Pascal Leclaire
Encyclopedia
Pascal Leclaire is a Canadian
professional ice hockey
player. Leclaire is currently an unrestricted free agent. Leclaire played three years in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League
(QMJHL) and was selected eighth overall by the Columbus Blue Jackets
in the 2001 NHL Entry Draft
. After playing in the Blue Jackets' organization for seven seasons, he was traded to the Ottawa Senators
in 2009 and spent the following two seasons in the organization. Internationally, he has represented Canada on the national junior and men's teams.
(QMJHL) for the Halifax Mooseheads
and the Montreal Rocket
between 1998 and 2002. Leclaire was the first goaltender selected in the 2001 NHL Entry Draft
, chosen eighth overall by the Blue Jackets. He subsequently bounced back and forth between Columbus and their AHL
affiliate, the Syracuse Crunch
, from 2002 to 2005 before finally sticking with the Blue Jackets for good in 2006, serving as a backup to Marc Denis
.
On June 30, 2006, Denis was traded to the Tampa Bay Lightning
and Leclaire was promoted to starting goalie. However, during the season, Leclaire suffered from a leg injury and backup goaltender Fredrik Norrena
took over and eventually played 55 games out of 82. In 2007–08, Leclaire had an outstanding season and regained the number one job. He set new team records with nine shutouts (second in the league only to Henrik Lundqvist
), ranked second in the NHL in goals against average
, and third in save percentage
. Leclaire finished second in fan voting among Western Conference
goaltenders for the 56th NHL All-Star Game
, but was not named to the final team.
In the 2008–09 season, Leclaire injured his ankle, sidelining him for the season and the Blue Jackets promoted rookie Steve Mason
. Mason's play was outstanding, leading the Western Conference in several categories. In a playoff race, the Blue Jackets traded Leclaire to the Ottawa Senators
, along with a second-round pick in 2009
(Robin Lehner
), in exchange for Antoine Vermette
on deadline day March 4, 2009. As expected, Leclaire assumed the role of starting goaltender with the Senators in 2009-10, once he had fully recovered from ankle surgery. However, Leclaire would finish the season backing up Brian Elliott
in the Ottawa net, due to inconsistent play and injuries - including a broken cheekbone suffered from being hit by an errant puck while sitting on the bench during a game. The inconsistency and injuries worsened considerably in 2010-11 with Leclaire playing 14 NHL games and the Senators finishing the year with a top-2 tandem of goaltenders other than those who started the season with the team. During the season he underwent hip surgery.
with Canada. He assumed the starting position, recording a 1.80 GAA and two shutouts over five games. Six years later, he joined Canada's men's team at the 2008 IIHF World Championship
in Halifax, Nova Scotia. He played in four games, going undefeated while recording a 2.00 GAA. Canada lost in the gold medal game to Russia.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
professional ice hockey
Ice hockey
Ice hockey, often referred to as hockey, is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use wooden or composite sticks to shoot a hard rubber puck into their opponent's net. The game is played between two teams of six players each. Five members of each team skate up and down the ice trying to take...
player. Leclaire is currently an unrestricted free agent. Leclaire played three years in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League
Quebec Major Junior Hockey League
The Quebec Major Junior Hockey League is one of the three major junior ice hockey leagues which constitute the Canadian Hockey League...
(QMJHL) and was selected eighth overall by the Columbus Blue Jackets
Columbus Blue Jackets
The Columbus Blue Jackets are a professional ice hockey team based in Columbus, Ohio, United States. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League...
in the 2001 NHL Entry Draft
2001 NHL Entry Draft
The 2001 NHL Entry Draft was held on June 23–24, 2001 at the National Car Rental Center in Sunrise, Florida.-Round one:-Round two:-Round three:-Round four:-Round five:-Round six:-Round seven:-Round eight:-Round nine:...
. After playing in the Blue Jackets' organization for seven seasons, he was traded to the Ottawa Senators
Ottawa Senators
The Ottawa Senators are a professional ice hockey team based in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...
in 2009 and spent the following two seasons in the organization. Internationally, he has represented Canada on the national junior and men's teams.
Playing career
Leclaire played junior hockey in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey LeagueQuebec Major Junior Hockey League
The Quebec Major Junior Hockey League is one of the three major junior ice hockey leagues which constitute the Canadian Hockey League...
