Luc Robitaille
Luc Robitaille -- who in 2009 was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame -- is the highest scoring left wing in NHL history and the all-time Kings leader in goals scored. He is in his sixth season as Kings President, Business Operations, and since assuming the position on May 25, 2007, Robitaille has had a tremendous impact on the whole as his experience as a former player brings a unique perspective to the business side of the club.
Robitaille, who had his popular No. 20 jersey retired by the Kings on January 20, 2007, is one of the greatest players in NHL history. He played 19 seasons in the NHL – including 14 with the Kings -- and in 1,431 career regular season games with the Kings, Detroit Red Wings (where he won a Stanley Cup in 2002), New York Rangers and Pittsburgh Penguins, had 1,394 points. In 159 playoff games, he had 127 points.
With the Kings, Robitaille ranks second all-time in games played (1,077), second in points (1,154) and fourth in assists (597). On January 19, 2006, Robitaille set the Kings all-time record for goals when his 551st goal as a King surpassed former teammate, long-time friend and Hall of Famer Marcel Dionne. In 1,077 total regular season games as a King, Robitaille had 557 goals and 1,154 points.
Robitaille, 46 (2/17/66), joined the Kings in 1984 when the club selected him in the ninth-round (171st overall) of the 1984 NHL Entry Draft. As a rookie in 1986-87, the Montreal-born Robitaille became the first King to win the Calder Memorial Trophy as the NHL’s Rookie of the Year and was named to the NHL’s All-Rookie Team. Joined later by the legendary Wayne Gretzky, the pair helped lead the Kings to the club’s first trip to the Stanley Cup Final in 1993.
Robitaille would go on to reach other milestones in a Kings uniform, including his 500th career goal on January 7, 1999, and he played in his 1,000th game as a King on March 13, 2004. When Robitaille had his jersey retired by the Kings, he became just the fifth player to be so honored (joining Gretzky, Dave Taylor, Dionne and Rogie Vachon) by the club.
On June 23, 2009, Robitaille was selected for the Hockey Hall of Fame. He was inducted into the Hall with former teammates Steve Yzerman, Brett Hull and Brian Leetch in Toronto along with Lou Lamoriello. Robitaille is the third Hall of Fame player (Larry Murphy and Billy Smith are the others) to be drafted by the Kings.
An eight-time All-Star, Robitaille has also immersed himself into the Southern California community. Always one of hockey’s most active and accessible Kings, Luc and his wife Stacia are the co-founders of a non-profit organization, Echoes of Hope. Founded in 2007, Echoes of Hope strives to awaken the spirit of hope in the lives of at-risk and emancipated foster youth by providing the resources, knowledge, skills, love and support they need to reach their full potential. Luc and Stacia have two sons, Steven and Jesse.