François Lacombe

François Lacombe (born February 24, 1948) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey defenceman, who played in the National Hockey League (NHL) and World Hockey Association (WHA) between 1968 and 1980. He spent parts of three seasons in the NHL with the Oakland Seals and Buffalo Sabres before moving to the WHA and playing for the Quebec Nordiques and Calgary Cowboys, playing briefly for the Nordiques again when they joined the NHL.

François Lacombe
Born	(1948-02-24) February 24, 1948 (age 77) Lachine, Quebec, Canada
Height	5 ft 10 in (178 cm)
Weight	185 lb (84 kg; 13 st 3 lb)
Position	Defence
Shot	Left
Played for	Oakland Seals Buffalo Sabres Quebec Nordiques Calgary Cowboys
Playing career	1968–1980

Professional hockey career

In 1970 Lacombe was traded to the Montreal Canadiens along with California's first draft pick in 1971 (the Canadiens chose Guy Lafleur) for Ernie Hicke and Montreal's first round pick. The trade is considered one of the worst of all time.^[1]

After short stints in the NHL with the Oakland Seals and Buffalo Sabres, Lacombe spent the majority of his career, in the WHA, with the Quebec Nordiques, plus a single season with the Calgary Cowboys. He played 3 games for Quebec in the NHL following the NHL–WHA merger.

Lacombe played a total of 78 regular-season NHL games, scoring two goals and adding 17 assists. He also appeared in 3 playoff games with Oakland in the 1969 Stanley Cup Playoffs, scoring one goal. Meanwhile, Lacombe played in 440 WHA games, scoring 38 goals and adding 139 assists. He appeared in 54 Avco Cup playoff games in the WHA, scoring five goals and tallying ten assists. So desperate was Lacombe to win a championship that he was quoted after Game 4 of the 1977 Avco Cup Final as willing to "give my life and my wife to win this series." His only goal scored in the series was in Game 4 when he tied it in the second period of a game the Nordiques later won, but he also provided three assists in the series, which included two in the 8-2 victory in Game 7. ^[2]

Minor hockey

Lacombe is now coaching in Châteauguay with the Châteauguay Midget AAA Patriotes. He was arrested on March 12, 2008, after allegedly throwing a garbage can at a player on an opposing team sparking a bench clearing brawl. The charges were later dropped.^[3]

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

				Regular season						Playoffs
Season	Team	League		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
1965–66	Lachine Maroons	QJHL		40	2	14	16	70		—	—	—	—	—
1966–67	Lachine Maroons	QJHL		—	—	—	—	—		—	—	—	—	—
1967–68	Montreal Junior Canadiens	OHA		51	1	10	11	59		11	0	3	3	4
1968–69	Oakland Seals	NHL		72	2	16	18	50		3	1	0	1	0
1969–70	Oakland Seals	NHL		2	0	0	0	0		—	—	—	—	—
1969–70	Providence Reds	AHL		70	9	16	25	64		—	—	—	—	—
1970–71	Buffalo Sabres	NHL		1	0	1	1	2		—	—	—	—	—
1970–71	Salt Lake Golden Eagles	WHL		70	11	39	50	89		—	—	—	—	—
1971–72	Cincinnati Swords	AHL		35	4	10	14	26		10	1	6	7	20
1971–72	Fort Worth Wings	CHL		19	3	5	8	26		—	—	—	—	—
1971–72	Salt Lake Golden Eagles	WHL		11	2	3	5	22		—	—	—	—	—
1972–73	Quebec Nordiques	WHA		62	10	18	28	123		—	—	—	—	—
1973–74	Quebec Nordiques	WHA		71	9	26	35	41		—	—	—	—	—
1974–75	Quebec Nordiques	WHA		55	7	17	24	54		15	0	2	2	14
1974–75	Maine Nordiques	NAHL		4	0	3	3	12		—	—	—	—	—
1975–76	Calgary Cowboys	WHA		71	3	28	31	62		8	0	0	0	2
1976–77	Quebec Nordiques	WHA		81	5	22	27	86		17	4	3	7	16
1977–78	Quebec Nordiques	WHA		22	1	7	8	12		10	1	4	5	2
1978–79	Quebec Nordiques	WHA		78	3	21	24	44		4	0	1	1	7
1979–80	Quebec Nordiques	NHL		3	0	0	0	2		—	—	—	—	—
1979–80	Syracuse Firebirds	AHL		50	3	26	29	34		1	0	0	0	0
WHA totals				440	38	139	177	422		54	5	10	15	41
NHL totals				78	2	17	19	54		3	1	0	1	0