In his four years at Notre Dame, Lebda registered 85 points (26-59-85) before making his professional debut with the AHL's Grand Rapids Griffins in the latter stages of the 2003-04 season. After one more season in Grand Rapids, Lebda went on to make his NHL debut with Detroit in the fall of 2005 while seeing limited action in the AHL. Lebda signed a contract extension with the Wings in the summer of 2006 and became a regular in the club's line-up in 2006-07. After appearing in a career-high 78 games of the 2007-08 season, he saw action in 18 games of the 2008 Stanley Cup playoffs in which his club captured the Stanley Cup.

In Detroit, Lebda was often paired with Chris Chelios, his childhood idol. Growing up in suburban Illinois, Lebda looked up to Chelios, then a member of the Blackhawks and even modeled his style of play after the NHL elder statesman.

On July 7, 2010, Lebda signed a two year contract with the Toronto Maple Leafs. The following summer Lebda was on the move again. He was traded to the Nashville Predators in exchange for Matthew Lombardi and Cody Franson.

Courtesy of the Hockey Hall of Fame