(QMJHL) for the Halifax Mooseheads
Halifax Mooseheads
The Halifax Mooseheads are a CHL ice hockey club in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League based out of Halifax, Nova Scotia. The team was founded in 1994 and began play in the Dilio division of the QMJHL for the 1994-1995 season. While the franchise has never won a league championship, they have...
and the Montreal Rocket
Montreal Rocket
The Montreal Rocket were a junior ice hockey team in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League for four seasons from 1999 to 2003, based out of Montreal, Quebec. The team was named in honor of Montreal Canadiens great Maurice "Rocket" Richard...
between 1998 and 2002. Leclaire was the first goaltender selected in the 2001 NHL Entry Draft
2001 NHL Entry Draft
The 2001 NHL Entry Draft was held on June 23–24, 2001 at the National Car Rental Center in Sunrise, Florida.-Round one:-Round two:-Round three:-Round four:-Round five:-Round six:-Round seven:-Round eight:-Round nine:...
, chosen eighth overall by the Blue Jackets. He subsequently bounced back and forth between Columbus and their AHL
American Hockey League
The American Hockey League is a 30-team professional ice hockey league based in the United States and Canada that serves as the primary developmental circuit for the National Hockey League...
affiliate, the Syracuse Crunch
Syracuse Crunch
The Syracuse Crunch are a minor league professional ice hockey team in the American Hockey League. They play in Syracuse, New York, at the War Memorial at Oncenter...
, from 2002 to 2005 before finally sticking with the Blue Jackets for good in 2006, serving as a backup to Marc Denis
Marc Denis
Marc Denis is a former Canadian professional ice hockey goaltender, who last played with the Montreal Canadiens of the National Hockey League . For the 2009–10 season, he has been hired as the goaltenders' coach of the Chicoutimi Sagueneens, a Quebec Major Junior Hockey League team...
.
Tampa Bay Lightning
The Tampa Bay Lightning are a professional ice hockey team based in Tampa, Florida. They are members of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . They have one Stanley Cup championship in their history, in 2003–04. They are often referred to as the...
and Leclaire was promoted to starting goalie. However, during the season, Leclaire suffered from a leg injury and backup goaltender Fredrik Norrena
Fredrik Norrena
Fredrik Jan Elis Norrena is a Finnish professional ice hockey goaltender currently playing for Linköping of the Swedish Elitserien.- Playing career :...
took over and eventually played 55 games out of 82. In 2007–08, Leclaire had an outstanding season and regained the number one job. He set new team records with nine shutouts (second in the league only to Henrik Lundqvist
Henrik Lundqvist
Henrik Lundqvist is a Swedish professional ice hockey goaltender for the New York Rangers of the National Hockey League . He was nominated for the Vezina Trophy in his first three seasons in the NHL, finishing third all three times, and is the only goaltender in NHL history to record 30 wins in...
), ranked second in the NHL in goals against average
Goals against average
Goals Against Average is a statistic used in ice hockey, water polo, lacrosse, and soccer that is the mean of goals allowed per game by a goaltender....
, and third in save percentage
Save percentage
Save percentage is an ice hockey and lacrosse statistic that represents the percentage of shots on goal a goaltender stops...
. Leclaire finished second in fan voting among Western Conference
Western Conference (NHL)
The Western Conference is one of two conferences in the National Hockey League used to divide teams. Its counterpart is the Eastern Conference....
goaltenders for the 56th NHL All-Star Game
56th National Hockey League All-Star Game
The 56th National Hockey League All-Star Game was held on January 27, 2008 at the Philips Arena in Atlanta, Georgia, home of the Atlanta Thrashers, during the 2007–08 NHL season....
, but was not named to the final team.
In the 2008–09 season, Leclaire injured his ankle, sidelining him for the season and the Blue Jackets promoted rookie Steve Mason
Steve Mason (ice hockey)
Steve Mason is a Canadian professional ice hockey goaltender currently playing for the Columbus Blue Jackets of the National Hockey League . He was selected 69th overall in the 2006 NHL Entry Draft by the Blue Jackets. Playing major junior in the Ontario Hockey League , he spent three seasons...
