Montreal Canadiens defenseman Larry Robinson and Pittsburgh Penguins captain Mario Lemieux have a chat during a 1980s game at the Montreal Forum. Denis Brodeur, Getty Images
Robinson retired from hockey following the Blues' championship, his 46-year life in the NHL having seen him win the Norris Trophy as the best defenseman in the NHL in 1976-77 and 1979-80, and the Conn Smythe Trophy as the most valuable player in the Stanley Cup Playoffs in 1977-78.
Between his debut with the Canadiens on Jan. 8, 1972, and his final game with the Kings on April 14, 1992, Robinson had 958 points (208 goals, 750 assists) in 1,384 regular-season games, and 144 points (28 goals, 116 assists) in 227 playoff games.
He'll watch plenty of hockey this winter from the comfort of his home and enjoy lots of golf with Moe and other regulars with whom he plays to an 11- or 12-handicap three or four times per week.
"I've come close before," he said of an ace. "I played in a tournament in Montreal that finished with a par-3, which you don't see very often. They offered a car for a hole-in-one, and I hit the pin on a bounce."
If that one missed by a whisker, Robinson was perfect Jan. 6. He won't ever forget a 6-iron swing that ended magically, out of his view, as pure a shot as any he took to score his 208 NHL goals.
"And you know what?" he said. "I didn't see most of those either."
Top photo: Larry Robinson at home in Florida on Jan. 8, 2023, with the ball and scorecard from his first hole-in-one. Courtesy Jeannette Robinson