Advent Day 20 - Luc Robitaille

One of the greatest players in hockey history wore the number 20, although their number was never retired by an NHL club. In fact they never played a single game in the NHL, although they are in the Hockey Hall of Fame. That would be Vladislav Tretiak. Perhaps the greatest player to wear the number on this side of the world Luc Robitaille played nearly 20 years in the NHL. Born in Montreal he would start, and spend most of, his career in Los Angeles.

He wasn't drafted in the first round, or even the second or third. In fact he was drafted in the 9th round 171st overall. He would however prove himself a worthy choice in his first season scoring 45 goals and adding another 39 assists for a team leading 84 points (topping veteran Bernie Nicholls). He would rightly win the Calder Trophy.

Robitaille would go on to score at least 40 goals in his first eight seasons in the league (all with LA). In 1992-93 he put up career numbers scoring 63 goals and 62 assists. That year saw the Kings in their only Stanley Cup final in franchise history. They would lose to Montreal in 5 games.

He was traded to Pittsburgh (in the deal that sent Rick Tocchet to LA) after the 93-94 season. He would spend one year with the Penguins (the shortened season of 48 games) playing with Jagr and Francis. After a poor showing with the Pens he was dealt to the Rangers where he spent two seasons, the second one saw him reunited with Gretzky. And then it was back to Los Angeles for the 97-98 season.

He would spend the next 4 years back in his adopted hometown and his form would return. In 2000-01 he put up 88 points, it was the highest total he had recorded since first leaving the Kings in 1994. He had been in the league for nearly 15 years and his thoughts turned towards winning the Stanley Cup before retiring. In the offseason he looked for a better chance and found it with Detroit. It was a good move, he would win his only Cup in that first season with the Wings (playing on a team whose roster looked like that of an All-Star game...). The following season Detroit would go out in the first round and Robitaille decided to go back to Los Angeles before retiring. Two final seasons would be played there.

His last game was played in 2006 and the Kings retired his number the following year. During his career he played in 8 All-Star games and would retire as Los Angeles's all time leader in goals. Not bad for a kid drafted in the 9th round...

He is currently President of Business Operations for the team as well as the owner and president of the USHL Omaha Blazers.

More on Luc Robitaille can be found at the HHOF's Legeneds of Hockey site here.

A great interview can be heard via NHL.com's podcast section on Doc's Classic NHL here.

The jerseys in the database can be found here.

How about that for a goal...and a uniform!