On the National Hockey League's annual draft day in 1984, 18-year-old Luc Robitaille waited excitedly to hear his name. It was a long wait.
The draft began at 11 a.m. at the Montreal Forum as the 21 teams announced their first-round picks. Eight hours later â in the ninth round â the Los Angeles Kings chose Robitaille as the 171st overall pick.
"There were only around a dozen kids left in the stands waiting to hear their name," he recalled. "When I heard mine, I was the happiest person alive."
He raced down to the floor but it was nearly deserted at that late hour. When he finally found a member of the Kings, a manager named John Wolf, he introduced himself.
Wolf congratulated the teen and reached for a box under the table to give him a Kings hat as a welcome gift.
"But he was out of hats," Robitaille said. "So he pulled a tiny pin off his jacket and gave it to me." When Robitaille's father died a few years ago, the hockey great found the pin among his dad's keepsakes.
Temper Your Emotions Like Luc Robitaille
Robitaille wasn't bitter at getting drafted so late. Because he wasn't ranked as a hot prospect, he was thrilled that a team took a chance on him.
"My name was on the list," he said. "I knew it was up to me. People said, 'You're a ninth round pick, it'll never happen, the odds are .0001% that I'd make it (as a pro).'"
Determined to excel, he debuted in 1986 and was named the NHL's top rookie. It was an auspicious start to a legendary 19-year career.
He became the NHL's all-time leading scorer among left wingers, a Stanley Cup champion and a Hall of Famer.
In 2007, he joined the Kings' front office and has served as its president since 2017. The Kings have won two Stanley Cups since Robitaille joined its management ranks.
Robitaille: Commit To Constant Improvement
Like many star athletes, Robitaille credits his mindset for much of his success. Throughout his career, he sought continual improvement.
He played in 1,432 regular season games and 159 playoff games.
"There were games where I didn't play good," he said. "But I prepared for every single game like it was the most important game of my life."
In his first few years in the NHL, Robitaille followed the advice of experts and more experienced high achievers.
"At 20, I was eating wheat pasta with tomato sauce, at bed at 10 p.m.," he said with a laugh. "Whatever I needed to do, I did it."
If he was displeased with his performance, he learned to move on. Staying positive helped him maintain a competitive edge.
"One of the great things about being a professional athlete is all that matters is your next game," he said. "I never thought 10 games ahead. It was just keep pushing to be a little bit better each game. Even after I scored, I thought, 'I've got to do better next game.'"
Find Your Strengths
A Montreal native, Robitaille loved hockey from a young age. His skating skills weren't great, but he showed high in-game intelligence and playmaking ability during his teen years playing junior hockey in Canada.
His desire to keep improving never waned. An established star at 39, he didn't stop putting in the effort on the ice. Instead, he devoted the summer before his last season to improving his power skating.
His humility won over players and fans alike. As a rookie, he often cited a Quebec reporter who once called his skating style "slower than the Zamboni." A Zamboni is the lumbering machine that's used to resurface the ice at hockey rinks.
Robitaille: Blend Toughness With Problem-Solving Savvy
Robitaille understood early on how to rebound from disappointment. He sought to extract lessons from each game.
"If you shoot 250 times and get 40 goals, you're a superstar," he said. "You're constantly failing. That's life. I never dwell on what bad things can happen. I'm all about solutions, not stewing in the problem."
Darren Abbott, the Kings' chief revenue officer, admires Robitaille's approach to problem-solving.
"He always wants to find a solution," Abbott said. "He will say, 'We can figure this out'" â and that motivates everyone to work together and resolve the issue.
Stand Up For Yourself
During Robitaille's playing career (1986-2006), fights erupted much more than in today's game. He didn't flinch when fists were flying.
"The Kings wore purple and gold uniforms in Robitaille's early years," wrote longtime hockey journalist Eric Duhatschek in "The Athletic." "Most of that time, the predominant colors on Robitaille's body were black and blue."
Midway through his career, Robitaille joined the New York Rangers. He played alongside hockey legend Mark Messier for two years.
Upon joining the Rangers, Robitaille was aware of Messier's reputation as a mean, intimidating guy. That perception soon faded.
"I was floored and surprised," Robitaille said. "Mark Messier, one of the great leaders in the game, treated everybody good and fairly. If you did your part, he trusted you."
Plan To Win: Develop And Execute What Matters Most
As a Kings executive, Robitaille's success reflects the lessons he learned playing with top leaders such as Messier. By prioritizing team results and giving honest, supportive feedback, Robitaille brings out the best in his colleagues.
"The way you treat people has got to be real," he said. "No slogans. And you've got to have a plan."
As president of the Kings, Robitaille works with his leadership team to develop plans and execute them effectively.
"Every decision we make, (team owner Philip Anschutz) will ask, 'Is this part of the plan?' and 'Is everybody in agreement with it?' You better answer and be truthful about it," Robitaille said.
Part of the plan, of course, involves winning. Robitaille sets a high bar every year: winning the Stanley Cup.
"Everybody should understand that's the goal," he said. "Not just the players but the people selling tickets, doing our social media, everybody. It's all to elevate the franchise" and seek the championship.
Yet Robitaille balances the importance of winning with an ability to connect with staffers on a human level.
"He's a leader but he's also a friend," said Abbott, who has known Robitaille since 2012. "He will take the time to talk to anybody. He has an infectious passion for the Kings and a tenacity about him, but he also understands we all have families" and lives outside of work.
Make Bold Calls Like Robitaille
When Robitaille and Abbott strategize to tackle high-stakes negotiations with third parties, they don't hold back.
"There were times we disagreed on an approach to a task," Abbott said. "We argued and argued. But by the time the (executive) team comes together to negotiate, there's no doubt we're all on the same page."
During those internal debates, Robitaille listens to input. Rather than impose his will, he's receptive to his colleagues' suggestions.
"There's no, 'I'm the boss.'" Abbott said. "He learns with every conversation."
Yet Abbott learns as well. He notes Robitaille's negotiating savvy.
"He's able to identify what the other party wants," Abbott said. "He asks probing questions to get what they're truly after. He's very good at picking up" their underlying concerns and producing win-win outcomes.
Luc Robitaille's Keys:
- All-time leading scorer among left wingers, a Stanley Cup champion and Hall of Famer in a 19-year NHL career. Now an L.A. Kings executive.
- Overcame: Making the pros as an underdog chosen in the ninth round and 171st pick of the 1984 draft.
- Lesson: "The greats push themselves to get better every day. It's a way of living."
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