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Luc Robitaille with the Los Angeles Kings in the '80s. Source: Facebook/Hockey Beast (May be subject to copyright) |
As it turned out, that’s what the Oilers asked for, but the Kings thought that price was too steep. Had Luc Robitaille gone to the Oilers, he likely would have won a Stanley Cup with the team.
Instead, he stayed with the Kings and became their all-time leader in playoff games played.
I heard that stat today when the Kings were yet again playing the Oilers, and noted Drew Doughty is second on the Kings’ all-time playoff games played list – behind just Luc Robitaille.
It reminded me of those days watching the man they called “Lucky Luc”.
Junior sensation
Luc Robitaille played his junior hockey in Quebec for the Hull Olympiques of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League from 1983 to 1986. He was taken in the ninth round of the 1984 NHL Entry Draft, 171st overall.
Luc Robitaille played his junior hockey in Quebec for the Hull Olympiques of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League from 1983 to 1986. He was taken in the ninth round of the 1984 NHL Entry Draft, 171st overall.
It is incredible he went that low in the draft, especially because he put up great numbers in junior. In fact, he and former King teammate Dave Taylor are the lowest NHL draft picks to have 1,000 career points.
In the 1983-1984 season, Robitaille had 32 goals and 53 assists for 85 points; then 55 goals and 93 assists for 148 points in the 1984-1985 season, plus another four goals and two assists for six points in the playoffs.
His best year in junior was his last, as Robitaille scored 68 goals and 123 assists for 191 points in the 1985-1986 season. He added another 17 goals and 27 assists for 44 points in 15 playoff games. He was also named the Canadian Hockey League Player of the Year. He ended his three years of junior hockey with 155 goals and 269 assists for 424 points in just 197 games.
Later, the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League created the Luc Robitaille Trophy for the team who scores the most goals in a season.
After seasoning in junior, Robitaille was poised to make the jump to the NHL.
Rookie sensation
Luc Robitaille made his Los Angeles Kings debut at the start of the 1986-1987 season, and it was a year to remember. He scored 45 goals and added 39 assists for 84 points in 79 games. The Kings finished fourth in the Smythe Division with 31 wins, 41 losses and eight ties, drawing a date with the first place Edmonton Oilers who won the series in five games. Robitaille had one goal and four assists for five points in those five playoff games.
Luc Robitaille made his Los Angeles Kings debut at the start of the 1986-1987 season, and it was a year to remember. He scored 45 goals and added 39 assists for 84 points in 79 games. The Kings finished fourth in the Smythe Division with 31 wins, 41 losses and eight ties, drawing a date with the first place Edmonton Oilers who won the series in five games. Robitaille had one goal and four assists for five points in those five playoff games.
After the season, Robitaille was awarded the Calder Memorial Trophy as the NHL’s top rookie. To this date, he is the only Losa Angeles King to ever win the rookie of the year. He was also named to the NHL All-Rookie Team, and was a Second Team NHL All-Star.
Sophomore success
In the 1987-1988 season, Robitaille’s second year in the NHL, he improved on his rookie totals, recording his first 50-goal and 100-point season. In 80 games, he scored 53 goals and added 58 assists for 111 points. The Kings would have virtually the same season as the year before. They finished with 30 wins, 42 losses and eight ties, again finishing fourth in he Smythe Division. This time they faced the first-place Calgary Flames who defeated the Kings in five games. Robitaille had two goals and five assists for seven points in those five playoff games. He was also named a First Team All-Star for the first time in his career, and he was named to his first All-Star game as well. He would be named to the next five in a row.
In the 1987-1988 season, Robitaille’s second year in the NHL, he improved on his rookie totals, recording his first 50-goal and 100-point season. In 80 games, he scored 53 goals and added 58 assists for 111 points. The Kings would have virtually the same season as the year before. They finished with 30 wins, 42 losses and eight ties, again finishing fourth in he Smythe Division. This time they faced the first-place Calgary Flames who defeated the Kings in five games. Robitaille had two goals and five assists for seven points in those five playoff games. He was also named a First Team All-Star for the first time in his career, and he was named to his first All-Star game as well. He would be named to the next five in a row.
New era
The 1988-1989 season saw the arrival of Wayne Gretzky, making the Kings certainly better than the perennial fourth place team they had become. Gretzky keyed a turn around that saw the Kings win 42 games, lose 31, and tie seven to finish second in the Smythe Division. In the most delicious of ironies, they faced Gretzky’s old team the Oilers in the first round. The Kings prevailed, winning in seven games, but were then swept by Calgary who went on to win the Stanley Cup.
