Justin Papineau

Justin Papineau (born 15 January, 1980 in Ottawa, Ontario), is a professional ice hockey centre who currently plays for the EHC Basel of the Swiss Nationalliga A.

Papineau was originally drafted in the 2nd round, #46 overall by the Los Angeles Kings in the 1998 NHL Entry Draft. He was then re-selected in the 3rd round, #75 overall by the St. Louis Blues in the 2000 NHL Entry Draft when the Kings were unable to sign him to a contract within the two year deadline and retain his rights. It was reported that negotiations between the team's front office and Papineau broke down at least partially due to the involvement an overbearing parent agent demanding a huge entry contract.

Papineau has played 81 career NHL games for the Blues and New York Islanders, scoring 11 goals and 8 assists for 19 points. Papineau was once compared to star Steve Yzerman, but those comparisons never came to fruition at the NHL level. Much of this is blamed on a cheap shot elbow thrown from Ottawa 67's Lance Galbraith in the 1999 Memorial Cupfact|date=July 2008.

External links

*hockeydb|25887