Latest news with #LucRobitaille
Time of India
18 hours ago
- Sport
- Time of India
From snubs to shockers: Five NHL all-rookie team moments that still have fans talking
NHL Logo: Five NHL all-rookie team moments that still have fans talking (Getty Images) Since the NHL All-Rookie Team debuted in the 1982-83 season, it's been a benchmark for emerging talent, a stamp of approval that a first-year player has truly arrived. But the history of this award isn't just a clean list of names. It's dotted with oddities, surprises, and records that feel almost impossible to replicate. My NHL All Rookie Team This Season // #shorts #nhl Historic highs and baffling misses In 1987, the Los Angeles Kings achieved something no other NHL team has matched: three rookies from the same roster making the All-Rookie Team in one season. Luc Robitaille, Jimmy Carson, and Steve Duchesne all earned the honor, with Robitaille also claiming the Calder Trophy as rookie of the year. Five years later, the league witnessed the opposite, a shocking omission. In 1992, Pavel Bure captured the Calder Trophy but somehow didn't make the All-Rookie Team. Splitting his season between left and right wing, his votes were divided between the two positions. Tony Amonte and Gilbert Dionne secured the winger spots instead. The NHL quickly adjusted its voting system to avoid another situation like this. Luc Robitaille and Jimmy Carsons Magical Season Rookie records that defied the norm Some rookies don't just make the All-Rookie Team; they rewrite history, and in 1990-91, Ed Belfour dominated as a first-year goaltender. Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like When Knee Pain Hits, Start Eating These Foods, and Feel Your Pain Go Away (It's Genius) Read More Undo by Taboola by Taboola Leading the NHL in wins, goals-against average, and save percentage, his performance earned him the Calder, Vezina, and Jennings Trophies, plus a First-Team All-Star selection. No other rookie has matched this triple-award sweep. The 1989-90 season brought another outlier: Sergei Makarov, a 31-year-old former Soviet League star, who led all rookies with 86 points for the Calgary Flames. Despite being over a decade older than most rookies and 12 years older than Mike Modano, the next-best rookie scorer, Makarov claimed both the Calder and All-Rookie Team honors. His win sparked an NHL rule change, limiting rookie eligibility to players aged 25 or younger. Goaltenders who did it twice If making the All-Rookie Team once is a career highlight, doing it twice is nearly unheard of. Only two players, both goaltenders, have pulled it off. Jamie Storr earned back-to-back honors in 1998 and 1999 after limited appearances in his first season kept him eligible. Over a decade later, Jake Allen achieved the same distinction in 2013. And again in 2015, with non-consecutive seasons of standout play. While the NHL All-Rookie Team is meant to spotlight rising stars. These unusual cases show that the path to rookie glory isn't always straightforward, whether it's an unexpected snub, a record-setting season, or a rare repeat honor. The award's history proves that even in a league built on stats and performance. As there's always room for the unexpected. Also Read: NHL trade news: Connor McDavid's big decision between the Edmonton Oilers and Auston Matthews' Maple Leafs stirs speculation Catch Rani Rampal's inspiring story on Game On, Episode 4. Watch Here!
