Eric Lacroix
Canadian ice hockey player
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Eric Lacroix (born July 15, 1971) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player. He played eight seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the Toronto Maple Leafs, Los Angeles Kings, Colorado Avalanche, New York Rangers and Ottawa Senators. He is the son of former Colorado Avalanche president Pierre Lacroix, and has worked in various management positions within the Avalanche. He is currently an analyst for the DNVR Avalanche podcast.
| Eric Lacroix | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Born |
July 15, 1971 Montreal, Quebec, Canada | ||
| Height | 6 ft 1 in (185 cm) | ||
| Weight | 205 lb (93 kg; 14 st 9 lb) | ||
| Position | Left wing | ||
| Shot | Left | ||
| Played for |
Toronto Maple Leafs Los Angeles Kings Colorado Avalanche New York Rangers Ottawa Senators | ||
| NHL draft |
136th overall, 1990 Toronto Maple Leafs | ||
| Playing career | 1992–2001 | ||
Playing career
Lacroix was selected in the 7th round, 136th overall in the 1990 NHL Entry Draft by the Toronto Maple Leafs. He then played two years of collegiate hockey with St. Lawrence University of the ECAC. He made his professional debut with Maple Leafs American Hockey League affiliate, the St. John's Maple Leafs before appearing in his first NHL game with the Leafs in the 1993–94 season.
Lacroix enjoyed his most successful stint in the NHL with the Colorado Avalanche, posting a career high 18 goals, 18 assists and 36 points in the 1996–97 season, as the Avalanche fell just short of defending their Stanley Cup title.
On February 13, 1999, Lacroix was traded from the Los Angeles Kings to the Rangers for Sean Pronger. On March 1, 2001, he was traded from the Rangers to the Senators for Colin Forbes before ending his professional career at 472 NHL games after the conclusion of the 2000–01 season.
Management
Post-retirement, Lacroix remained involved in hockey and returned to the Avalanche organization, assuming the roles of assistant video coach and director of hockey operations for four seasons. He became the co-owner and governor of the Arizona Sundogs of the Central Hockey League. After three years with the Sundogs, helping claim the Ray Miron President's Cup as champions of the CHL, Lacroix joined the Phoenix Coyotes organization for the 2008–09 season as a professional scout.[1]
On June 3, 2009, Lacroix re-joined his father in Colorado, when he was named Vice President of Hockey Operations for the Avalanche. He served in his role for four consecutive seasons, before leaving after the 2012–13 season.[2]
Broadcasting
It was announced on September 18, 2017, that Lacroix had signed on to be a studio analyst for the Vegas Golden Knights on AT&T SportsNet Rocky Mountain.[3]
Personal life
Lacroix is married to Jill and they have three children, Max, Mia, and Ty. They live in Castle Pines, Colorado.[4][5]
Max Lacroix, who is a goalie and will play for the Colorado Grit in the NAHL during the 2023–24 season, is committed to Boston University for the 2024–25 season.[5][6]
Career statistics
| Regular season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | League | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | ||
| 1989–90 | The Governor's Academy | HS-MA | 25 | 23 | 18 | 41 | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1990–91 | St. Lawrence University | ECAC | 30 | 12 | 7 | 19 | 35 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1991–92 | St. Lawrence University | ECAC | 34 | 11 | 21 | 32 | 40 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1992–93 | St. John's Maple Leafs | AHL | 76 | 15 | 19 | 34 | 59 | 9 | 5 | 3 | 8 | 4 | ||
| 1993–94 | St. John's Maple Leafs | AHL | 59 | 17 | 22 | 39 | 69 | 11 | 5 | 3 | 8 | 6 | ||
| 1993–94 | Toronto Maple Leafs | NHL | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 1994–95 | St. John's Maple Leafs | AHL | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1994–95 | Phoenix Roadrunners | IHL | 25 | 7 | 1 | 8 | 31 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1994–95 | Los Angeles Kings | NHL | 45 | 9 | 7 | 16 | 54 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1995–96 | Los Angeles Kings | NHL | 72 | 16 | 16 | 32 | 110 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1996–97 | Colorado Avalanche | NHL | 81 | 18 | 18 | 36 | 26 | 17 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 19 | ||
| 1997–98 | Colorado Avalanche | NHL | 82 | 16 | 15 | 31 | 84 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | ||
| 1998–99 | Colorado Avalanche | NHL | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1998–99 | Los Angeles Kings | NHL | 27 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 12 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1998–99 | New York Rangers | NHL | 30 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 4 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1999–00 | New York Rangers | NHL | 70 | 4 | 8 | 12 | 24 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2000–01 | New York Rangers | NHL | 46 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 39 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2000–01 | Ottawa Senators | NHL | 9 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | ||
| NHL totals | 472 | 67 | 70 | 137 | 361 | 30 | 1 | 5 | 6 | 25 | ||||
Awards and honors
| Award | Year |
|---|---|
| All-ECAC Hockey Rookie Team | 1990–91 |