. Mason's play was outstanding, leading the Western Conference in several categories. In a playoff race, the Blue Jackets traded Leclaire to the Ottawa Senators
Ottawa Senators
The Ottawa Senators are a professional ice hockey team based in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...
, along with a second-round pick in 2009
2009 NHL Entry Draft
The 2009 NHL Entry Draft was the 47th Entry Draft. It was held on June 26–27, 2009 at the Bell Centre in Montreal, Quebec. The Draft was part of the Montreal Canadiens centennial celebrations. National Hockey League teams took turns selecting amateur ice hockey players from junior, collegiate, or...
(Robin Lehner
Robin Lehner
Robin Lehner is a Swedish professional ice hockey goaltender currently playing for the Binghamton Senators of the American Hockey League . He was a second-round draft pick of the National Hockey League Ottawa Senators in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft. He was the recipient of the Jack A...
), in exchange for Antoine Vermette
Antoine Vermette
Antoine Vermette is a Canadian professional ice hockey player, an alternate captain for the Columbus Blue Jackets of the National Hockey League .-QMJHL:...
on deadline day March 4, 2009. As expected, Leclaire assumed the role of starting goaltender with the Senators in 2009-10, once he had fully recovered from ankle surgery. However, Leclaire would finish the season backing up Brian Elliott
Brian Elliott
Brian Elliott is a Canadian ice hockey goaltender who currently plays for the St. Louis Blues of the National Hockey League. He was drafted by the Ottawa Senators in the ninth round of the 2003 NHL Entry Draft, 291st overall...
in the Ottawa net, due to inconsistent play and injuries - including a broken cheekbone suffered from being hit by an errant puck while sitting on the bench during a game. The inconsistency and injuries worsened considerably in 2010-11 with Leclaire playing 14 NHL games and the Senators finishing the year with a top-2 tandem of goaltenders other than those who started the season with the team. During the season he underwent hip surgery.
International play
Leclaire competed in the 2002 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships2002 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships
The 2002 IIHF World U20 Championship, commonly referred as the 2002 World Junior Hockey Championships , was the 26th edition of the World Junior Ice Hockey Championships...
with Canada. He assumed the starting position, recording a 1.80 GAA and two shutouts over five games. Six years later, he joined Canada's men's team at the 2008 IIHF World Championship
2008 IIHF World Championship
The 2008 IIHF World Championship was played between May 2 and May 18, 2008 in the Canadian cities of Halifax and Quebec City . The two venues were the Halifax Metro Centre and the Colisée Pepsi...
in Halifax, Nova Scotia. He played in four games, going undefeated while recording a 2.00 GAA. Canada lost in the gold medal game to Russia.
Regular season
| Season Season (sports) In an organized sports league, a season is the portion of one year in which regulated games of the sport are in session. For example, in Major League Baseball, one season lasts approximately from April 1 through October 1; in Association football, it is generally from August until May In an... |
Team | League | GP | W | L | T | OTL | MIN | GA | SO | GAA Goals against average Goals Against Average is a statistic used in ice hockey, water polo, lacrosse, and soccer that is the mean of goals allowed per game by a goaltender.... |
SA Shot on goal In ice hockey, a shot on goal is a shot that will enter the goal if it is not stopped by the goaltender. A shot on goal must result in either a goal or a save.... |
SV | SV% Save percentage Save percentage is an ice hockey and lacrosse statistic that represents the percentage of shots on goal a goaltender stops... |
G Goal (ice hockey) In ice hockey, a goal is scored when the puck completely crosses the goal line between the two goal posts and below the goal crossbar. A goal awards one point to the team attacking the goal scored upon, regardless of which team the player who actually deflected the puck into the goal belongs to... |
A Assist (ice hockey) In ice hockey, an assist is attributed to up to two players of the scoring team who shot, passed or deflected the puck towards the scoring teammate, or touched it in any other way which enabled the goal, meaning that they were "assisting" in the goal. There can be a maximum of two assists per goal... |