Yahoo
14-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Detroit Red Wings Most Memorable Pop Culture Moments
Looking back at memorable moments for the Detroit Red Wings in pop culture history. For nearly 100 years, the Detroit Red Wings have stood as more than just a hockey team but a cultural icon, with the winged wheel taking center stage in countless memorable moments throughout pop culture history. Advertisement As one of the NHL's Original Six franchises, the Wings' influence stretches far beyond the ice and into film, television, music, and fashion. From Hollywood stars donning the winged wheel to memorable cameos and subtle shout-outs in hit shows and movies, Detroit's storied franchise has carved out a lasting presence in pop culture. As the team approaches its 100th anniversary, we look back at some of the most notable moments where the Red Wings left their mark far from the rink. Bookmark The Hockey News Detroit Red Wings team site to stay connected to the latest news, game-day coverage, and player features. Hockey Player Turned Actor: Howie "Cowboy" Young The former Red Wings defenceman played for the team in the 1960's and totalled 55 points through 229 games across five seasons. After retiring, Young began acting, playing an outlaw in the TV miniseries Lonesome Dove (1989) as well as appearing as Poe Possey in Young Guns II (1990), and starring alongside Tom Selleck in the TV movie Last Stand at Saber River (1997). Advertisement Luc Robitaille Makes His Mark with Multiple Cameos The Hall-of-Fame winger played just two seasons for the Red Wings in the early 2000's and totalled 41 goals and 40 points for 81 points through 162 games. He also went into acting but only in brief cameos. Robitaille mainly played himself and appeared in the movie D2: The Mighty Ducks as well as TV series like Bones, How I Met Your Mother and Phineas and Ferb. Nicklas Lidström and Chris Osgood Join The Tonight Show After winning the Stanley Cup in 2008, the Red Wings captain and starting goaltender appeared on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, holding the Stanley Cup. The duo came out in full hockey equipment and celebrated with Justin Timberlake's Sexyback playing them onto the show. It was a memorable moment as hockey players were front and center on a massive media platform like The Tonight Show. Advertisement Red Wings Jerseys Featured On The Big Screen The blockbuster hit from 1986, Ferris Bueller's Day Off, featured one of the main characters in Alan Ruck's Cameron wearing a Gordie Howe jersey for the duration of the movie. It was a nod to director John Hughes, who grew up a Red Wings fan. Other TV moments include John C. McGinley's Dr. Cox from Scrubs, Dave Coulier's Joey Gladstone from Full House and Tim Allen's Tim Taylor from Home Improvement all famously wearing Red Wings apparel at different points of their hit tv shows. Nicklas Lidström and Chris Osgood Join The Tonight Show After winning the Stanley Cup in 2008, the Red Wings captain and starting goaltender appeared on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, holding the Stanley Cup. The duo came out in full hockey equipment and celebrated with Justin Timberlake's Sexyback playing them onto the show. It was a memorable moment as hockey players were front and center on a massive media platform like The Tonight Show. Never miss a story by adding us to your Google News favorites.
New York Times
22-05-2025
- Business
- New York Times
Why Kings could go big-game hunting this NHL offseason: Catching up with Ken Holland
One week into the job, and there are not enough hours in the day. Since being named general manager of the Los Angeles Kings, Ken Holland has been on the phone with fellow GMs, agents and staff — it's been a whirlwind. And he's loved every minute of it. Boy, had he ever missed it. 'It's great being back in a GM chair,' Holland told The Athletic on Wednesday. 'I'm excited.' Advertisement The Hockey Hall of Famer was quick to thank Kings owner Philip Anschutz and team president Luc Robitaille for the opportunity — one that checked all the boxes for him, both professionally and personally. A team that has a chance to win. A big market. A West Coast city that fits nicely with wife Cindi and their home in Vernon, B.C., and a life that includes four kids and 10 grandchildren. It was the perfect package. Now it's time to roll up his sleeves. He's hit the ground running. One of Holland's first decisions was to reach out to Rob Blake, inviting him out for dinner to pick his brain. Not every outgoing GM would be interested in that kind of invite, but it's telling of the person that Blake is that he accepted. 'Being the classy, professional gentleman that he is, we got together for dinner for two and a half hours and talked a lot about the team and some other things,' Holland said. 'So very, very valuable for me.' Holland has decided to keep Blake's front-office group pretty much intact, which includes wanting to keep Nelson Emerson (AGM), Glen Murray (senior director, player personnel) and Marc Bergevin (senior adviser to GM) in the fold, among others, although we'll see what happens with Bergevin on the New York Islanders GM front, where he's interviewed twice, per league sources. 'I'm going to keep everybody,' Holland said. 