John LeClair

Infobox Ice Hockey Player


image_size =
position = Left Wing
shot = Left
height_ft = 6
height_in = 3
weight_lb = 235
played_for = Montreal Canadiens
Philadelphia Flyers
Pittsburgh Penguins
nationality = United States
birth_date = birth date and age|1969|07|5
birth_place = St. Albans, VT, U.S.
career_start = 1991
career_end = 2006
draft = 33rd overall
draft_year = 1987
draft_team = Montreal Canadiens

John Clark LeClair (born July 5, 1969, in St. Albans, United States) is an American professional ice hockey player. He most recently played left wing for the Pittsburgh Penguins of the NHL, who released him on December 14, 2006. He is currently an unrestricted free agent and although he has not officially announced his retirement, a return to the NHL as a player is unlikely.

Playing career

Montreal Canadiens

LeClair was drafted by the Montreal Canadiens with the 33rd pick in the 1987 NHL Entry Draft after graduating from Bellows Free Academy (B.F.A.) High School in St. Albans, Vermont. One of the most highly recruited hockey players in New England, Leclair put his NHL aspirations on hold to attend the University of Vermont on a full scholarship. His fans didn't have to wait long to see him score in his first collegiate game. After the final game of his senior year he signed with the Canadiens and, less than a week later, played and scored in his first NHL game. As a member of the Canadiens, LeClair was on the Stanley Cup-winning team in 1993, where he scored two overtime game-winning goals during the Stanley Cup Finals.

Philadelphia Flyers

On February 9, 1995, a Montreal team desperate to salvage a difficult season traded LeClair, along with Éric Desjardins and Gilbert Dionne to the Philadelphia Flyers in exchange for Mark Recchi and Philadelphia's 3rd round choice (Martin Hohenberger) in the 1995 NHL Entry Draft. LeClair gelled immediately with new line-mate Eric Lindros and quickly became one of the NHL's most feared goal scorers.

With the Flyers he played left-wing on the famed "Legion of Doom" line, centered by Lindros and Mikael Renberg on right-wing. The trio was not only effective at scoring but they were also a dominant physical presence on the ice. In 1998, LeClair became the first American-born NHL player to record three consecutive 50-goal seasons and the second Flyer to do so, behind Tim Kerr. Following the 1997–98 NHL season, LeClair had two consecutive 40 goal seasons. LeClair played for the Flyers for 10 seasons and was one of the most productive players in franchise history, scoring 382 career goals and an additional 42 in the playoffs, statistics good enough for top 10 in the history of Flyers goal scorers.

Pittsburgh Penguins

On July 23, 2005, as a result of a new Collective Bargaining Agreement which introduced a salary cap to the NHL, the Flyers were forced to part ways with their longtime alternate captain, and they bought out LeClair's and teammate Tony Amonte's contracts to create cap space. Rumors had LeClair going to the Boston Bruins or perhaps the Toronto Maple Leafs. Instead, LeClair signed a two year deal with the arch-rival Pittsburgh Penguins on August 15, 2005. LeClair had a fairly successful season in Pittsburgh during the 2005–06 NHL season, finishing third on the team in scoring as he passed the 400-goal mark and had his eighth 50+ point season.

Other information

John is president of the "John LeClair Foundation" which awards grants to non-profit Vermont organizations that sponsor programs for children. In addition, he and former teammate Chris Therien operate a shipping logistics company together called LT Lines (LeClair-Therien Lines). He currently divides his time between Haverford, Pennsylvania and his hometown of St. Albans, Vermont.

Awards

*ECAC Second All-Star Team (1991)
*NHL First All-Star Team (1995, 1998)
*NHL Second All-Star Team (1996, 1997, 1999)
*World Cup All-Star Team (1996)
*Bud Ice Plus/Minus Award (1997)
*Bud Light Plus/Minus Award (1999) Played in NHL All-Star Game (1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000)
*2002 Olympics First All-Star team

Career statistics

International play

References

External links

*hockeydb|3036
*legendsofhockey|10923