Luc Robitaille (born February 17, 1966) is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey player. During his 19-season National Hockey League (NHL) career, Robitaille won a 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 fourteen seasons, over three different stints, with the Los Angeles Kings. He served as Kings team captain during the 1992–93 and 2005–06 seasons. Robitaille retired after the 2005–06 season as the highest-scoring left winger in NHL history and the holder of several Kings franchise records, as well as numerous Kings playoff records.
Robitaille made it to the NHL in 1986, helping the Kings make the playoffs, despite having a 31-41-8 record. Robitaille scored 45 goals and had 39 assists in 79 games, edging out the Philadelphia Flyers’ Ron Hextall for the Calder Memorial Trophy, the only Los Angeles player ever to win the award. He also earned a spot on the Second All-Star Team.
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. That year, Robitaille set league records for most goals and points (125) in a season by a left winger. 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. The Kings ending went all the way to the Stanley Cup Finals, the only time in the franchise’s history, where they eventually lost to the Montreal Canadiens in five games. Robitaille had 9 goals and 13 assists in 24 playoff games.
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