During his 19-season NHL career, Robitaille won the Stanley Cup in 2001–02 with the Detroit Red Wings, and played for the Pittsburgh Penguins and New York Rangers, but is most known for his 14 seasons (over three different stints) with the Los Angeles Kings.[3] He served 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. Robitaille retired after the 2005–06 season as the highest-scoring left winger in NHL history and the holder of several Kings franchise records,[4] along with numerous Kings playoff records.[5] In 2017, Robitaille was named one of the "100 Greatest NHL Players" in history.[6]
Junior hockey career
Robitaille was drafted by the Los Angeles Kings in the ninth round, 171st overall, of the 1984 NHL Entry Draft. Many hockey experts expected Robitaille to be drafted late in the draft due to his poor skating ability.[7] Robitaille himself has stated he had only had contact with one NHL team during his junior career, the Kings. He happened to be attending the 1984 draft (in the stands) and later introduced himself to first-year Kings general manager Rogie Vachon.
Robitaille and former teammate Dave Taylor are the lowest NHL draft picks to have recorded 1,000 career points. During the 1984 NHL Entry Draft, the Kings drafted future Baseball Hall-of-FamerTom Glavine in the fourth round, over 100 spots before Robitaille.
Robitaille scored more than 40 goals in each of his first eight seasons, including three 50 or more goal seasons, with a career-high 63 in 1992–93.[3] That year, Robitaille set NHL records for most goals and points (125) in a season by a left winger.[11] Robitaille's 63-goal record amongst left wingers was eclipsed by Alexander Ovechkin during the 2007–08 season, although Robitaille still holds the record for most points in a season by a left winger. With captain and superstar Wayne Gretzky sidelined by injury for much of 1992–93, Robitaille assumed the captaincy and led the team in scoring, playing a key role in helping his struggling team to make the playoffs. In 1993, the Kings reached the Stanley Cup Finals for the first time in franchise history.[12][13] However, they lost to the Montreal Canadiens in five games.[13] Robitaille had 9 goals and 13 assists in 24 playoff games.[3]
During the 1993–94 season, Robitaille's scoring totals remained respectable but considerably lower than his previous seasons, while Gretzky had returned from injury to win the NHL scoring title. The Kings failed to make the 1994 playoffs.
On August 28, 1997, in new general manager Dave Taylor's first move, the Kings re-acquired Robitaille from the Rangers in exchange for Kevin Stevens.[16]
Robitaille struggled in his first season back in Los Angeles, scoring only 16 goals in an injury-shortened 1997–98 season.[3] However, in the 1998-99 season, Robitaille returned to his All-Star form, scoring no fewer than 36 goals and had the best stats of his career after his first stint with the Kings during those three seasons.[3] On January 7, 1999, he scored his 500th career goal in a 4–2 victory at the Great Western Forum against the Buffalo Sabres.[5][17]
During the 2000–01 season, Robitaille scored 37 goals and 88 points. In the 2000–01 playoffs, Robitaille helped the seventh-seeded Kings to a first-round upset of the Detroit Red Wings, and his team took the eventual Stanley Cup champion Colorado Avalanche to seven games in the conference semifinals. Robitaille was named a second team all-star, his first post-season team honour since 1993. Robitaille turned down a one-year deal with a substantial pay cut by Kings GM Dave Taylor.
Detroit Red Wings (2001–2003)
Robitaille signed a two-year, $9 million contract with the Red Wings beginning in the 2001–02 season, accepting less compensation than what other teams offered because the Red Wings represented his best chance at winning the Stanley Cup, particularly after their recent acquisition of goaltender Dominik Hašek.
In his first season with the Red Wings, Robitaille scored 30 goals and 50 points,[3] helping them win the Presidents' Trophy, awarded to the team with the best regular season record.[18] Due to the tremendous depth of scorers among Detroit's roster, Robitaille had less playoff ice time, although he still scored four playoff goals. The Red Wings defeated the Avalanche in the Western Conference Finals in seven games, meaning that Robitaille was going to the Stanley Cup Finals for the second time in his career. With the Red Wings' 3–1 victory in Game 5 against the Carolina Hurricanes, Robitaille's quest for an elusive Stanley Cup championship finally came to an end. At the direction of Red Wings captain Steve Yzerman, all of the teammates who had never previously won the Cup would hoist it after Yzerman, with Robitaille being the third Red Wing to skate the Cup around Joe Louis Arena, after Yzerman and Hašek.
Robitaille then had the lowest goal total in his career in 2002–03, due partially to limited ice time, and the Red Wings were upset in the first round of the playoffs by the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim in a four-game sweep.
Final stint with Los Angeles (2003–2006)
Robitaille returned to Kings as a free agent for the 2003–04 season.[3] Although his scoring totals (22 goals and 29 assists) were below his previous levels as a King, he did lead the team in both goals and points, and the Kings stayed in playoff contention until a shocking 11-game losing streak to finish the season. On March 9, 2004, Robitaille scored the 650th goal of his professional career in a 3–2 victory over the Phoenix Coyotes at Staples Center.[5][19] He played his 1,000th game as a King a few days later, on March 13, 2004, in a 3–1 loss to the San Jose Sharks at HP Pavilion at San Jose.[5][19]
On January 19, 2006, during a game against the Atlanta Thrashers, Robitaille scored a hat-trick, tying and passing Marcel Dionne's then-franchise record of 550 goals.[20] His record-breaking goal was met with several minutes of standing ovations and a video-congratulation reel on the scoreboard. On April 10, the Kings announced Robitaille's intention to retire at the conclusion of the 2005–06 NHL season. Robitaille officially confirmed this the next day in a press conference held at the Toyota Sports Center in El Segundo, California.[citation needed] Robitaille's final goal and point was scored in typical Luc Robitaille fashion: one-timing a pass from Jeremy Roenick while at the centre of the right wing face-off circle past goaltender Curtis Joseph during a power play in a March 14, 2006, 6–2 loss to the Phoenix Coyotes.
