Luc Robitaille (born February 17, 1966), nicknamed "Lucky Luc", was a professional hockey player for four different teams from 1986–2006. He's a native of Montreal Québec, Canada. Robitaille played 19 seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL). He helped lead the Detroit Red Wings to his only Stanley Cup Championship as a player in the 2001–02 season. Robitaille played briefly with the New York Rangers and Pittsburgh Penguins, but is known for playing most of his career as a player with the Los Angeles Kings, having three seperate stints there over 14 seasons. Robitaille, benefited from having Wayne Gretzky join the Kings in Robitaille's third year, 1989-90, additionally playing alongside Gretzky in the 1993 Stanley Cup finals with the Kings heavily being defeated, winning 1 game. Robitaille primarily served as Assistant captain, but did serve as the Kings' team captain during the 1992–93 season (while Wayne Gretzky was injured) and for the final two games of the 2005–06 season, upon which he retired then. Robitaille is the highest-scoring left winger in NHL history and the holder of several Los Angeles Kings franchise records, along with numerous Kings playoff records.
Records and Awards
In his rookie season of 1986-87, Robitaille captured the Calder Trophy, which is awarded to the NHL rookie of the year.
Being the highest-scoring left winger in NHL history, Robitaille compiled 1,394 points setting the NHL record which also is attributed to another NHL record for goals by a left winger, (with 668). Robatille is also the Kings' franchise record holder for goals, (with 577).
Robitaille is the holder of several Los Angeles Kings franchise playoff records including of note on On May 4, 2001, Luc Robitaille's goal established a franchise record for most playoff goals (41) and playoff game-winning goals (9) in franchise history.
Robitaille's number 20 is retired and hangs in the rafters of Staples Center after a pre-game ceremony on January 20, 2007. Robitaille's number is retired alongside Rogatien Vachon, Marcel Dionne, Dave Taylor, Wayne Gretzky and Rob Blake.
Robitaille had been announced he would enter into the NHL hall of fame on June 23, 2009. He was honored during the November 6th through 9th induction weekend alongside his former Detroit Red Wing teammates Steve Yzerman and Brett Hull and former Ranger teammate Brian Leetch.
Robitaille has won three Stanley Cup championships, in 2002 as a player of the Detroit Red Wings, and in 2012 and 2014 as president of operations with the Los Angeles Kings.
In 2017, Robitaille was named one of the "100 Greatest NHL Players" in history.
Executive career and Other work
In May 2007, Robitaille was named the Kings' president of business operations. Robitaille also serves as the team's alternate governor. On April 10, 2017, Robitaille was named president of the Kings.[1]
Since joining the Kings in a management role, the team has won two Stanley Cups, in 2011–12 and 2013–14.
Community work and Vatican visit
On October 5th through 7th 2016 Former NHL players Pat LaFontaine, Luc Robitaille and Omar Mitchell – participated as delegates in “Sport at the Service of Humanity: The First Global Conference on Faith & Sport” at The Vatican with Pope Francis. After attending the conference, the NHL’s Pat LaFontaine and Los Angeles Kings’ Luc Robitaille were so inspired by the idea of infusing the universal values of faith into sport that they championed the creation of the “This is Hockey” movement and Hockey’s Declaration of Principles — a joint statement by 17 hockey organizations globally advocating the game of hockey as a powerful platform for participants to build character, foster positive values and develop important life skills that transcend the game.[2]
On September 28, 2017: Habitat for Humanity of Greater Los Angeles (Habitat LA) honored Hockey Hall of Famer and Los Angeles Kings President Luc Robitaille at its 2017 Los Angeles Builders Ball at the historic Beverly Hilton Hotel. Robitaille received the organization’s Foundation Builder Award in recognition of his significant contribution and leadership in creating intentional change in the Los Angeles community with the Kings Care and Echoes of Hope foundations.[3]
TV and Film
As an NHL player surrounded by Hollywood productions, Robitaille found his way in multiple TV commercials, a few of note
- TV commercial: Walt Disney's Aladdin (1992)
- TV Commercial for EA Sports (2002)
- TV commercial for Delissio pizza (2007)
Robitaille was also apart of films and TV shows where he played himself as in "The Odd Couple" (TV Series) from 2017, The 1994 theatrical film D2: The Mighty Ducks, where he was credited as a Celebrity at Party. Robitaille was also one of several Pittsburgh Penguins players in the 1995 Jean-Claude Van Damme film 'Sudden Death,' filmed at the old Civic Arena.
Other TV appearances of note include Luc Robitille playing himself as follows:
- The Keenen Ivory Wayans Show (TV Series) in 1997
- The Wonderful World of Disney (TV Series) in 1999
- Arli$$ (TV Series) in 2000
- Dennis Miller (TV Series) in 2004
- Bones (TV Series) in 2009
- Phineas and Ferb (TV Series) in 2012
- How I Met Your Mother (TV Series) in 2013
Robitaille's step son Steven R. McQueen is the grandson of movie legend Steve McQueen. Back in 2002, Stanley Cup Winner Luc Robitaille, when he was a member of the Detroit Red Wings, paid a visit to the set of “Star Trek: Enterprise”. Robitaille brought the Stanley Cup hockey trophy with him. Scott Bakula and other members of the cast enjoyed the trophy which also a was placed in the captain's chair.