As a major player in the worlds of sports, philanthropy and business, Hockey Legend Luc Robitaille knows what it takes to be a successful leader. The highest-scoring left wing in NHL history shows audiences how to use the qualities of a champion athlete to overcome challenges and reach their goals. A member of the Hockey Hall of Fame, Robitaille is President of Business Operations for the LA Kings.
In a 19-season NHL career from 1986 to 2006, he played for the Los Angeles Kings (three different times), New York Rangers, Detroit Red Wings and Pittsburgh Penguins. Robitaille retired as the all-time highest-scoring left winger in National Hockey League history and the holder of several Kings franchise records, along with numerous Kings playoff records.
Luc Robitaille was selected by the Los Angeles Kings in the ninth round of the 1984 NHL Entry Draft. Luc worked hard to improve, and as a rookie, the Montreal native became the first King to win the Calder Memorial Trophy and he was named to the NHL’s All-Rookie Team.
In his initial campaign with the Kings, he picked up a reputation not only as a talented young player and a goal sniper but as a "lucky" one as well. For the next 7 seasons Luc became a fixture in Los Angeles helping to lead the team to their only appearance in the Stanley Cup Finals and being an annual league All Star.
After the 2000-01 season, Luc left LA again as a free agent and went to the Detroit Red Wings with only one thing on his mind: to win a Stanley Cup. His time in the Motor City was fond, as in fact he was able to add the final trophy that needed to be displayed in his personal collection of accomplishments as winner of the 2002 Stanley Cup Championship.
Robitaille would go on to reach other milestones in a Kings uniform, including his 500th career goal in 1999 and his 1,000th game as a King in 2004. When Robitaille had his jersey retired by the Kings, he became just the fifth player to be so honored. On June 23, 2009, Robitaille – an eight-time All-Star – was selected for the Hockey Hall of Fame.
Outside of Luc's NHL career he represented Canada at various international competitions including the Canada Cup and the IIHF World Championships. One of Luc's proudest moments was being the Team Captain of Canada at the 1994 World Championships in Milan, Italy. Through his leadership and play Luc was able to lead Canada to their first World Championship since 1961, as Luc scored the championship goal in the shootout.
Since retiring as a player and assuming his current front office executive position, Robitaille has had a tremendous impact on the Kings Business Operations department, especially in the areas of Sponsorship Sales and Renewal, Fan and Customer Relations, Game Entertainment, Media Relations and Broadcasting. Since 2007-08, the Kings have increased their number of sellouts at STAPLES Center each full season, and the team entered the 2014-15 season with 90 consecutive home sellouts while enjoying record revenues on the whole. Robitaille has been at the front of a revamped Kings Community Relations department including the club’s strategic Kings Care community partnerships, which is highlighted by the Kings $500,000 commitment to the Children’s Hospital Los Angeles’ blood program.
In 2014, Robitaille was named a member of the Hockey Hall of Fame Selection Committee. He also serves as an Alternate Governor with the Kings and he is an active liaison when it comes to the Kings communication with the National Hockey League. He has been a driving force behind unique events including LA Kings Hockey Fest and the 2010 NHL Entry Draft at STAPLES Center.
Luc’s interests have also expanded to include a major philanthropic role. He is on the Board of Children’s Hospital Los Angeles and Ronald McDonald House, and he 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 (www.echoesofhope.org).