Robitaille played his final NHL home game as a Los Angeles King against the Calgary Flames on April 15, 2006. He also wore the captain's "C" that normally belonged to defenceman Mattias Norström. Although he was held without a point in the game, he logged 18:37 of ice time and had four shots on goal.[21] He was also the second shooter in the shootout, but his shot towards the upper-right corner of the net was stopped by the glove of goaltender Miikka Kiprusoff, despite being given an open five hole.[21][22] The Kings ultimately won the game 2–1 off of a shootout goal by Pavol Demitra and three shootout saves by Kings goaltender Jason LaBarbera. The Kings held a curtain call for Robitaille after the game, where he was given a standing ovation by the sell-out crowd of 18,118 fans in attendance. After chants of his name died down, he gave a short speech and did one final lap of the rink at Staples Center.
Robitaille finished his playing career on April 17, 2006, at the HP Pavilion in a game against the San Jose Sharks. The Kings won 4–0.[23] He received applause and chants of "Luuuc, Luuuc!" throughout the night by the 17,496 fans in attendance, as well as good wishes from many of the opposing players of the Sharks. After the game ended, the Kings players came out and gathered around him first, rather than the traditional congratulation of the goaltender. The Sharks players also came onto the ice to shake hands with Robitaille before they headed off into their locker room. [citation needed]
Legacy
At the end of his career, Robitaille had made eight NHL All-Star teams,[citation needed] set the NHL record for goals by a left winger (with 668) and points (with 1,394),[citation needed] as well the Kings' franchise record for goals, with 577,[24] finished second to Dave Taylor in games played,[24] fourth (behind Marcel Dionne, Wayne Gretzky and Taylor) in assists with 726,[24] second behind John Bucyk's NHL record for assists by a left winger (813),[citation needed] and second to Dionne in points, with 1,154.[24] Robitaille also became the second player in NHL history to record 1,000 points after being drafted as low as the ninth round.[citation needed]
The Kings honored his playing career by retiring his number during a pre-game ceremony on January 20, 2007. Robitaille's number 20 hangs in the rafters of Crypto.com arena alongside those of Rogatien Vachon, Marcel Dionne, Dave Taylor, Wayne Gretzky, Rob Blake, and Dustin Brown.[citation needed]
On June 23, 2009, it was announced Robitaille would be inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame. He was honored during the November 6–9 induction weekend alongside his former Detroit Red Wing teammates Steve Yzerman and Brett Hull and former Ranger teammate Brian Leetch.[25]
Robitaille has won three Stanley Cup championships, in 2002 as the member of the Detroit Red Wings, and in 2012 and 2014 as president of operations with the Los Angeles Kings.[citation needed]
On March 7, 2015, the Kings organization unveiled a bronze statue of Robitaille outside of the Staples Center honouring his accomplishments as an NHL player and as a member of the Kings. The statue is located near the main entrance to the arena, next to the statue honoring former King and teammate Wayne Gretzky.[citation needed]
The gold medal at the 1994 world championship was Canada's first title in 33 years. Going unbeaten through the tournament, Canada faced Finland in the final. Finland took the lead, but Canada courtesy of Rod Brind'Amour tied the game. Ten minutes of overtime solved nothing, and the game went into a shoot out. In the first five shots, Robitaille and Joe Sakic scored for Canada, but Jari Kurri and Mikko Mäkelä responded for the Finns, meaning the game moved to a sudden-victory shootout. Robitaille was up first for Canada and, despite losing the puck on his approach, was able to beat Jarmo Myllys to put the pressure on the Finns. Bill Ranford made the save, and Canada was once again world champion. "I'm not sure I've ever jumped so high in my life," Robitaille said later of his reaction after Ranford's final save. "It was just such a relief, and the celebration was something I will never forget."[27]
Executive career
Robitaille was named the Kings' president of business operations on May 25, 2007.[28] He also serves as the team's alternate governor. On April 10, 2017, Robitaille was named president of the Kings.[29]
Since joining the Kings in a management role, the team has won two Stanley Cups, in 2011–12 and 2013–14.
Other work
Robitaille and his wife Stacia co-founded the non-profit charity Shelter for Serenity in 2005 to help families displaced by Hurricane Katrina, and has extended to needy children in the Los Angeles community as Echoes of Hope.[5][30]
Robitaille made an appearance on the FOX TV series Bones in the season 4 episode "Fire in the Ice". He appears as himself in an hallucination had by lead character Seeley Booth (portrayed by David Boreanaz, a passionate hockey fan[31]), when Booth is knocked out while playing in a recreational hockey game.
Robitaille also appeared in the movie Sudden Death. The directors used this to their advantage, sending Robitaille in on a breakaway to tie the game as time expired.[32]
In Canada, Robitaille appeared alongside New Jersey Devils goaltender Martin Brodeur in a Delissio frozen pizza commercial, where the two watch footage of Robitaille's many goals against Brodeur while sharing a pizza.
Robitaille made a cameo appearance as himself in the 1994 movie, D2: The Mighty Ducks,[33] and voiced himself in the Phineas and Ferb episode "For Your Ice Only".
Robitaille is married to Stacia (née Toten, formerly McQueen). They have two sons, Steven (born July 13, 1988, from his wife's first marriage)[34] and Jesse (born June 2, 1995).[35] Robitaille's stepson, Steven, is grandson of actor Steve McQueen and is an actor in the TV series The Vampire Diaries.[36]
Robitaille became an American citizen in 2005 and first registered to vote in 2008.[37]
