David Desharnais
Introduction '''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.
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.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. 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). Despite his junior success, Desharnais was passed over in the NHL Entry Draft, due in part to his small size.===Professional===Desharnais with the Montreal Canadiens in 2012The 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.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.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.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. 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.On June 20, 2011, Desharnais signed a two-year contract extension with the Canadiens. 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. He also represented Fribourg in the 2012 Spengler Cup. On March 15, 2013, Desharnais signed a four-year, $14 million contract extension with the Canadiens.In the 2016–17 season, on February 28, 2017, Desharnais was traded by the Canadiens to the Edmonton Oilers in exchange for Brandon Davidson.On July 4, 2017, David Desharnais agreed to a 1-year, $1 million contract with the New York Rangers. 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.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.Desharnais was later released from his contract before 2018–19 season, switching clubs in signing with Avangard Omsk, on August 25, 2018.
International play In January 2022, Desharnais was selected to play for Team Canada at the 2022 Winter Olympics.
Career statistics === Regular season and playoffs ===Regular seasonPlayoffs Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM 2001–02Lévis CommandeursQMAAA20220————— 2002–03Lévis CommandeursQMAAA4227426910————— 2003–04Chicoutimi SaguenéensQMJHL70232851121847118 2004–05Chicoutimi SaguenéensQMJHL683265973919510158 2005–06Chicoutimi SaguenéensQMJHL633385118441129114 2006–07Chicoutimi SaguenéensQMJHL6138701083241562 2006–07Bridgeport Sound TigersAHL71124————— 2007–08Cincinnati CyclonesECHL68297710618229243318 2007–08Hamilton BulldogsAHL40116————— 2008–09Hamilton BulldogsAHL772434582061344 2009–10Hamilton BulldogsAHL60275178231910132316 2009–10Montreal CanadiensNHL60110————— 2010–11Hamilton BulldogsAHL3510354524————— 2010–11Montreal CanadiensNHL43814221250112 2011–12Montreal CanadiensNHL8116446024————— 2012–13HC Fribourg–GottéronNLA164121612————— 2012–13Montreal CanadiensNHL481018282650112 2013–14Montreal CanadiensNHL7916365224172686 2014–15Montreal CanadiensNHL8214344824111234  2015–16Montreal CanadiensNHL6511182920————— 2016–17Montreal CanadiensNHL3146106————— 2016–17Edmonton OilersNHL182246131340 2017–18New York RangersNHL716222818————— 2018–19Avangard OmskKHL587212884180776 2019–20HC Fribourg–GottéronNL3612142618————— 2020–21HC Fribourg–GottéronNL451426402450222 2021–22HC Fribourg–GottéronNL471924432491674 2022–23HC Fribourg–GottéronNL5213294236200025 NHL totals 52487195282160 514131714===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
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