The 1988-1989 season saw the arrival of Wayne Gretzky, making the Kings certainly better than the perennial fourth place team they had become. Gretzky keyed a turn around that saw the Kings win 42 games, lose 31, and tie seven to finish second in the Smythe Division. In the most delicious of ironies, they faced Gretzky’s old team the Oilers in the first round. The Kings prevailed, winning in seven games, but were then swept by Calgary who went on to win the Stanley Cup.
Robitallie had another solid season, scoring 46 goals and 52 assists for 98 points in 78 games. He also contributed two goals and six assists for eight points in 11 playoff games. For his efforts, Robitaille was again named a First Team All-Star and was named to his second All-Star game as well.
Sustained success
In the 1989-1990 season, Luc Robitaille sustained the success he started over the previous three seasons. He again had more than 50 goals and 100 points, as he scored 52 goals and 49 assists for 101 points in 80 games.
In the 1989-1990 season, Luc Robitaille sustained the success he started over the previous three seasons. He again had more than 50 goals and 100 points, as he scored 52 goals and 49 assists for 101 points in 80 games.
The Kings finished fourth in the Smythe Division with a record of 34 wins, 39 losses and seven ties. They drew the first place Calgary Flames in the first round of the playoffs and, for the second year in a row, eliminated the defending Stanley Cup champions in six games. They came back to earth in the second round, where they were swept by the Edmonton Oilers who would go on to win their fifth Stanley Cup in seven years. Robitaille had five goals and five assists in 10 playoff games.
He was also named a First Team All-Star and went to his third all-star game.
As the decade ended, Luc Robitaille’s career was just beginning.
The years after
Luc Robitaille played with the Kings until the end of the 1993-1994 season, helping the Kings reach the Stanley Cup final in 1993 where they lost to Montreal in five games. He then played for Pittsburgh for the 1994-1995 season; the New York Rangers from 1995 to 1997; back to Los Angeles from 1997 to 2001; Detroit from 2001 to 2003, where he won a Stanley Cup in 2002; then finished his career with the Kings playing in Los Angeles from 2003 to 2006. He retired at the end of the 2005-2006 season.
Luc Robitaille played with the Kings until the end of the 1993-1994 season, helping the Kings reach the Stanley Cup final in 1993 where they lost to Montreal in five games. He then played for Pittsburgh for the 1994-1995 season; the New York Rangers from 1995 to 1997; back to Los Angeles from 1997 to 2001; Detroit from 2001 to 2003, where he won a Stanley Cup in 2002; then finished his career with the Kings playing in Los Angeles from 2003 to 2006. He retired at the end of the 2005-2006 season.
His career totals are 1,431 games, 668 goals and 726 assists for 1,394 points. He also had 58 goals and 69 assists for 127 points in 159 playoff games.
He had 40 or more goals in his first eight seasons, including three of 50 or more goals. In the 1992-1993 season, Robitaille had a career high of 63 goals, and 125 points, which were both records for left wingers. The goal record has since been broken, but Robitaille’s 125 points is still the single season record for left wingers. He also served as captain that year with Gretzky injured.
Robitaille also played for Team Canada in the 1986 World Junior Championship, appearing in seven games and scoring three goals and five assists for eight points; the 1991 Canada Cup where he had one goal and two assists for three points in eight games, helping Canada win gold; and the 1994 World Hockey Championship, helping Canada to the gold medal with four goals and four assists for eight points in eight games.
He would go on to be a First Team All-Star in the 1990-1991 and 1992-1993 seasons, a Second Team All-Star in the 1991-1992 and 2000-2001 seasons, and played in the all-star game in the 1990-1991, 1991-1992, 1992-1993, 1998-1999, and 2000-2001 seasons.
Luc Robitaille was inducted into the Hockey Hall Of Fame in 2009.
He moved into management, becoming the Kings’ president of business operations in 2007, and became the team’s president in 2017, a position he still holds. They won the Stanley Cup in the 2012 and 2014 Stanley Cup playoffs.
Parting thoughts
Luc Robitaille was the definition of professional. He was calm, cool, poised, talented, and contributed on and off the ice.
Luc Robitaille was the definition of professional. He was calm, cool, poised, talented, and contributed on and off the ice.
To me, the mark of character is what players do off the ice and after their playing days are over. Robitaille moved into management, where he not only helped his team win two Stanley Cups but has been a team president for more than 17 years. He and his wife have also done a great deal of charity work.
It is true that Luc Robitaille was a sensational left winger, one of the best in history.
It is also true his nickname was “Lucky Luc”.
Everything he accomplished was anything but luck.
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