PIM |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1998–99 1998–99 QMJHL season The 1998–99 QMJHL season was the 30th season in the history of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. The league continued its trend of teams relocating into the Atlantic Canada market, when Laval moved to Bathurst, New Brunswick. Fifteen teams played 70 games each in the schedule... |
Halifax Mooseheads Halifax Mooseheads The Halifax Mooseheads are a CHL ice hockey club in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League based out of Halifax, Nova Scotia. The team was founded in 1994 and began play in the Dilio division of the QMJHL for the 1994-1995 season. While the franchise has never won a league championship, they have... |
QMJHL Quebec Major Junior Hockey League The Quebec Major Junior Hockey League is one of the three major junior ice hockey leagues which constitute the Canadian Hockey League... |
33 | 19 | 11 | 1 | — | 1828 | 96 | 2 | 3.15 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1999–2000 1999–2000 QMJHL season The 1999–2000 QMJHL season was the 31st season in the history of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. The league grants the Montreal Rocket an expansion franchise, returning a team to the most populous city in Quebec. The QMJHL splits into four divisions, retaining the names Lebel and Dilio for... |
Halifax Mooseheads | QMJHL | 31 | 16 | 8 | 4 | — | 1729 | 103 | 1 | 3.57 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2000–01 2000–01 QMJHL season The 2000–01 QMJHL season was the 32nd season in the history of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. Sixteen teams played 72 games each in the schedule... |
Halifax Mooseheads | QMJHL | 33 | 14 | 16 | 5 | — | 2111 | 126 | 1 | 3.58 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2001–02 2001–02 QMJHL season The 2001–02 QMJHL season was the 33rd season in the history of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. The league inaugurates the Luc Robitaille Trophy for the team that scored the most goals during the regular season. Sixteen teams played 72 games each in the schedule... |
Montreal Rocket Montreal Rocket The Montreal Rocket were a junior ice hockey team in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League for four seasons from 1999 to 2003, based out of Montreal, Quebec. The team was named in honor of Montreal Canadiens great Maurice "Rocket" Richard... |
QMJHL | 45 | 15 | 23 | 4 | — | 2513 | 138 | 1 | 3.29 | 1312 | 1174 | .895 | 0 | 1 | 6 |
| 2002–03 2002–03 AHL season The 2002–03 AHL season was the 67th season of the American Hockey League. Twenty-eight teams played 80 games each in the schedule. The Hamilton Bulldogs finished first overall in the regular season... |
Syracuse Crunch Syracuse Crunch The Syracuse Crunch are a minor league professional ice hockey team in the American Hockey League. They play in Syracuse, New York, at the War Memorial at Oncenter... |
AHL American Hockey League The American Hockey League is a 30-team professional ice hockey league based in the United States and Canada that serves as the primary developmental circuit for the National Hockey League... |
36 | 8 | 21 | 3 | — | 1886 | 112 | 0 | 3.56 | 1016 | 904 | .890 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2003–04 2003–04 AHL season The 2003–04 AHL season was the 68th season of the American Hockey League. The league introduces the Willie Marshall Award in honour the career points leader in the AHL, and awards it to the annual top goal scorer.... |
Syracuse Crunch | AHL | 44 | 21 | 16 | 3 | — | 2447 | 125 | 2 | 3.06 | 1476 | 1351 | .915 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 2003–04 | Columbus Blue Jackets Columbus Blue Jackets The Columbus Blue Jackets are a professional ice hockey team based in Columbus, Ohio, United States. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League... |
NHL National Hockey League The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States... |
2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | 119 | 7 | 0 | 3.53 | 69 | 62 | .899 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2004–05 2004–05 AHL season The 2004–05 AHL season was the 69th season of the American Hockey League. Twenty-eight teams played 80 games each in the schedule. The Rochester Americans finished first overall in the regular season... |
