David Desharnais

David Desharnais
Desharnais with the Montreal Canadiens in January 2015
Born	(1986-09-14) September 14, 1986 (age 30) Laurier-Station, Quebec, Canada
Height	5 ft 7 in (170 cm)
Weight	176 lb (80 kg; 12 st 8 lb)
Position	Centre
Shoots	Left
NHL team Former teams	Edmonton Oilers Montreal Canadiens HC Fribourg-Gottéron
NHL Draft	Undrafted
Playing career	2006–present

David Kevin Denis Desharnais (born September 14, 1986) is a Canadian professional ice hockey centre currently playing for the Edmonton Oilers of the National Hockey League (NHL). Undrafted, he signed as a free agent with Montreal in 2008.

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.

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.

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.