Pierre-Luc Létourneau-Leblond (born June 4, 1985) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey left winger who played in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the New Jersey Devils, Calgary Flames and Pittsburgh Penguins. In July of 2023, he was inducted into the New York Hockey Hall of Fame. [1] He played a physical game and is known as an agitator and a fighter. He was an extremely tough player, who very rarely fell when fighting. He is known as having some of the longest fights.[2]
| Pierre-Luc Létourneau-Leblond | |||
|---|---|---|---|
.jpg) Létourneau-Leblond with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins in 2014 | |||
| Born |
June 4, 1985 Lévis, Quebec, Canada | ||
| Height | 6 ft 2 in (188 cm) | ||
| Weight | 215 lb (98 kg; 15 st 5 lb) | ||
| Position | Right wing | ||
| Shot | Left | ||
| Played for |
New Jersey Devils Calgary Flames Pittsburgh Penguins | ||
| NHL draft |
216th overall, 2004 New Jersey Devils | ||
| Playing career | 2005–2023 | ||
Playing career
editAs a youth, Leblond played in the 1998 and 1999 Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournaments with a minor ice hockey team from Pointe-Lévy.[3]
Following his rookie season in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) with the Baie-Comeau Drakkar, Leblond was selected 216th overall in the 2004 NHL Entry Draft by the New Jersey Devils. He returned to Baie-Comeau for a second season before turning professional in 2005–06, splitting the season between Adirondack Frostbite of the United Hockey League (UHL) and the Albany River Rats of the American Hockey League (AHL). Leblond continued to play with the Devils' minor league affiliates until being called up to the NHL during the 2008–09 season. After an injury to forward Bobby Holík, he made his NHL debut on October 22, 2008, and registered an assist on a David Clarkson goal during a 5-0 victory over the Dallas Stars. Leblond dressed for eight Devils games during the season, registering the lone assist, as well as 22 penalty minutes.[citation needed]
At the beginning of the 2009–10 season, Leblond signed a contract worth $1.575 million over three seasons. He played in a career-high 27 NHL games with the Devils, recording two assists. During the season, he also played five games in the AHL. Leblond began the 2010–11 season with the Devils. On October 9, 2010, in the final period of a 7–2 loss, Leblond attempted to fight Washington Capitals rookie Marcus Johansson. The fight took place with 4 minutes and 17 seconds remaining in the third period; Leblond was charged with an instigator penalty resulting in an automatic one-game suspension. Two days later, the Devils placed Leblond on waivers; after clearing, he was assigned to the Albany Devils.[4] In 64 AHL games, he recorded 13 points (8 goals and 5 assists) and 334 penalty minutes.[citation needed]
On July 14, 2011, Leblond was traded to the Calgary Flames for a fifth-round selection in the 2012 NHL Entry Draft. During his pre-season debut with the Flames, he received a two-minute penalty and ten-minute misconduct for hitting Vancouver Canucks forward Matt Clackson into the boards from behind. Following the game, he was suspended five games by the league, costing him $6,402.44 in salary, which was allocated to the NHL Players Association's Emergency Assistance Fund.[5]
At the conclusion of the 2012–13 NHL lockout, Leblond was invited on a try-out to the Anaheim Ducks training camp on January 13, 2013.[6] He was then subsequently signed to a one-year contract with the Ducks two days later and was assigned to AHL affiliate, the Norfolk Admirals.[citation needed]
On August 20, 2013, Leblond signed a one-year AHL contract as a free agent with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins.[7] During the 2013–14 season, on November 7, 2013, Leblond was signed to a two-year, two way NHL contract with parent affiliate, the Pittsburgh Penguins.[8]
As a free agent on September 8, 2015, Leblond returned to his original team for the first time since 2011, agreeing to a one-year, two-way contract with the New Jersey Devils.[9]
On July 1, 2016, Leblond signed as a free agent with his fourth NHL club, the Tampa Bay Lightning, on a one-year, two-way deal.[10] Assigned to the AHL's Syracuse Crunch for the 2016–17 season, Leblond appeared in 37 games for 5 points and 121 penalty minutes, before he was loaned to the Toronto Marlies of the AHL on a condition of an NHL trade between the Lightning and Maple Leafs on February 27, 2017.[11]
On August 12, 2017, Leblond initially announced his retirement from professional hockey.[12] However, his retirement was short lived, agreeing to return to the professional circuit in signing midway into the 2017–18 season with the Devils' secondary affiliate, the Adirondack Thunder of the ECHL, on December 2, 2017.[13] He featured in one game with the Thunder before re-announcing his retirement.[citation needed]
Career statistics
edit| Regular season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | League | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | ||
| 2003–04 | Baie–Comeau Drakkar | QMJHL | 62 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 198 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | ||
| 2004–05 | Baie–Comeau Drakkar | QMJHL | 67 | 1 | 6 | 7 | 229 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 10 | ||
