John LeClair
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Position | Left Wing |
| Shoots | Left |
| Height Weight |
6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 233 lb (106 kg) |
| NHL Team F. Teams |
free agent Montreal Canadiens Philadelphia Flyers Pittsburgh Penguins |
| Nationality |  United States |
| Born | July 5, 1969, St. Albans, VT, USA |
| NHL Draft | 33rd overall, 1987 Montreal Canadiens |
| Pro Career | 1991 – present |
John Clark LeClair (born July 5, 1969 in St. Albans, Vermont) 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.
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[edit] Playing career
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 light the lamp as he scored 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. During the 1994-95 NHL season he was traded, along with fellow teammates Eric Desjardins and Gilbert Dionne to Philadelphia for Mark Recchi. He has played on the U.S. Olympic hockey team twice and has had three consecutive 50-goal seasons in the NHL. He was named to the Olympic Tournament All-Star Team after posting a tournament-best six goals for silver medalist Team USA at the 2002 Olympic Winter Games
LeClair played for the Philadelphia Flyers for 10 seasons. While with the Flyers he played left-wing on the famed "Legion of Doom" line, with Mikael Renberg on right-wing and centered by Eric Lindros. The trio was not only effective at scoring but they were also a devastating 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 was one of the most productive players in the history of the Flyers franchise scoring 382 career goals and an additional 42 in the playoffs, marks good enough for top 10 in the history of Flyers goal scorers.
On July 23, 2005, as a result of a new Collective Bargaining Agreement and the salary cap that came along with it, the Flyers were forced to part ways with their longtime alternate captain. His contract was bought out, as well as the one of fellow teammate Tony Amonte. Rumors had LeClair going to the Boston Bruins or perhaps the Toronto Maple Leafs. Instead, LeClair signed a two year deal with the Pittsburgh Penguins on August 15, 2005. It is rumored that friend and former teammate Mark Recchi recruited LeClair to join him in Pittsburgh. LeClair had a fairly successful season in Pittsburgh during the 2005-06 NHL season.
After 2 straight games of being a healthy scratch on November 30, 2006 LeClair was waived by the Pittsburgh Penguins.[1] After no other NHL team claimed him and took on his contract, he was demoted to the AHL's Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins on December 2, 2006. [2] LeClair refused to report to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton and was given an unconditional release on December 14, 2006, making him an unrestricted free-agent and freeing the Penguins from responsibility for his salary.
John is president of the John LeClair Foundation which awards grants to non-profit Vermont organizations that sponsor programs for children.
[edit] Awards
Leclair won the Bud Light Plus-Minus Award in 1996-97 with the Philadelphia Flyers as the first player to win the award with a +/- rating of plus 44 and again with the Flyers in 1998-99 with a rating of plus 36.
[edit] Records
[edit] Career statistics
| Regular season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | League | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | ||
| 1987-88 | University of Vermont | ECAC | 31 | 12 | 22 | 34 | 62 | - | - | - | - | - | ||
| 1988-89 | University of Vermont | ECAC | 18 | 9 | 12 | 21 | 40 | - | - | - | - | - | ||
| 1989-90 | University of Vermont | ECAC | 10 | 10 | 6 | 16 | 38 | - | - | - | - | - | ||
| 1990-91 | University of Vermont | ECAC | 33 | 25 | 20 | 45 | 58 | - | - | - | - | - | ||
| 1990-91 | Montreal Canadiens | NHL | 10 | 2 | 5 | 7 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 1991-92 | Montreal Canadiens | NHL | 59 | 8 | 11 | 19 | 14 | 8 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4 | ||
| 1991-92 | Fredericton Canadiens | AHL | 8 | 7 | 7 | 14 | 10 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | ||
| 1992-93 | Montreal Canadiens | NHL | 72 | 19 | 25 | 44 | 33 | 20 | 4 | 6 | 10 | 14 | ||
| 1993-94 | Montreal Canadiens | NHL | 74 | 19 | 24 | 43 | 32 | 7 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 8 | ||
| 1994-95 | Montreal Canadiens | NHL | 9 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 10 | - | - | - | - | - | ||
| 1994-95 | Philadelphia Flyers | NHL | 37 | 25 | 24 | 49 | 20 | 15 | 5 | 7 | 12 | 4 | ||
| 1995-96 | Philadelphia Flyers | NHL | 82 | 51 | 46 | 97 | 64 | 11 | 6 | 5 | 11 | 6 | ||
| 1996-97 | Philadelphia Flyers | NHL | 82 | 50 | 47 | 97 | 58 | 19 | 9 | 12 | 21 | 10 | ||
| 1997-98 | Philadelphia Flyers | NHL | 82 | 51 | 36 | 87 | 32 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 8 | ||
| 1998-99 | Philadelphia Flyers | NHL | 76 | 43 | 47 | 90 | 30 | 6 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 12 | ||
| 1999-00 | Philadelphia Flyers | NHL | 82 | 40 | 37 | 77 | 36 | 18 | 6 | 7 | 13 | 6 | ||
| 2000-01 | Philadelphia Flyers | NHL | 16 | 7 | 5 | 12 | 0 | 6 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 2 | ||
| 2001-02 | Philadelphia Flyers | NHL | 82 | 25 | 26 | 51 | 30 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | ||
| 2002-03 | Philadelphia Flyers | NHL | 35 | 18 | 10 | 28 | 16 | 13 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 10 | ||
| 2003-04 | Philadelphia Flyers | NHL | 75 | 23 | 32 | 55 | 51 | 18 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 8 | ||
| 2005-06 | Pittsburgh Penguins | NHL | 73 | 22 | 29 | 51 | 61 | - | - | - | - | - | ||
| 2006-07 | Pittsburgh Penguins | NHL | 21 | 2 | 5 | 7 | 12 | - | - | - | - | - | ||
| NHL totals | 967 | 406 | 413 | 819 | 501 | 154 | 42 | 47 | 89 | 94 | ||||
Stats as of January 24, 2007
[edit] International play
| Olympic medal record | |||
| Men's Ice Hockey | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Silver | 2002 Salt Lake City | Ice Hockey | |
[edit] External links
| Preceded by Chris Pronger |
Winner of the NHL Plus/Minus Award 1999 |
Succeeded by Chris Pronger |
| Preceded by Vladimir Konstantinov |
Winner of the NHL Plus/Minus Award 1997 |
Succeeded by Chris Pronger |
| Preceded by Eric Lindros |
Winner of the Bobby Clarke Trophy 1997,1998 |
Succeeded by Eric Lindros |
Categories: 1969 births | Living people | American ice hockey players | Fredericton Canadiens players | Montreal Canadiens draft picks | Montreal Canadiens players | National Hockey League 50-goal seasons | National Hockey League All-Stars | Olympic competitors for the United States | Olympic silver medalists for the United States | Americans of French Canadian descent | People from Vermont | Philadelphia Flyers players | Pittsburgh Penguins players | Stanley Cup champions | Vermont Catamounts ice hockey players | Winter Olympics medalists
