David Kevin Denis Desharnais (born September 14, 1986) is a Canadian professional ice hockey centre currently playing for HC Fribourg-Gottéron of the National League (NL). Undrafted, he originally signed as a free agent with the Montreal Canadiens in 2008.

David Desharnais
Desharnais with the Montreal Canadiens in January 2015
Born (1986-09-14) September 14, 1986 (age 37)
Laurier-Station, Quebec, Canada
Height 5 ft 7 in (170 cm)
Weight 176 lb (80 kg; 12 st 8 lb)
Position Centre
Shoots Left
NL team
Former teams
HC Fribourg-Gottéron
Montreal Canadiens
Edmonton Oilers
New York Rangers
Avangard Omsk
National team  Canada
NHL Draft Undrafted
Playing career 2006–present

Playing career edit

Amateur edit

As a youth, Desharnais played in the 1999 and 2000 Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournaments with minor ice hockey teams from Lotbinière, Quebec and Quebec City.[1]

Desharnais spent his major junior career with the Chicoutimi Saguenéens of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL). He became a prolific scorer over the course of his four seasons with the team, increasing his goal totals each year, scoring 38 in 61 games during his last season there. Serving as team captain, he totalled 374 points in 262 games.[citation needed] He won the Frank J. Selke Memorial Trophy as the QMJHL's most gentlemanly player three times consecutively from 2004–05 to 2006–07, when he was also named the most gentlemanly player of the Canadian Hockey League (CHL).[citation needed] Despite his junior success, Desharnais was passed over in the NHL Entry Draft, due in part to his small size.[citation needed]

Professional edit

 
Desharnais with the Montreal Canadiens in 2012

The Montreal Canadiens invited Desharnais to their training camp in 2007. Although he did not make the team, he earned an assignment to the Cincinnati Cyclones of the ECHL. He had a phenomenal professional debut in Cincinnati, putting up 106 points in only 68 regular season games to lead the League in scoring before adding 33 points in 22 playoff games to lead the Cyclones to their first Kelly Cup championship. Desharnais was named ECHL Rookie of the Year and Most Valuable Player and was also named to both the All-Rookie Team and the First All-Star Team.[citation needed]

Following his successful season, Desharnais was again invited to the Canadiens' training camp in 2008, after which Montreal signed him to a two-year, two-way contract. He was assigned to the Canadiens' American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Hamilton Bulldogs, where he spent the next two seasons. After a successful debut with the Bulldogs in 2008–09, Desharnais led the team in scoring in 2009–10 with 78 points in 60 games, also adding 23 points in 19 playoff games. That season, Desharnais also made his debut with the Canadiens, dressing for six NHL games and recording one assist.[citation needed]

In the midst of another stellar season in Hamilton after signing a one-year contract extension, Desharnais was recalled by the Canadiens on December 31, 2010.[2] He scored his first NHL goal on January 12, 2011, deflecting a P. K. Subban point-shot past Marc-André Fleury of the Pittsburgh Penguins.[3] Desharnais went on to play 43 games with the Canadiens, scoring eight goals and 22 points as well as one point in five Stanley Cup playoff games.[citation needed]

On June 20, 2011, Desharnais signed a two-year contract extension with the Canadiens.[4] During the 2012–13 NHL lock-out, he played in the Swiss National League A for HC Fribourg-Gottéron, scoring 16 points in 16 games.[5] He also represented Fribourg in the 2012 Spengler Cup.[6] On March 15, 2013, Desharnais signed a four-year, $14 million contract extension with the Canadiens.[7] In the 2016–17 season, on February 28, 2017, Desharnais was traded by the Canadiens to the Edmonton Oilers in exchange for Brandon Davidson.[8]

On July 4, 2017, David Desharnais agreed to a 1-year, $1 million contract with the New York Rangers.[9] In the following 2017–18 season, Desharnais was used up and down the lineup, posting 6 goals and 28 points in 72 games as the Rangers failed to qualify for the playoffs.[citation needed]

As a free agent, Desharnais opted to halt his North American career, agreeing to sign a one-year deal with Russian club, Lokomotiv Yaroslavl of the KHL on July 2, 2018.[10] Desharnais was later released from his contract before 2018–19 season, switching clubs in signing with Avangard Omsk, on August 25, 2018.[11]

International play edit

In January 2022, Desharnais was selected to play for Team Canada at the 2022 Winter Olympics.[12][13][14]

