The 10 greatest L.A. Kings of all time, No. 3: Luc Robitaille
Continuing our countdown of the 10 greatest L.A. Kings of all time, as chosen by Times readers.
No. 3: Luc Robitialle (186 first-place votes, 10,054 points)
Luc Robitaille joined the Kings in 1986 and won the Calder Trophy as the NHL’s best first-year player after scoring 45 goals to go with 39 assists.
Robitaille scored more than 40 goals in each of his first eight seasons, including three 50-plus seasons, and a career high of 63 in 1992-93, a season he was named team captain in place of injured superstar Wayne Gretzky.
Robitaille was traded to the Pittsburgh Penguins on July 29, 1994, in exchange for Rick Tocchet and a second-round draft pick in 1995. The Kings reacquired him from the New York Rangers on Aug. 28, 1997, for Kevin Stevens. Before the 2001-02 season, he left again to sign with the Detroit Red Wings, where he was finally able to win the Stanley Cup.
Robitialle returned to L.A. as a free agent before the 2003-04 season and became the Kings’ all-time goal scorer, passing Marcel Dionne by scoring his 551st goal with the team.
Robitaille retired after the 2005-06 season and was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2009.
On the Kings’ career leaders list, Robitaille is second in games played (1,077), first in goals (557), fourth in assists (597) and second in points (1,154).
RELATED:10 greatest Kings, No. 4: Dave Taylor
10 greatest Kings, No. 5: Rogie Vachon
10 greatest Kings, No. 6: Bob Miller
10 greatest Kings, No. 7: Jonathan Quick
10 greatest Kings, No. 8: Rob Blake
Go beyond the scoreboard
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