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Before they were hall of famers

November 6, 2009 01:38 PM | Posted by   Glenn Healy  

On Monday night, two of my former teammates and great friends will be inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame. I am really proud of the accomplishments of both Brian Leetch and Luc Robitaille.

Although they will reach the finish line together and be inducted into the hall on the same night, it was drastically different at the start for both players. In those early days I never dreamed they would receive this great honour on the same night.

Knack for the net

I’ll start with Luc who was drafted in the ninth round, 171st overall in 1984. Is that a typo, you might ask. No. This is a guy who played 19 years in the NHL, won the Calder Trophy as the top rookie in 1987, racked up one 60, two 50 and five 40-plus goal years. Hey, the Kings in 1984 drafted Tom Glavine in the fourth round, 102 spots ahead of Luc. (Isn’t he a pitcher?)

I was at that first Kings training camp in Victoria with Luc as we both set off to launch our careers. My first recollection of Luc is him dropping the gloves with six-foot-two, 210-pound Dan Brennan. It wasn’t much of a fight as Dan broke Luc’s nose and it was over in a pinch ... I mean punch. As I assessed the situation I realized the Kings had drafted a kid who couldn’t skate or fight. Correct Glenn, but man could he score! He is known for that uncanny way he got open with that graceful stride and great release.

Here are a few things that he is not famous for. He’s the only player I know to have a pot belly pig for a pet. (I would even settle for a cat before a pig). Luc is maybe the worst guy for scouting other players in the league and giving that info to his goalie - me. Luc, remember the old advice “Gretzky never shoots down the left side”… except on me for three goals. Who would have thought that this hall of fame ceremony would be the end result all of these years later?

A Ranger rock

Brian was drafted in the first round, ninth overall in 1986. He is one of the best teammates ever. Never saw him play a bad game. Never saw him get tired, and trust me, with Mike Keenan as our coach, he sat beside me lots. Brian is the only American player (sorry Grapes) to ever win the Conn Smythe and he carried our team to its first Stanley Cup in 54 years.

Brian burst on the scene as the captain of the 1988 U.S. Olympic team. (Captain? Wasn’t he, like, 12 years old?) I remember that year well. ‘The Miracle on Ice’ as the U.S. team finished seventh. Add a Norris Trophy as top defenceman, a Calder Trophy as top rookie, a Stanley Cup, 18 NHL seasons and who cares about the Olympics? (Hey, I am starting to sound like the voices from the NHL office.)

I remember driving to practice with Brian as teammates in New York and in his car every warning light would be on. Check fluid, check tires, check oil, check lamps, check brakes. It was like a mobile Christmas tree. Who’s the sucker that bought that lease?

The reality is that nothing fazed Brian and he couldn’t be bothered by a few dozen warning lights. He was a rock and that’s what you have to be to anchor a Stanley Cup on a big stage like New York City.

Both players took life in stride. The game did not define them and they were complete people away from the rink. It’s amazing how the right perspective leaves you with the utmost respect from your teammates and a career that puts you in the Hockey Hall of Fame.

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