H1Man
04-10-2006, 07:02 PM
NHL great Robitaille to hang up skates
Luc Robitaille, the NHL's 10th-leading all-time goal scorer, will hold a news conference Tuesday to announce his retirement from the NHL, the Los Angeles Kings said Monday.
Robitaille, 40, is in his 19th NHL season, playing for the same Kings franchise that drafted him in the ninth round in 1984. The left wing, played 14 of his 19 seasons in Los Angeles, with stops along the way in Pittsburgh, New York (Rangers) and Detroit.
Robitaille's career will end on a frustrating note as the forward had complained all season long about lack of ice time. The latest complaint came last week after interim coach John Torchetti scratched Robitaille for two straight games before returning to the lineup April 8. In the eight games he played before that return, Robitaille didn't skate more than 15 minutes in a game.
"I'm disappointed," Robitaille told local reporters. "I feel I have done a lot for the organization and to be put aside at the most important time of the year hurt. Everyone knows I am getting toward the end. I want to be a part of it. I can still help this team.
"You would think someone in the organization would say something about me not being in the playoff run," he said. "I can help if they put me on the ice. It's a big deal."
According to local reports, Robitaille said he had talked with Torchetti and General Manager Dave Taylor about his frustrations, but that the team hadn't given him a clear picture of what his playing time would be. "In the end, that is what is disappointing," Robitaille told reporters.
The Montreal native has 668 career goals, and 1394 points, placing him 19th on the all-time points list.
Robitaille won the Calder Trophy, the award for the NHL's top rookie, in 1986.
http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/news/story?id=2404138
Luc Robitaille, the NHL's 10th-leading all-time goal scorer, will hold a news conference Tuesday to announce his retirement from the NHL, the Los Angeles Kings said Monday.
Robitaille, 40, is in his 19th NHL season, playing for the same Kings franchise that drafted him in the ninth round in 1984. The left wing, played 14 of his 19 seasons in Los Angeles, with stops along the way in Pittsburgh, New York (Rangers) and Detroit.
Robitaille's career will end on a frustrating note as the forward had complained all season long about lack of ice time. The latest complaint came last week after interim coach John Torchetti scratched Robitaille for two straight games before returning to the lineup April 8. In the eight games he played before that return, Robitaille didn't skate more than 15 minutes in a game.
"I'm disappointed," Robitaille told local reporters. "I feel I have done a lot for the organization and to be put aside at the most important time of the year hurt. Everyone knows I am getting toward the end. I want to be a part of it. I can still help this team.
"You would think someone in the organization would say something about me not being in the playoff run," he said. "I can help if they put me on the ice. It's a big deal."
According to local reports, Robitaille said he had talked with Torchetti and General Manager Dave Taylor about his frustrations, but that the team hadn't given him a clear picture of what his playing time would be. "In the end, that is what is disappointing," Robitaille told reporters.
The Montreal native has 668 career goals, and 1394 points, placing him 19th on the all-time points list.
Robitaille won the Calder Trophy, the award for the NHL's top rookie, in 1986.
http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/news/story?id=2404138