LUC'S RESIDUE IS BY DESIGN.

Byline: STEVE DILBECK

He was a happy whirl on the ice, smooth and active, intense and competitive, so why should Luc Robitaille's new life be any different?

That was his greatest fear, really, that after he retired last season his days would not be as full, his life less eventful.

Most athletes retire and the golf course calls, or the couch. The thought of a second career is mostly viewed as watching interest compound.

Robitaille had other ambitions. He has all kinds of ambitions. And in the span of just months, he's steam rolling into his second career as a businessman.

The first one wasn't bad, of course. Retiring as the highest-scoring left winger in NHL history. Finishing his third stint with the Kings as their all-time scorer. And maybe their most popular player ever.

They'll honor his career tonight by retiring his No. 20 jersey at Staples Center prior to the game against Wayne Gretzky, his former Kings teammate, and the Phoenix Coyotes.

He's flattered and elated, but you'll have to understand if he's been just a tad busy to get too focused on the evening.

Robitaille has his second career well under way, and if that ultimately leads to leading his own NHL team, there are plenty of other things to be accomplished in the meantime.

During the lockout season two years ago, he started a commercial/residential company. He and several partners have opened a number of Iceoplex super centers in the Southwest. Last summer he became president of a juniors team, the Omaha Lancers, and owner, along with five others, including Mario Lemieux and Mike Eruzione. Last year he and his wife, Stacia, started the Shelter for Serenity Foundation that provides shelter for children and victims of disasters.

And none of that is even his day job.

Most of his time is spent learning the hockey business. He has become something of Tim Leiweke's shadow, sponging everything he can on the business operations behind the Kings and Anschutz Entertainment Group.

``I want to learn the entire business of hockey and see where I want to go from there,'' Robitaille said. ``From my standpoint, I would probably like to end up running a team.''

Leiweke is no longer officially the team president but its governor, and head of AEG. Kings absentee owner Philip Anschutz's AEG owns Staples and has arena projects underway in London, Berlin and Kansas City, and has one planned for Ontario.

Robitaille has spent time with Leiweke in Kansas City trying to lure an NHL team, including Lemieux's Penquins from Pittsburgh. He attends weekly Kings business meetings. He offers input on everything from ticket sales to advertising to marketing.

``We're teaching him the business of operating a hockey team,'' Leiweke said. ``He has picked it up remarkably fast. In addition to Kansas City and getting a team there, he's learning about the Kings and what goes on in the business side.

``He just works extremely hard. He arrives early and stays late. I just think the world of him. I respect him as much as any athlete I've ever been involved with.''

It's a special finishing school for sports operations, and Robitaille is both appreciative and challenged.

``I'm learning something every day,'' Robitaille said.

There's been no time wasted in becoming involved. Already encouraged by Kings part-owner Ed Roski Jr. to enter the real estate development business, he was further supported by Leiweke and Roski to take on his new hockey career.

``They took a lot of time to take me under their wing,'' he said.

Robitaille has always been highly likeable, both in his playing style and personality. That has helped make for a smooth transition to the work place.

Leiweke likes to kid that ``Luc is the nicest guy I've ever worked for.''

There's no blueprint to this specialized training program, but Robitaille takes on a little more all the time. Next month, Leiweke said he's not even going to the NHL governors' meeting, but sending Robitaille.

Chris McGowan, Kings senior vice president of sales and marketing, said Robitaille is an active participant in meetings and not simply lingering in the background.

``It's great to have him here,'' McGowan said. ``He offers a lot of advice. We have weekly business meetings and he's always offering good suggestions. He just has a lot of great takes. He can give us a players' perspective.

``He's very interested in the business side. He was already developing business interests while still a player, so it's not like he just showed up. He's on the boards of several companies. He's comfortable in that environment. And pretty active.''

On a smaller scale, he is also learning on the job while running Nebraska's Lancers. The juniors team has 20 players from 16 to 20 years old, about 14 of whom he said will get scholarships and two or three who may go directly into the NHL draft.

``I do that one mostly by phone,'' he said. ``It's not like it's just down the street.''

Life has hardly slowed since his career ended. He and his wife originally started Shelter for Serenity to assist victims of Hurricane Katrina, but are now turning its focus to children.

Then, of course, there is tonight. His will be only the fifth jersey retired by the Kings, joining Rogie Vachon, Marcel Dionne, Dave Taylor and Gretzky.

The Kings are bringing in over a dozen players to participate in the tribute.

``I'm very excited and a little bit nervous, but I think it's going to be a lot of fun,'' Robitaille said. ``I actually know nothing they have planned, just some of the guys they have coming in.''

Someday he hopes to bring his grandchildren to Staples and point to his jersey hanging from the rafters. By then, of course, he could be running the Kings or another team.

``He can do that, if that's what Luc wants,'' Leiweke said. ``Time will tell what role he plays here. This is a long-term deal for us. I don't think he's going anywhere.

``We'll do this one step at a time. I'll let him learn what he can. At the end of the year will look at each other and figure out if he's smarter or we're more successful.''

[e-mail].

[phone]

CAPTION(S):

2 photos, box

Photo:

(1 -- color) Luc Robitaille, one of the most popular Kings players, will have his No. 20 retired tonight at Staples Center.

(2 -- color) Luc Robitaille waves to the Staples Center crowd after his final home game April 15, 2006. His number will be retired tonight.

Noah Graham/Getty Images

Box:

KINGS vs. PHOENIX