Paul Laus

Infobox Ice Hockey Player


image_size=
played_for = Florida Panthers
position = Defence
shoots = Right
height_ft = 6
height_in = 1
weight_lb = 215
nickname =
nationality = CAN
birth_date = Birth date and age|1970|9|25|mf=y
birth_place = Beamsville, Ontario, CAN
draft = 37th overall
draft_year = 1989
draft_team = Pittsburgh Penguins
career_start = 1993
career_end = 2002

Paul Laus (b. September 26, 1970 in Beamsville, Ontario) is a former professional ice hockey player.

Career

Born in Beamsville, Ontario, Laus was a Junior B standout with the St. Catharines Falcons before joining the OHL. He spent three years with the Hamilton Steelhawks/Niagara Falls Thunder franchise and was selected 37th overall by the Pittsburgh Penguins at the 1989 NHL Entry Draft. He spent his first three years as a pro in the IHL and ECHL, including a stint with the short-lived Albany Choppers.

The rugged blueliner was claimed by the Florida Panthers in the 1993 NHL Expansion Draft. His solid defensive work and willingness to take on the toughest players in the league made him a valuable player on the club as it set an NHL record for expansion teams with 83 points. Two years later, he scored two goals and was a workhorse in 21 games as the Panthers reached the Stanley Cup finals. Laus continued to be an enforcer and team leader through the end of the 2000–01 season and was the only person to play in all of the club's first eight seasons. His grit and determination made him a fan favorite and he is still one of the most beloved all-time Panthers along with Scott Mellanby.

However, injuries limited Laus to only 70 games over his last two seasons. After his latest wrist injury in 2002, he never would play another professional game. Eventually, Paul Laus officially retired and moved back to Ontario after being snubbed by the club "(see link below)".

tatistics

External links

* [http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/pdisplay.php3?pid=3005 The Internet Hockey Database - Paul Laus]
* [http://www.panthershockey.net/laus.html Interview with Paul Laus]