5 Interesting Facts About John LeClair

There is a long list of professional athletes who have managed to turn things around after a slow start, but few have done it as successfully as left winger John LeClair.

The Philadelphia Flyers standout jumped from a solid player to a star when he came to the City of Brotherly Love, a move that turned him into a fan favorite during his playing days. Below are five must-know LeClair facts.

As soon as LeClair landed in Philadelphia, he teamed up with center Eric Lindros and right wing Mikael Renberg to form one of the most physically imposing forward lines in NHL history. Each player was 6-foot-2 or taller, bringing significant muscle to an already physical era of Flyers hockey.

LeClair and Lindros both finished in the top 10 in goals during the 1995-96 season. LeClair's addition to the forward line helped unlock the abilities of his two teammates, making the Legion of Doom one of the most notable lines in Flyers history.

LeClair was one of the best American-born players of his era, even setting a new benchmark for American hockey in his first full year with the Flyers.

During that 1995-96 season, LeClair scored 51 goals, a feat he followed up with 50 in the 1996-97 season and 51 in the 1997-98 campaign. That run of incredible offensive production made LeClair the first U.S.-born player to record three straight seasons of 50 or more goals.

During the early 2000s, American ice hockey was not what it is today. By the time the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City rolled around, it had been 22 years since Team USA claimed a gold medal. 

In an effort to change that standing on American soil, LeClair poured in six goals and an assist in six games to help guide the Americans to a 4-1-1 record. Their only loss came against Team Canada in the gold medal game. After nearly a quarter-century without an Olympic medal, LeClair played a critical role in reaffirming American hockey as a powerhouse.

LeClair's most famous contributions on the ice did not come in a Philadelphia uniform.

During a trip to the 1993 Stanley Cup Finals with the Montreal Canadiens, LeClair and his team found themselves tied 1-1 with the Los Angeles Kings. Game 2 turned into a nail-biting affair when hockey legend Wayne Gretzky scored for the Kings to equalize the score at three, eventually sending the game into overtime.

Montreal fans did not have to worry for long, as LeClair knocked in the overtime winner almost immediately, securing Game 3 and a series lead.

As if that goal was not dramatic enough, more heroism from LeClair followed in Game 4. Another second-period score from the Kings tied the game, and a scoreless third period on both sides meant more overtime.

It took a little bit longer this time, but LeClair once again scored the winner, pushing the Canadiens to a commanding 3-1 lead. LeClair became one of two players to score multiple overtime goals in the finals, a list that has since expanded to include one more. Game 5 saw Montreal capture the Stanley Cup championship, marking the only title win of LeClair's career.

It should come as no surprise that LeClair received his fair share of awards throughout his NHL career. He made the All-Star roster six times, twice as a First Team selection.

Throughout his glory days with the Flyers, LeClair was also in consistent contention for the Hart Memorial Trophy, the highest honor a hockey player could hope to receive. Despite never capturing an individual trophy, LeClair was inducted into the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame for his NHL and international play.

While John LeClair is in the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame, it seems unlikely that he will ever make the Hockey Hall of Fame. Despite establishing himself as one of the most consistent goal-scorers of his era, LeClair is sometimes overlooked by hockey fans, receiving only adequate recognition from Flyers fans and Montreal supporters who remember his late-game heroics that helped deliver the city a Stanley Cup.