In the late 80’s and early 90s, there was no question that Luc Robitaille was the top Left Wing in the National Hockey League, and it took him very little time to establish that title. What made it all the more impressive was that Robitaille turned out to be a steal as a Ninth Round Pick.
Two years after the Kings selected him, Robitaille made the team out of training camp and had an unexpected season, scoring 84 Points, earning Second Team All-Star accolades, and winning the Calder. This was no fluke, and he only got better, scoring over 100 Points in four of the next seven seasons, with his bottom only being 86 Points. Wayne Gretzky had arrived in 1988, and Robitaille would be a five-time First Team All-Star, four of which with Gretzky as his linemate. The Kings became contenders, much of which was thanks to Robitaille.
As Los Angeles began to slump, he was traded to Pittsburgh, but he returned three years later as a Free Agent. Robitaille was older but still a potent scorer, winning his third Second Team All-Star Selection. He left L.A. again, this time on his accord, joining Detroit as a Free Agent. Robitaille finally got that elusive Stanley Cup (2002) but returned to the Kings to finish his career for two final seasons.
Robitaille is the franchise leader in Goals (557) and was enshrined in the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2009, two years after his #20 was retired by the team.
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