'They had 105 points. They've gone through a retool. It was a wonderful job by Rob Blake and all the people around him. I mean, they've made the playoffs the last four years in a row.' Holland didn't blow up the Edmonton Oilers' front office, either, when he got there. He did bring three people in of his own. 'I am going to bring in a person on board here, someone that knows how I think, and other than that, I look forward to working with Nelson and Glen and Luc and (head coach) Jim Hiller and everyone there,' Holland said. Advertisement Holland wouldn't say who that person was he was bringing in, but I would be surprised if it wasn't Tyler Wright, who was with him with the Detroit Red Wings and the Oilers. As for Bergevin, if he doesn't end up as the new Islanders GM, both sides are fine working together in L.A. 'Berg has been a general manager in Montreal,' Holland said. 'His name is floated around out there. I wouldn't hold him back. I wouldn't hold anyone back if they had a chance to become a general manager or a head coach. But if Berg is back, I've obviously got a great relationship with him. We were together on the 2016 World Cup Canadian management team. We spent a good month together, and obviously we were both GMs and he's a former Red Wings player in the 1990s when I was in the front office there. 'If Berg stays, certainly he'll be somebody that will be very important to me. Because he's been in the chair, and that experience is always valuable.' Ironically, Holland himself met and interviewed with the Islanders this spring as part of their GM search process, although he would not comment on that. There's also been interest over the past year from a couple of other NHL teams, wanting Holland as a senior adviser. 'I did talk to some other teams, but at the end of the day, the situation had to work for my wife and I,' he said. 'We've got four kids and we have 10 grandkids. Family is No. 1.' In the end, the Kings' GM job called out to him for all kinds of reasons, and Cindi was obviously an important part of it. 'I spent a lot of days on the road in my life,' Holland said. 'She was home raising the kids and taking them to those school events, and I was missing birthday parties, I said to Cindi that if I had an opportunity to come back (as an NHL GM) and that if it fit for Cindi and fit for me, I would be interested in it. Advertisement 'But at this stage of our lives, it had to be a decision that worked for the both of us.' And again, the Kings' job was perfect in every way. 'It worked personally and professionally,' Holland. After a year out of team management, Holland said his juices were starting to flow this past season. He never saw himself as potentially retired, but rather as unemployed. He stayed in touch with the game by taking on an advisory role with NHL Hockey Ops, which allowed him to attend GM meetings and Board of Governors meetings. He watched NHL games every night all year long. After his mutually agreed-upon exit from the Oilers last June following a Game 7 loss in the Stanley Cup Final, Holland feels re-energized and absolutely up to trying to take the Kings to the next level. 'It's a great opportunity, a great organization,' the four-time Stanley Cup champion executive said. Holland's hire wasn't met with unanimous praise. Some segments of the Kings' fan base wanted younger blood. A more modern vision. And you get that, for sure, from their perspective. And like any GM, Holland hasn't batted 1.000. But if you look at where the Oilers were when he took over and where they were when he left, sometimes you miss the forest for the trees. The Oilers were a mess when he got there, despite having the best player in the world. They were a win short of winning the Cup when Holland left, the hockey culture completely overhauled in the process. Does that mean Holland will lead the Kings to the promised land? No one can answer that for sure. But I know he won't be afraid to swing for the fences. You can absolutely bet he's going to be aggressive this summer trying to upgrade the Kings roster. 'It's a good team,' Holland said. 'There's good veteran leadership on the team. There's some good young kids that are on the come up. It's L.A. It's got a great history. It's a great brand. It's an entertainment capital. Hopefully I can make a few decisions and we can convince a player or two to come join us like we were able to do in Detroit and able to do in Edmonton.' Advertisement The Kings have the salary cap space to swing hard enough. 'I plan to be aggressive,' Holland said. 'Ownership is prepared to go to the cap. The goal is to put a competitive team on the ice and, at the right time, be aggressive to try to make the team better and more exciting. Whether that happens in the next six to seven weeks or next year at the trade deadline or next offseason … but certainly the plan is to be aggressive at the right time.' I would be surprised if the Kings didn't enter the Mitch Marner sweepstakes, for example, if the pending unrestricted free agent is indeed available July 1. Just like I would be pretty surprised if the Kings didn't do all they could to enter a Connor McDavid frenzy if, for whatever reason, the best player in the world doesn't extend with the Oilers. (I'm not saying he won't extend. I'm just saying in case he doesn't.) No name will be too big for Holland. He's going to be big-game hunting to get the Kings over the hump.
