George Laraque Release the Latest Deathknell of Enforcer Era

In George Laraque's final game for the Montreal Canadiens, the longtime enforcer played just over three minutes in a 6-2 loss to the Rangers on Sunday night. While Laraque was nailed to the bench by coach Jacques Martin, a pair of teammates not known for fighting -- Josh Gorges and Benoit Pouliot -- had spirited bouts with New York opponents.

On Thursday, Laraque was told his services were no longer needed by the Canadiens. Montreal will pay his salary the rest of the season and buy out the final year of his contract this summer. General manager Bob Gainey reportedly informed the 33-year-old Laraque that Martin believed the Canadiens did not need an enforcer to win hockey games.

Get ready for another round of, "Is the role of the old-school heavyweight officially dead in the NHL?"

Funny, when the Anaheim Ducks led the league in fighting majors and won the Stanley Cup way back in 2007, all we heard was how every team needed to beef up. The answer actually lies in the middle. The days of three-minute enforcers may be gone, but fourth-liners who can skate, play at least 10 minutes a game and stick up for their teammates are as valuable as ever.

Laraque's Mind Is in Haiti In an interview with TSN, George Laraque vented frustration over the Canadiens dumping him "in the midst of all I'm dealing with in Haiti." He later back-tracked with TSN, saying he was just emotional. Bob Gainey told reporters he delayed breaking the news to Laraque because of the situation in Haiti, where the player has family. From this corner, Laraque -- always a renaissance man, original thinker and passionate activist -- has an opportunity very few of us can take advantage of. He will continue to be paid his $1.5 million a year salary. A trade from the Canadiens does not appear to be imminent, because Gainey would not have said they will buy him out in the offseason. Georges Laraque should take his good fortune and time off and focus his efforts on what matters most.

It's like Michael Lewis' book The Blind Side, but instead of linemen protecting quarterbacks, most teams in the NHL are looking for players who can skate and serve as a deterrent from cheap shots.

Laraque played more than 10 minutes in only two of his 28 games this season. In comparison, Boston's Shawn Thornton averages over 10 minutes a game. If the Bruins do not sign him, Thornton will be a popular unrestricted free agent on July 1.

Although the Penguins already carried a heavyweight in Eric Godard, in the offseason they signed Michael Rupp, a 6-5 forward who can fight and as a bonus has 11 goals this season.

On the flip side, a pair of free agent enforcer signings have not panned out. Toronto called Colton Orr moments after the market opened and signed him to a four-year deal worth a million per. Coach Ron Wilson gives Orr less than seven minutes of icetime a game. The Rangers replaced Orr with aging heavyweight Donald Brashear. On the nights John Tortorella plays him, Brashear has been completely ineffective as a protector and a hockey player.

The Laraque news only adds to a bad year for the few and the proud carrying the flag for enforcers.

The lesson: if you can fight, you better be able to skate and play the game or your time may be through.

Either that, or root for Anaheim and Philadelphia to win the Stanley Cup.