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Friday, October 15, 1999
Luc skating into spotlight
Then Wayne Gretzky.
And now, it's supposed to be Ziggy Palffy.
Wherever Luc Robitaille has gone, he has played second fiddle, hidden in the shadows while the spotlight always focused on someone else.
But 14 pro seasons later, a kid who couldn't skate and was drafted in the ninth round, is leading the NHL in goal scoring. And a Hall of Fame invite is surely just around the corner.
The NHL player of the week leads the L.A. Kings into the 'Dome tonight, already having scored seven goals and amassing 10 points in a start that shows, at age 33, Lucky Luc still has the touch.
For whatever knock there has been on Robitaille throughout his career, that goal-scoring touch is still there.
It seems almost incredible that the native of Montreal is about to surpass Canadiens legend Rocket Richard for career goals.
But Robitaille has proven as durable as prolific.
In five road games this season, the Kings have three wins, one loss and one tie.
Robitaille, with 524 goals in his career, he is fifth among active NHLers and is tied with Bryan Trottier for 21st on the all-time list.
He also needs 24 more games to reach the 1,000-game milestone.
"Rocket is more than a player to most of us back there," said Robitaille. "To be near him in any kind of statistic is pretty special. It certainly would be an honour if I could pass him."
But the reason it's being talked about today is a change Robitaille made after his return to Los Angeles from a largely unsuccessful stint with the Rangers.
Saddled by doubt from his inability to score more than 24 goals a season in his two years in the Big Apple, Robitaille rededicated himself to hockey upon his return to La La Land.
Last year, his 39-goal performance brought back memories of Lucky Luc, the 63-goal scorer in 1992-93, the most ever by a left winger.
There aren't likely any more 63-goal seasons in Robitaille's hands. But that's more a function of the way the game has changed. Goals don't come as easy in today's NHL. Even so, Robitaille is proving again this season he is still an accomplished opportunist.
Critics have been underestimating him since he was drafted in 1984. Everyone but Robitaille, that is.
"The way I looked at it, when I heard my name in the draft, I just thought to myself, 'I have a chance, my name is on the list.' That's the only thing I kept thinking. `I have a chance. They're going to have to look at me for at least two, three years. Here we go. This is my shot. I'm not going to miss it,' " he said.
Robitaille has missed little in 14 years. There may yet be a few seasons left if the first week of this season is any indication.
But there can be little doubt his future will include a Hall of Fame invite.
"I don't know. I've never thought about that," says Robitaille. "I play every game like it's my last game. We'll see what happens at the end. Those guys in the Hall of Fame are pretty big names. I've never looked at myself that way."
With Palffy now in L.A., certainly Robitaille is once again back in his role as supporting actor to his team's leading man.
It may not be until the Hall of Fame induction, but the spotlight will certainly one day be Robitaille's alone to bask in.
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