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Mercury Insurance and LA Kings Celebrate Ordinary People with Extraordinary Impact
Hockeywood Wall of Fame Inductees Feted at Kings Season Finale LOS ANGELES, May 21, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- "Not all heroes wear capes" is a time-honored cliché for a reason — the sentiment rests in truth. Mercury Insurance and the Los Angeles Kings honored 13 of these everyday heroes over the course of the 2024-25 season with a spot in the Mercury Insurance Hockeywood Wall of Fame. The program was created to honor community heroes who do amazing things for their neighbors, often doing so without being recognized for their efforts. "Every community is home to heroes who don't get the recognition they deserve," said Erik Thompson, VP and CMO for Mercury Insurance. "They are what make our communities great, and we wanted to say thank you for everything they do to help make Los Angeles a better place to live." The first class of Hockeywood Wall of Fame inductees — who were brought together at the Kings' final game of the regular season — include a teen who has recycled more than 105 tons of trash found on LA beaches; multiple entrepreneurs giving back through humanitarian deeds; several educators and volunteers; and a pair of first responders who made a sizable impact during the LA fires. The group shared their experiences with one another during a recent game at Arena. The event included visits with Kings legend and team president, Luc Robitaille, and beloved mascot, Bailey. "Induction into the Hockeywood Wall of Fame isn't about hockey; it's about resilience, purpose, and staying rooted in the belief that one person can spark change," said Kendal Troutman, Hockeywood Inductee and Founder of Thru Guidance Ministries. "Being in a room with so many others who are also deeply committed to their communities was both humbling and energizing. Each person carried a story of impact, sacrifice and heart — and it reminded me that while our paths may be different, our purpose is shared." Honorees were nominated for induction by other Kings fans through the Hockeywood website, and were chosen for the nature of their contributions. Those selected were rewarded with a pair of Kings tickets, a jersey and an engraved memento to memorialize the honor. The Hockeywood Wall of Fame, located at the Toyota Performance Center, is a multimedia display that showcases the honorees' community work. Visitors can learn about all of the inductees, as well as nominate their own community hero, at the venue or by visiting "We will continue to add new inductees throughout the year, even in the offseason," added Thompson. "I encourage everyone to nominate their heroes so we can continue to honor and recognize those who make LA great." Here's a brief recap of this season's honorees. Fans can also watch the Hockeywood Wall of Fame sizzle video to learn more. Ryan HickmanFounder of Ryan's Recycling, Ryan collaborates with the LA Kings and Anaheim Ducks in beach cleanup initiatives, emphasizing environmental sustainability. Khloe ThompsonFounder of Khloe Kares, Khloe is a young philanthropist recognized for her efforts in aiding the homeless community. Kathey HaasJoining spcaLA as a volunteer in 2001, Kathey has been fostering cats since the day she completed her orientation. Over the years, Kathey has opened her home to nearly 600 spcaLA cats and kittens, taking care of them until they were ready to be adopted. Helen WangHelen is an author and speaker focusing on China's middle class, contributing insights into global economic shifts. Jean MendozaJean is an advocate for indigenous education, working to integrate accurate Native American histories into early learning. Kendal TroutmanKendal is Founder of the 24 Degrees of Color program and was the first honoree inducted into the Hockeywood Wall of Fame for promoting diversity in hockey. Nancy AlcarezNancy serves as Director of the Mi Casa after school program director + Little Tokyo Service Center. Chris SweeneyChris owns and operates Right Mealz, a meal prep company and brick and mortar in Long Beach. Nick RoseNick is a LAFD captain who is stationed at station 9 in LA. LA Station 9 is the skid row fire station and happens to be the busiest