Georges Laraque calls his battle with COVID-19 the worst thing ever
Georges Laraque is one tough guy. Just ask anyone who's squared off with him on the ice during his NHL playing days. But, even the former enforcer admits COVID-19 is taking its toll on him.
"It's the worst thing ever. It takes all my energy just to get up," Laraque told NHL.com.
"It's so crazy because I was running six days a week, 10 kilometers a day to get ready for a marathon; I was doing that for months," Laraque said. "Now, after the COVID attacked my lungs, I can't even get up to go brush my teeth without struggling.
Laraque, who played parts of 13 seasons in the NHL with four teams, says he's never felt weaker. But, he's thankful for the more than 500 text messages he's received from fans, current and former NHL players and coaches, all wishing for a speedy recovery. That includes Pittsburgh Penguins center Sidney Crosby, former Edmonton Oilers forwards Wayne Gretzky, Craig MacTavish and Craig Simpson and defenseman Kevin Lowe, former NHL coach Michel Therrien, and New York Rangers senior adviser Glenn Sather.
Laraque said he believes he contracted the virus while volunteering to help deliver groceries to elderly people who are sheltering in place to avoid the virus. He saw a doctor after feeling ill on Monday and was prescribed medication for slightly swollen lungs.
"When I went home, things didn't go better and I didn't understand why," said Laraque, who has asthma. "The doctor called me back and said, 'Oh, you have to come back because you have pneumonia in your lungs.'
"So then I went back to the hospital and I was in really bad shape. They did the COVID test, they found it. Right away, they plugged me into oxygen because it was going very, very bad.
As for anyone who thinks COVID-19 is something to be scoffed at, Laraque had a simple message.
"Are you kidding me?" he said. "They have no idea. This is serious stuff."
Source: NHL.com
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YESTERDAY
MAY 18, 2026
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| Rasmus Dahlin | 1 | - | 1 | |
| Phillip Danault | 1 | - | 1 | |
| Jordan Greenway | 1 | - | 1 | |
| Alex Newhook | 1 | - | 1 | |
| Alexandre Carrier | - | 1 | 1 | |
| Kaiden Guhle | - | 1 | 1 | |
| Lane Hutson | - | 1 | 1 | |
| Beck Malenstyn | - | 1 | 1 | |
| Ryan McLeod | - | 1 | 1 | |
| Owen Power | - | 1 | 1 | |
| Mattias Samuelsson | - | 1 | 1 | |
| Nick Suzuki | - | 1 | 1 | |
| Alexandre Texier | - | 1 | 1 | |
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