Career statistics edit

Regular season and playoffs edit

Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
2001–02 Lévis Commandeurs QMAAA 2 0 2 2 0
2002–03 Lévis Commandeurs QMAAA 42 27 42 69 10
2003–04 Chicoutimi Saguenéens QMJHL 70 23 28 51 12 18 4 7 11 8
2004–05 Chicoutimi Saguenéens QMJHL 68 32 65 97 39 19 5 10 15 8
2005–06 Chicoutimi Saguenéens QMJHL 63 33 85 118 44 11 2 9 11 4
2006–07 Chicoutimi Saguenéens QMJHL 61 38 70 108 32 4 1 5 6 2
2006–07 Bridgeport Sound Tigers AHL 7 1 1 2 4
2007–08 Cincinnati Cyclones ECHL 68 29 77 106 18 22 9 24 33 18
2007–08 Hamilton Bulldogs AHL 4 0 1 1 6
2008–09 Hamilton Bulldogs AHL 77 24 34 58 20 6 1 3 4 4
2009–10 Hamilton Bulldogs AHL 60 27 51 78 23 19 10 13 23 16
2009–10 Montreal Canadiens NHL 6 0 1 1 0
2010–11 Hamilton Bulldogs AHL 35 10 35 45 24
2010–11 Montreal Canadiens NHL 43 8 14 22 12 5 0 1 1 2
2011–12 Montreal Canadiens NHL 81 16 44 60 24
2012–13 HC Fribourg–Gottéron NLA 16 4 12 16 12
2012–13 Montreal Canadiens NHL 48 10 18 28 26 5 0 1 1 2
2013–14 Montreal Canadiens NHL 79 16 36 52 24 17 2 6 8 6
2014–15 Montreal Canadiens NHL 82 14 34 48 24 11 1 2 3 4
2015–16 Montreal Canadiens NHL 65 11 18 29 20
2016–17 Montreal Canadiens NHL 31 4 6 10 6
2016–17 Edmonton Oilers NHL 18 2 2 4 6 13 1 3 4 0
2017–18 New York Rangers NHL 71 6 22 28 18
2018–19 Avangard Omsk KHL 58 7 21 28 84 18 0 7 7 6
2019–20 HC Fribourg–Gottéron NL 36 12 14 26 18
2020–21 HC Fribourg–Gottéron NL 45 14 26 40 24 5 0 2 2 2
2021–22 HC Fribourg–Gottéron NL 47 19 24 43 24 9 1 6 7 4
2022–23 HC Fribourg–Gottéron NL 52 13 29 42 36 2 0 0 0 25
NHL totals 524 87 195 282 160 51 4 13 17 14

International edit

Year Team Event Result GP G A Pts PIM
2022 Canada OG 6th 5 0 1 1 0
Senior totals 5 0 1 1 0

References edit

  1. ^ "Pee-Wee players who have reached NHL or WHA" (PDF). Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament. 2018. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2019-03-06. Retrieved 2019-02-12.
  2. ^ Mike Boone (2010-12-31). "Canadiens recall David Desharnais". Montreal Gazette. Archived from the original on 2011-05-05. Retrieved 2011-03-02.
  3. ^ "Pittsburgh @ Montreal (Jan 12, 2011)". Sportsnet. 2011-01-12. Retrieved 2011-03-02.
  4. ^ "Canadiens sign RFA centre Desharnais to two-year deal". TSN. 2011-06-20. Retrieved 2011-07-07.
  5. ^ "Fribourg Gotteron team page" (in German). National League A. 2012-10-02. Archived from the original on 2012-07-10. Retrieved 2012-10-02.
  6. ^ "Spengler Cup: 2 points for Desharnais". tvasports.ca (in French). 2012-12-29. Retrieved 2012-12-29.
  7. ^ "Desharnais, Canadiens agree on contract extension". The Sports Network. 2013-03-15. Retrieved 2013-03-15.
  8. ^ "Canadiens acquire Brandon Davidson from Oilers for David Desharnais". Sportsnet.ca. 2017-02-28. Retrieved 2017-02-28.
  9. ^ "Report: Rangers, Desharnais agree to deal". The Sports Network. 2017-07-04. Retrieved 2017-07-04.
  10. ^ "David Desharnais to Lokomotiv" (in Russian). Lokomotiv Yaroslavl. 2018-07-02. Retrieved 2018-07-02.
  11. ^ "Avangard complete contracts with Desharnais and Talbot" (in Russian). Avangard Omsk. 2018-08-25. Retrieved 2018-08-25.
  12. ^ "Canada unveils non-NHL Olympic hockey roster with pro experience, young talent". www.cbc.ca/. CBC Sports. 25 January 2022. Retrieved 25 January 2022.
  13. ^ Nichols, Paula (25 January 2022). "Team Canada's 25-player men's hockey roster nominated for Beijing 2022". www.olympic.ca/. Canadian Olympic Committee. Retrieved 25 January 2022.
  14. ^ Stephens, Mike (25 January 2022). "Canada Names Men's 2022 Olympic Hockey Roster". The Hockey News. Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Retrieved 25 January 2022.

External links edit