Robitaille's #20 Goes To The Rafters

While it won't quite get the fanfare Steve Yzerman's jersey retirement did, Luc Robitaille's night and career are in no way less impressive.

A 171st draft pick who allegedly couldn't skate finished his career as the highest scoring left winger in NHL history. He was an 8-time All Star, is one of the NHL's truly good guys. Not many people remember Robitaille did get to hoist the Stanley Cup, as it happened in the twilight of his career in 2002. Despite stops in Detroit, Pittsburgh and New York, Lucky Luc will always be remembered as a King.

Attending the celebrations are former Kings Wayne Gretzky, Rogie Vachon, Bob Berry, Jimmy Carson, Mike Donnelly, Steve Duchesne, Daryl Evans, Stephane Fiset, Jim Fox, Garry Galley, Butch Goring, Bob Kudelski, Jari Kurri, Marty McSorley, Barry Melrose, Jay Miller, Bernie Nicholls, Larry Robinson, Jay Wells and Larry Playfair.

I kind of wonder where Marcel Dionne is. One would think the fellow French-Canadian would have played an important role in Robitaille's rookie season, the only season the two played together. Fellow Kings great Dave Taylor is also conspicuous by his absence, although I'll have to assume scheduling conflicts prevent both Dionne and Taylor from attending.

UPDATE

This Los Angeles Daily News report is a fascinating read about Robitaille, who seems to have every intention of being as big of a success in his second career as he was in his first.