| 2005–06 | Adirondack Frostbite | UHL | 31 | 3 | 6 | 9 | 165 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 29 | ||
| 2005–06 | Albany River Rats | AHL | 27 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 130 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2006–07 | Trenton Titans | ECHL | 52 | 4 | 9 | 13 | 183 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 15 | ||
| 2007–08 | Trenton Devils | ECHL | 6 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 46 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2007–08 | Lowell Devils | AHL | 36 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 98 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2008–09 | Lowell Devils | AHL | 60 | 5 | 5 | 10 | 216 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2008–09 | New Jersey Devils | NHL | 8 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 22 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2009–10 | New Jersey Devils | NHL | 27 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 48 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 | ||
| 2009–10 | Lowell Devils | AHL | 5 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 18 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2010–11 | New Jersey Devils | NHL | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 21 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2010–11 | Albany Devils | AHL | 64 | 8 | 5 | 13 | 334 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2011–12 | Calgary Flames | NHL | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2011–12 | Abbotsford Heat | AHL | 50 | 1 | 5 | 6 | 167 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 18 | ||
| 2012–13 | Norfolk Admirals | AHL | 33 | 3 | 5 | 8 | 98 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2013–14 | Wilkes–Barre/Scranton Penguins | AHL | 66 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 259 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 12 | ||
| 2013–14 | Pittsburgh Penguins | NHL | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2014–15 | Wilkes–Barre/Scranton Penguins | AHL | 55 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 241 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | ||
| 2015–16 | Albany Devils | AHL | 52 | 1 | 5 | 6 | 131 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | ||
| 2016–17 | Syracuse Crunch | AHL | 37 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 121 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2016–17 | Toronto Marlies | AHL | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2017–18 | Adirondack Thunder | ECHL | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2019–20 | Les Pétroliers du Nord | LNAH | 23 | 2 | 7 | 9 | 116 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2021–22 | Trois–Rivières Lions | ECHL | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2022–23 | Trois–Rivières Lions | ECHL | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| AHL totals | 486 | 27 | 43 | 70 | 1820 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 45 | ||||
| ECHL totals | 62 | 4 | 10 | 14 | 236 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 15 | ||||
| NHL totals | 41 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 101 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 | ||||
References
edit- ^ "Pierre Luc Letourneau Leblond Induction Speech to the NY State Hockey Hall of Fame". https://www.youtube.com/@brianderenzo9639. July 20, 2023. Retrieved November 26, 2023.
{{cite web}}: External link in|publisher= - ^ "Brodeur notches 98th shutout as Devils break out offense vs. Stars". cbssports.com. October 22, 2008. Retrieved May 2, 2009.
- ^ "Pee-Wee players who have reached NHL or WHA" (PDF). Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament. 2018. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 6, 2019. Retrieved February 12, 2019.
- ^ "Devils host Wolf Pack Friday". Albany Devils. October 14, 2010. Archived from the original on October 18, 2010. Retrieved October 14, 2010.
- ^ "Letourneau-Leblond suspended five games for boarding". The Sports Network. September 22, 2011. Retrieved September 22, 2011.
- ^ "Anaheim Ducks training camp roster" (PDF). Anaheim Ducks. January 13, 2013. Retrieved January 13, 2013.
- ^ "Letourneau-Leblond signs with Penguins". Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins. August 20, 2013. Archived from the original on August 23, 2013. Retrieved August 20, 2013.
- ^ "Penguins sign forward Pierre-Luc Letourneau-Leblond". Pittsburgh Penguins. November 7, 2013. Retrieved November 15, 2013.
- ^ "Devils sign F Letourneau-Leblond". New Jersey Devils. September 8, 2015. Retrieved September 8, 2015.
- ^ "Lightning sign free agent forward Pierre-Luc Leblond". Tampa Bay Lightning. July 1, 2016. Retrieved July 3, 2016.
- ^ "Bolts acquire Froese, 2nd round pick from Toronto for Boyle". Tampa Bay Lightning. February 27, 2017. Retrieved February 27, 2017.
- ^ "Pierre-Luc Letourneau-Leblond retires; let's watch that fight one more time". Yahoo! Sports. August 12, 2017. Retrieved August 12, 2017.
- ^ "Thunder add forward Pierre-Luc Letourneau-Leblond". Adirondack Thunder. December 2, 2017. Retrieved December 2, 2017.
External links
edit- Biographical information and career statistics from NHL.com, or Eliteprospects.com, or Hockey-Reference.com, or The Internet Hockey Database