia at his age.

Laperriere is a feisty, scrappy utility player for the Avs who will provide leadership and the ability to kill penalties. The team relies on him heavily, but he's strictly a fourth-line guy, so don't look to him for any fantasy production.

Laperriere was signed to a one-year extension so he's in the team's plans, but mostly has a third or fourth line forward. He offers the kind of physicality you don't normally see in the Avalanche forwards, having led the team in hits last season. His 45-point season in 2005-06 seems a long time ago.

The 32-year-old Laperriere enjoyed his best season as a pro in 2005-06, posting career-highs in goals (21) and assists (24), but then disappeared in the playoffs. Laperriere is likely a third-liner for the Avs, and we're not betting on a repeat this year.

Laperriere starts the season on a line with Alex Tanguay and the improved Steve Konowalchuk. He will be filling in for the injured Milan Hejduk for the first few weeks of the season on this line, but when Hejduk returns Laperriere will likely be relegated to grinder duty on the 4th line. He has never been much of a scorer, averaging under 20 points in his career and doesn't have much fantasy value barring some type of a breakout season with the Avs this year, which is unlikely as he is now in his late 30's and the Avs lost a lot of their scoring firepower this season.