Syracuse Crunch | AHL | 14 | 5 | 6 | 3 | — | 844 | 33 | 2 | 2.34 | 446 | 413 | .926 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2005–06 2005–06 AHL season The 2005–06 AHL season was the 70th season of the American Hockey League. Twenty-seven teams played 80 games each in the schedule. The Hershey Bears won the Calder Cup, defeating the Milwaukee Admirals in the finals.... |
Syracuse Crunch | AHL | 7 | 3 | 3 | — | 0 | 340 | 16 | 1 | 2.82 | 200 | 184 | .920 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 2005–06 | Columbus Blue Jackets | NHL | 33 | 11 | 5 | — | 3 | 1804 | 97 | 0 | 3.23 | 1084 | 987 | .911 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| 2006–07 | Columbus Blue Jackets | NHL | 24 | 6 | 15 | — | 2 | 1315 | 65 | 1 | 2.97 | 629 | 564 | .897 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 2007–08 | Columbus Blue Jackets | NHL | 54 | 24 | 17 | — | 6 | 2986 | 112 | 9 | 2.25 | 1379 | 1267 | .919 | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| 2008–09 2008–09 NHL season The 2008–09 NHL season was the 92nd season of operation of the National Hockey League . It was the first season since prior to the 2004–05 lockout in which every team played each other at least once during the season, following three seasons where teams only played against two divisions in the... |
Columbus Blue Jackets | NHL | 12 | 4 | 6 | — | 1 | 674 | 43 | 0 | 3.83 | 324 | 281 | .867 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 2009–10 2009–10 NHL season The 2009–10 NHL season was the 93rd season of operation of the National Hockey League , and the 100th season since the founding of the predecessor National Hockey Association . It ran from October 1, 2009, including four games in Europe on October 2 and 3—until April 11, 2010, with the 2010... |
Ottawa Senators Ottawa Senators The Ottawa Senators are a professional ice hockey team based in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League... |
NHL | 34 | 12 | 14 | — | 2 | 1745 | 93 | 0 | 3.20 | 822 | 729 | .887 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 2010–11 2010–11 NHL season The 2010–11 NHL season was the 94th season of operation of the National Hockey League . It was the fourth consecutive season that opened in Europe with NHL Premiere . A record three events were scheduled, all in previous NHL Premiere cities: Helsinki, Finland; Stockholm, Sweden; and Prague, Czech... |
Ottawa Senators | NHL | 14 | 4 | 7 | — | 1 | 763 | 36 | 0 | 2.83 | 391 | 355 | .908 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2010–11 2010–11 AHL season The 2010–11 AHL season is the 75th season of the American Hockey League. An all-time high of thirty teams will play 80 games each during the regular season schedule, which started on October 8, 2010 and ended on April 10, 2011... |
Binghamton Senators Binghamton Senators The Binghamton Senators are a professional ice hockey team in the American Hockey League . Nicknamed the B-Sens, they play in Binghamton, New York at the Broome County Veterans Memorial Arena. Along with the Elmira Jackals of the ECHL, the B-Sens are minor league affiliates of the Ottawa Senators... |
AHL | 1 | 0 | 0 | — | 1 | 65 | 2 | 0 | 1.85 | 32 | 30 | .938 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| NHL totals | 173 | 61 | 76 | 0 | 15 | 9406 | 453 | 10 | 2.89 | 4698 | 4245 | .904 | 0 | 4 | 8 | ||
Playoffs
| Season | Team | League | GP | W | L | MIN | GA | SO | GAA | SA | SV | SV% | G | A | PIM |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1998–99 | Halifax Mooseheads | QMJHL | 1 | 0 | 0 | 17 | 2 | 0 | 7.06 | — | — | — | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1999–2000 | Halifax Mooseheads | QMJHL | 5 | 1 | 2 | 198 | 12 | 0 | 3.64 | 106 | 94 | .887 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2000–01 | Halifax Mooseheads | QMJHL | 2 | 0 | 2 | 109 | 10 | 0 | 5.50 | 75 | 65 | .867 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2001–02 | Montreal Rocket | QMJHL | 7 | 3 | 4 | 441 | 15 | 0 | 2.04 | 219 | 204 | .932 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 2003–04 | Syracuse Crunch | AHL | 3 | 1 | 2 | 142 | 12 | 0 | 5.07 | 88 | 76 | .864 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2005–06 | Syracuse Crunch | AHL | 5 | 2 | 3 | 288 | 11 | 1 | 2.29 | 181 | 170 | .939 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| 2009–10 | Ottawa Senators | NHL | 3 | 1 | 2 | 211 | 10 | 0 | 2.84 | 125 | 115 | .920 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| NHL totals | 3 | 1 | 2 | 211 | 10 | 0 | 2.84 | 125 | 115 | .920 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||