Detroit — As excited as family and friends were when they heard the news of David Legwand being inducted into the National Polish-American Sports of Hall of Fame, there was a bonus reason Legwand’s inner circle was thrilled.
The class Legwand is going in with Thursday includes four-time Super Bowl champion Rob Gronkowski.
That news boosted Legwand’s stature among family and friends, big time.
“Yeah, some of my buddies have said some things about it,” Legwand said with a smile. “‘You’re going to hang out with Gronk? You’re going to meet Gronk? That type of stuff.
“Yeah, I guess.”
Many hockey fans in the Metro Detroit area might feel similarly awestruck about Legwand, a Harrison Township native who was the NHL’s second overall pick in 1998 by Nashville and enjoyed a stellar 16-year career.
Legwand, Gronkowski, one of the premier NFL tight ends; longtime Green Bay Packers offensive lineman Bryan Bulaga and NBA and college basketball star David Meyers round out the impressive class.
Legwand was humbled when he got news of his induction into the Polish HOF.
“I knew I was on the ballot the last couple of years, but you can never expect anything like that,” Legwand said. “I wasn’t like sitting in front of my phone waiting for the phone call. You can’t do that.
“But when you get the call, it’s exciting and happy news.”
Legwand was drafted by Nashville, an expansion team at the time. There was a lot of losing and disappointment early on, but seeing the Predators develop into a force on and off the ice was satisfying.
“It’s such an honor and privilege to get to do what I did for such a long time as I did,” Legwand siad. “It takes a lot of work. To be recognized by (the NPASHF), it is special and exciting.”
Legwand’s Polish heritage and ethnicity always have been important to him. Carol, Legwand’s mother, is Polish and instilled in David and his sister Carla the holiday traditions of the culture.
“We still do the traditional Polish Christmas dinner,” Legwand said. “The pierogis, all those things. Every year. It’s always been like that.”
Legwand began his junior hockey career playing locally for Compuware, then progressing to the Plymouth Whalers in the OHL. After scoring 54 goals and 105 points (in 59 games) with Plymouth, Nashville made Legwand its first-ever pick in 1998.
Legwand set Nashville franchise records in goals (210), assists (356), points (566), game-winning goals (41) and games played (956).
“It was an expansion team, and they built it through and through,” Legwand said. “They did it the right way. It took a little bit of time to build, but as the team grew the city grew with it. Now you look around there and what has been built, over 25 years later, and it’s all very exciting.”
Legwand was able to fulfill one of his hockey dreams by playing for the Red Wings after being traded to Detroit in March 2014. Legwand played in 26 games for the Wings, regular season and playoffs.
“It was neat,” Legwand said. “Obviously when you grow up in Detroit, you’re pretty much a Red Wings fan. When I was younger, in my early teenage years in the 1990s, those teams were super, and super exciting.
“(Owner) Mr. (Mike) Ilitch would do whatever necessary to put the best team on the ice, no matter the cost. He wanted the best players and that’s why he was so successful in building the Wings and all those phenomenal years in the 1990s and early 2000s.”
Legwand and wife Lindsey have two children, Ella and Ryder. Legwand has been involved in youth coaching in recent years and is currently doing some assistant coaching in the Warren De La Salle hockey program. He’s also part of the Sarnia Sting ownership group in the OHL.
Joining Legwand in this year’s class are:
Gronkowski: A four-time Super Bowl winner with New England and Tampa Bay, Gronkowski was a five-time Pro Bowl selection and named First-Team All-Pro four times. Gronkowski was the first tight end to lead the NFL in receiving touchdowns (2011), and the first tight end with 1,000-plus career postseason receiving yards.
Bulaga: Bulaga was a first-round pick of the Packers in 2010 after earning All-America and Big Ten Offensive Lineman of the Year honors at Iowa. Bulaga was the youngest player to start a Super Bowl (age 21) and won Super Bowl XLV with the Packers in his rookie season.
Meyers: Meyers starred at UCLA from 1972-1975, leading the Bruins to two NCAA titles, including a perfect 30-0 season in 1972-73 and in coach John Wooden’s final season (1974-75) to their 10th NCAA title. Meyers was the second overall pick in the 1975 draft by the Los Angeles Lakers and averaged 11.2 points, 6.3 rebounds and 2.3 assists in five seasons.
53rd National Polish-American Sports Hall of Fame induction
When: Program begins at 6 p.m. Thursday.
Where: American Polish Cultural Center in Troy.
Tickets: Sold out.
2026 class: Bryan Bulaga (NFL), Rob Gronkowski (NFL), David Legwand (NHL), Dave Meyers (NBA).
tkulfan@detroitnews.com
@tkulfan
This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: For Michigan native David Legwand, Polish Hall of Fame honor ‘special’
Reporting by Ted Kulfan, The Detroit News / The Detroit News
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By Ted Kulfan, The Detroit News | USA TODAY Network
