Jean-Luc Grand-Pierre
Columbus Blue Jackets & FOX Sports Ohio
Television Color Analyst
The Rotary Club of Akron had the privilege of listening to Jean-Luc Grand-Pierre during our Tuesday, November 10, 2020 Club meeting. His presentation was a reflection on his early years playing soccer and ice hockey as a youngster and the opportunities he was provided as his career advanced in the NHL and several overseas opportunities in Sweden, Finland and Germany.
A native of Montreal, Quebec, Grand-Pierre was a seventh-round pick of the St. Louis Blues in the 1995 NHL Draft. He played for Beauport and Val-d'Or in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League before making his professional debut with the American Hockey League's Rochester Americans in 1997-98 and appearing in his first NHL game with the Sabres the following season. He was acquired by Columbus in a trade with Buffalo on June 23, 2000. As a member of the Blue Jackets' inaugural team, he appeared in 202 games with the club, registering four goals and 10 assists for 14 points with 239 penalty minutes between 2000-04. He tallied 7-13-20 and 311 penalty minutes in 269 career NHL games with Columbus, Buffalo, Atlanta and Washington and went on to play professionally in Sweden, Finland and Germany before retiring in 2013.
After spending 16 years as a professional hockey player, Jean-Luc decided it was time to “join the real world of work. Playing hockey was like having fun every day. Professional sports isn’t the real world.’”
With that realization, Jean-Luc retired from his professional career as a hockey player in 2013 and acquired his real estate license and began his career in the Columbus, Ohio area. He has been a successful realtor for 7 years.
Mr. Grand-Pierre stressed the importance of creating relationships along the way. Those relationships provided him the opportunity to return to the Columbus Blue Jackets.
Jean-Luc joined the club's television broadcast team as a studio analyst in 2019. Although Grand-Pierre had been a contributor on Blue Jackets radio broadcasts during the past three Stanley Cup Playoffs, he was now thrust into the roll of a television broadcaster. He had to learn quickly as he was replacing the renowned Bill Davidge who retired following the 2018-19 season. You will see Grand-Pierre on FOX Sports broadcasts along side Brian Giesenschlag. Together, they host Blue Jackets Live during the pregame, postgame and intermissions for Blue Jackets games.
Jean-Luc commented how nervous he was when he started as part of the broadcast team. The only job he excelled in for most of his life was that of a hockey player.
Following his presentation, Jean-Luc entertained multiple questions from Rotarians and guests. I encourage those reading this article, who didn’t have the privilege of hearing Jean-Luc present to listen to the recording of his presentation (click here). You will find it fascinating.
If you cannot view the video - cut and paste this link into your browser https://youtu.be/vl20czp96XA