fire station in the entire country. Justine VargasJustine is a dispatcher for Los Angeles County Fire who worked throughout the Palisades and Eaton Fires, helping to direct sending units and water drops. Erin MaxickErin is the founder of The Little Zoo in Los Angeles, a non-profit organization that offers low- to no-cost visits with their animal family for specific communities. Lisa Monie-PeraltaA longtime teacher at Griffith Middle School in Downey, Lisa is responsible for the school adopting the STEAM curriculum, creating its gifted program and making the school a safe place for all students. Maxine SealeyMaxine is the founder of Sharing Love With Others, a nonprofit that serves warm meals, water, medical supplies and clothing to the homeless community of Skid Row. Fans interested in learning more about the Mercury Insurance Hockeywood Wall of Fame can visit the site at where they can read about the inductees and nominate their own heroes. About Mercury Insurance Headquartered in Los Angeles, Mercury Insurance (NYSE: MCY) is a multiple-line insurance carrier offering personal auto, homeowners, and renters insurance directly to consumers and through a network of independent agents in Arizona, California, Georgia, Illinois, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Oklahoma, Texas and Virginia, as well as auto insurance in Florida. Mercury also writes business owners, business auto, landlord, commercial multi-peril and mechanical protection insurance in various states. Since 1962, Mercury has provided customers with tremendous value for their insurance dollar by pairing ultra-competitive rates with excellent customer service, through nearly 4,100 employees and a network of more than 6,500 independent agents in 11 states. Mercury has earned an "A" rating from A.M. Best, as well as "Best Auto Insurance Company" designations from Forbes and For more information visit or follow the company on Twitter or Facebook. View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Mercury Insurance Sign in to access your portfolio
CBS News
15-05-2025
- Sport
- CBS News
LA Kings welcome Ken Holland as new general manager
The Los Angeles Kings officially introduced former Edmonton Oilers manager Ken Holland as their new general manager on Thursday, replacing Rob Blake. "He knows the path of what it takes to get to the championship, and that's a hard thing to do and that's a hard thing to learn," President Luc Robitaille said at Thursday's introduction. Holland joins the Kings as the fifth-winningest general manager in NHL history. The Hall of Fame hockey executive spent the past year out of the NHL after leaving the Oilers in June 2024. Before that, he was general manager of the Detroit Red Wings for 22 years and won four Stanley Cup championships during his tenure there. Holland replaces Rob Blake, who left the Kings by mutual decision earlier this month after eight seasons. Los Angeles lost to the Oilers in the first round in each of their four straight playoff appearances, from 2022 to 2025. "it was very important to get the right person to guide this franchise to where we want to be, which is not about beating one team, winning one round, it's about winning four rounds," Robitaille said. He said Holland mirrored his vision for the franchise, players, coaching staff, and the entire organization. A 2020 Hockey Hall of Fame inductee, Holland is a former goaltender who played four NHL games with Detroit and Hartford Whalers. As a highly respected and successful hockey executive, he served in several different roles within the organization prior to being named general manager, including assistant general manager, amateur scouting director, and western conference scout. The Vernon, BC native has served on several management staffs for Hockey Canada, winning gold medals at the 2010 and 2014 Olympic Winter Games and at the 2016 World Cup of Hockey. "The game is very important to me. I did enjoy one stress-free year but I'm excited about being back in the saddle," Holland said. "I've kind of been through this before when I went to Edmonton in 2019. I know what's got to be done. A tweak here, a trade there, a free-agent signing. I was in Detroit for 22 years, in Edmonton for five and now I'm diving back into the pressure cooker."
