Luc Robitaille

Growing up in Montreal, Luc Robitaille made his name in junior hockey with Hull, finishing the 1985–86 QMJHL season with an extraordinary 191 points. Taken 171st overall in the 1984 draft by the Los Angeles Kings, he entered the NHL carrying a reputation as a prolific scorer despite concerns about his skating.

Robitaille moved quickly from junior to the pro ranks, making an immediate impact in 1986–87 and earning the Calder Trophy after a 45-goal rookie season. He established himself as a long-term offensive presence in Los Angeles, beginning a relationship with the Kings that would include multiple comebacks to the club over his career.

His NHL path included a strong initial stretch in Los Angeles, trades to Pittsburgh and New York in the mid-1990s, then a return to the Kings in 1997. He reached his 500th goal on January 7, 1999, and in 2001 signed with Detroit to pursue a championship, winning the Stanley Cup with the Red Wings in 2001–02. Robitaille came back to Los Angeles in 2003 and finished his playing days after the 2005–06 season, leaving with numerous franchise marks and NHL milestones.

Internationally, Robitaille represented Canada at the 1986 World Junior Championships, the 1991 Canada Cup and the 1994 World Championships, contributing to Canada’s gold medal performance in 1994. Individually, he was selected to eight NHL all-star teams (five first-team, three second-team) and set high-water marks for left wingers in goals and points during his era.

Robitaille’s game was simple and effective: a natural goal scorer with a knack for finding the right spots and finishing chances. After retiring he moved into management, becoming president of the Omaha Lancers in 2006, then joining the Kings’ front office as president of business operations in 2007 and later being named team president in 2017. He entered the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2009 and had his number retired by the Kings on January 20, 2007.