David Desharnais

David Desharnais
Desharnais with the Montreal Canadiens in January 2015
Born	(1986-09-14) September 14, 1986 (age 38) Laurier-Station, Quebec, Canada
Height	5 ft 7 in (170 cm)
Weight	176 lb (80 kg; 12 st 8 lb)
Position	Centre
Shot	Left
Played for	Montreal Canadiens Edmonton Oilers New York Rangers Avangard Omsk HC Fribourg-Gottéron
National team	Canada
NHL draft	Undrafted
Playing career	2006–2023

David Kevin Denis Desharnais (born September 14, 1986) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey centre. He played in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the Montreal Canadiens, Edmonton Oilers and New York Rangers. He also played one season with Avangard Omsk of the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL) and his last four seasons of professional hockey with HC Fribourg-Gottéron of the National League (NL).

Playing career

Amateur

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

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

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

Honours

Prior to the 2024–25 season, the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League renamed its Frank J. Selke Memorial Trophy to be the David Desharnais Trophy, given annually to the most sportsmanlike player. ^[15]

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

				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

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

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.
15. Cowan, Stu (September 17, 2024). "QMJHL renames award in honour of former Canadien David Desharnais". Montreal Gazette . Retrieved September 17, 2024.

External links

• Biographical information and career statistics from NHL.com , or  Eliteprospects.com , or  Eurohockey.com , or  Hockey-Reference.com , or  The Internet Hockey Database