A fiery competitor and offensive threat for the Laval Titan for three years, Lapointe was chosen in the first round, 10th overall, by the Detroit Red Wings in the 1991 NHL entry draft. Highlights of his amateur days included leading all playoff scorers for Laval in 1993 and named to the Memorial Cup All-Star Team. Lapointe was also named to the QMJHL First All-Star Team twice and the Second All-Star Team once and represented his country at the 1991, 1992 and 1993 World Junior Championships.

During his first two pro seasons, Lapointe spent a fair bit of time with the Adirondack Red Wings of the AHL as well as Detroit. He was a part-time player when the club reached the Stanley Cup finals and then became a regular the next season. Lapointe's commitment to checking and battling in the corners put him in coach Scotty Bowman's good graces. His style of play was an integral part of the team's consecutive Stanley Cup titles in 1997 and 1998. He even turned on the offense in the repeat season with nine post-season goals.

In the spring of 2000, Lapointe represented his homeland at the World Championships and by the 2000-01 season, he was needed on offense for the Wings as the club reconfigured its line up. He scored a personal-high 20 goals and helped Detroit finish with the second-highest regular-season point total in the league.

After eleven seasons in Detroit, Lapointe decided to test the free agent market and signed with the Boston Bruins in the summer of 2001. Upon his arrival in Boston, Lapointe has continued his gritty play, despite missing several games due to injury. In 2003-04, Lapointe played in his 700th career game and surpassed the 300-point plateau before being acquired by the Chicago Blackhawks in the summer of 2005.

As a member of the Blackhawks, Lapointe suited up for every game over his first two years and was named an alternative captain with the club in 2005-06. In 2007-08, he appeared in 52 games with the Blackhawks before the veteran was dealt at the NHL trading deadline to the Ottawa Senators in exchange for a draft pick.

Courtesy of the Hockey Hall of Fame