Pierre-Luc Létourneau-Leblond

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. 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.[1]

Pierre-Luc Létourneau-Leblond
Born (1985-06-04) 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 2005–2017

Playing career

As a youth, Leblond played in the 1998 and 1999 Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournaments with a minor ice hockey team from Pointe-Lévy.[2]

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.

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.[3] In 64 AHL games, he recorded 13 points (8 goals and 5 assists) and 334 penalty minutes.

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.[4]

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.[5] 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.

On August 20, 2013, Leblond signed a one-year AHL contract as a free agent with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins.[6] 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.[7]

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.[8]

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.[9] 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 a NHL trade between the Lightning and Maple Leafs on February 27, 2017.[10]

On August 12, 2017, Leblond initially announced his retirement from professional hockey.[11] 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.[12] He featured in one game with the Thunder before re-announcing his retirement.

Career statistics
Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
2003–04 Baie-Comeau Drakkar QMJHL 62235198 40006
2004–05 Baie-Comeau Drakkar QMJHL 67167229 601110
2005–06 Adirondack Frostbite UHL 31369165 601129
2005–06 Albany River Rats AHL 27112130 —————
2006–07 Trenton Titans ECHL 524913183 400015
2007–08 Trenton Devils ECHL 601146 —————
2007–08 Lowell Devils AHL 3633698 —————
2008–09 Lowell Devils AHL 605510216 —————
2008–09 New Jersey Devils NHL 801122 —————
2009–10 New Jersey Devils NHL 2702248 500010
2009–10 Lowell Devils AHL 502218 —————
2010–11 New Jersey Devils NHL 200021 —————
2010–11 Albany Devils AHL 648513334 —————
2011–12 Calgary Flames NHL 300010 —————
2011–12 Abbotsford Heat AHL 50156167 500018
2012–13 Norfolk Admirals AHL 3335898 —————
2013–14 Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins AHL 66246259 200012
2013–14 Pittsburgh Penguins NHL 10000 —————
2014–15 Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins AHL 55246241 40007
2015–16 Albany Devils AHL 52156131 30008
2016–17 Syracuse Crunch AHL 37145121 —————
2016–17 Toronto Marlies AHL 10007 —————
2017–18 Adirondack Thunder ECHL 10000 —————
NHL totals 41033101 500010
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References
  1. "Brodeur notches 98th shutout as Devils break out offense vs. Stars". cbssports.com. October 22, 2008. Retrieved May 2, 2009.
  2. "Pee-Wee players who have reached NHL or WHA" (PDF). Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament. 2018. Retrieved February 12, 2019.
  3. "Devils host Wolf Pack Friday". Albany Devils. October 14, 2010. Archived from the original on October 18, 2010. Retrieved October 14, 2010.
  4. "Letourneau-Leblond suspended five games for boarding". The Sports Network. September 22, 2011. Retrieved September 22, 2011.
  5. "Anaheim Ducks training camp roster" (PDF). Anaheim Ducks. January 13, 2013. Retrieved January 13, 2013.
  6. "Letourneau-Leblond signs with Penguins". Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins. August 20, 2013. Archived from the original on August 23, 2013. Retrieved August 20, 2013.
  7. "Penguins sign forward Pierre-Luc Letourneau-Leblond". Pittsburgh Penguins. November 7, 2013. Retrieved November 15, 2013.
  8. "Devils sign F Letourneau-Leblond". New Jersey Devils. September 8, 2015. Retrieved September 8, 2015.
  9. "Lightning sign free agent forward Pierre-Luc Leblond". Tampa Bay Lightning. July 1, 2016. Retrieved July 3, 2016.
  10. "Bolts acquire Froese, 2nd round pick from Toronto for Boyle". Tampa Bay Lightning. February 27, 2017. Retrieved February 27, 2017.
  11. "Pierre-Luc Letourneau-Leblond retires; let's watch that fight one more time". Yahoo! Sports. August 12, 2017. Retrieved August 12, 2017.
  12. "Thunder add forward Pierre-Luc Letourneau-Leblond". Adirondack Thunder. December 2, 2017. Retrieved December 2, 2017.
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