Stephane Robidas is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey player who played in the National Hockey League (NHL) for over 15 seasons. He was born on March 3, 1977, in Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada. Robidas began his hockey career in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) with the Shawinigan Cataractes in 1994. He played for the Cataractes for three seasons, from 1994 to 1997, before being drafted by the Montreal Canadiens in the seventh round of the 1995 NHL Entry Draft.
Robidas made his NHL debut with the Canadiens in the 1999-2000 season. He played in 16 games for the Canadiens that season, scoring one goal and two assists. Robidas spent the next two seasons splitting time between the Canadiens and their American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Quebec Citadelles. In 2002, Robidas was traded to the Dallas Stars, where he would spend the next nine seasons of his career.
Robidas established himself as a reliable defenseman for the Stars, playing in over 700 games for the team. He was known for his physical play and his ability to block shots. Robidas was also a key contributor on the power play, scoring 25 goals and 94 assists with the man advantage during his time with the Stars.
In 2013, Robidas was traded to the Anaheim Ducks, where he played for one and a half seasons. He was a key contributor to the Ducks' playoff run in 2014, scoring two goals and four assists in 14 playoff games. However, Robidas suffered a broken leg in the playoffs, which ended his season.
After his stint with the Ducks, Robidas signed with the Toronto Maple Leafs in the summer of 2014. However, he suffered another leg injury early in the 2014-15 season, which limited him to just 52 games that year. Robidas was eventually placed on long-term injured reserve and did not play again in the NHL.
Robidas officially announced his retirement from professional hockey in 2016. He finished his NHL career with 704 games played, 57 goals, and 195 assists. Robidas was known for his toughness and his leadership on and off the ice. He was a fan favorite in Dallas and Anaheim, and his contributions to those teams will not be forgotten.
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