Luc Robitaille

Canadian ice hockey left winger who became the highest-scoring left wing in NHL history with 668 goals and 1,394 points over 19 seasons.

Luc Robitaille was born in Montreal, Quebec in 1966. Los Angeles Kings selected him 171st overall in the 1984 NHL Draft — widely considered one of the greatest draft value picks in NHL history given his eventual production. His 19-season career produced 668 goals and 726 assists for 1,394 career points. He won the Calder Trophy as best rookie in 1987 and the Stanley Cup with the Detroit Red Wings in 2002. He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2009 and named one of the 100 Greatest NHL Players in 2017. His 668 goals are the most by a left wing in NHL history. He was selected to nine All-Star games. Despite his offensive production he was consistently criticised for defensive shortcomings — a reputation his coaches disputed. He became president of the Los Angeles Kings after his career, helping build the teams that won back-to-back Stanley Cups in 2012 and 2014.

Robitaille was known for his exceptional goal-scoring ability and hockey intelligence, compensating for below-average skating speed with superior positioning and anticipation. He possessed a deadly accurate shot and excelled at finding open spaces in the offensive zone, particularly in front of the net. His vision and passing ability made him a complete offensive threat who could both score and create opportunities for teammates.

Robitaille transformed perceptions about what constitutes an elite NHL player, proving that hockey sense and skill could overcome physical limitations like skating speed. He played a crucial role in popularizing hockey in Los Angeles and Southern California during the Kings' successful runs in the 1990s.

• Stanley Cup (2002)
• Calder Trophy (1987)
• Hall of Fame (2009)
• NHL 100 Greatest Players

Team Career

Team	Period	GP	Goals
Los Angeles Kings	1986–1994	557	374
Pittsburgh Penguins	1994–1997	167	98
New York Rangers	1997–2000	168	86
Canada	—	57	18