Eric Desjardins

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Position Defenseman
Shot Right
Nickname Rico
Height
Weight		 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
205 lb (93 kg)
Pro Clubs Montreal Canadiens
Philadelphia Flyers
Nationality Flag of Canada Canada
Born June 14, 1969,
Rouyn, PQ, CAN
NHL Draft 38th overall, 1987
Montreal Canadiens
Pro Career 1988 – 2006

Éric Desjardins (born June 14, 1969 in Rouyn, Quebec) is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey player. He was a defenseman for the Montreal Canadiens and Philadelphia Flyers for 17 NHL seasons, winning the Stanley Cup with Montreal in 1993 and headlining the Flyers defense for over a decade.

Contents

[edit] Playing career

Eric Desjardins was drafted 38th overall in the 1987 NHL Entry Draft by the Montreal Canadiens from the Granby Bisons of the QMJHL. After playing one more season for Granby, he joined the Sherbrooke Canadiens of the AHL in time to make his professional debut in the spring of 1988, playing three regular season games and four playoff games. He began his NHL career in 1988-89 with two goals and twelve assists in 36 games. He also played in 14 playoff games on Montreal's way to the Stanley Cup Finals, a loss against the Calgary Flames.

His play improved thereafter, leading to an appearance in the 1992 NHL All-Star Game. By 1992-93 he had established himself as one of the team's premier defensemen, often playing in power play situations with Mathieu Schneider. Perhaps his most famous performance happened in game two of the 1993 Stanley Cup Finals on June 3, 1993, when he scored all of Montreal's goals in a 3-2 overtime win over the Los Angeles Kings in a game also marked by Marty McSorley's illegal stick penalty. The game turned the series in Montreal's favor.

On February 9, 1995, Desjardins was traded to the Philadelphia Flyers along with John LeClair and Gilbert Dionne in exchange for Mark Recchi and a 1995 3rd round draft choice (Martin Hohenberger). He was brought in to solidify the Flyers defense and that he did as he won the first of what would be seven Barry Ashbee Trophies, an award given annually to the Flyers top defenseman. He played the remainder of his career with the Flyers, achieving two NHL second team All-Star selections (1999, 2000) and two more All-Star Game appearances (1996, 2000). His 396 points with the Flyers ranks second among defensemen only to Mark Howe's 480 in team history.

The Flyers didn't offer Desjardins a contract following the 2005-06 season. His original team, Montreal, was interested in signing him for the 2006-07 season, but Desjardins opted to retire as a Flyer on August 10, 2006.[1]

On January 11, 2007, before the Flyers/Canadiens game in Philadelphia, the Flyers honored Desjardins with Eric Desjardins Night, which featured a ceremony highlighting Desjardins' Flyers career. Afterwards, Desjardins was presented gifts and tokens of appreciation from both the Flyers and the Canadiens, his two former clubs.

[edit] Awards

[edit] Records

[edit] Career statistics

    Regular Season   Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
1986-87 Granby QMJHL 66 14 24 38 75 - - - - -
1987-88 Granby QMJHL 62 18 49 67 138 5 0 3 3 10
1987-88 Sherbrooke AHL 3 0 0 0 6 4 0 2 2 2
1988-89 Montreal NHL 36 2 12 14 26 14 1 1 2 6
1989-90 Montreal NHL 55 3 13 16 51 6 0 0 0 10
1990-91 Montreal NHL 62 7 18 25 27 13 1 4 5 8
1991-92 Montreal NHL 77 6 32 38 50 11 3 3 6 4
1992-93 Montreal NHL 82 13 32 45 98 20 4 10 14 23
1993-94 Montreal NHL 84 12 23 35 97 7 0 2 2 4
1994-95 Montreal NHL 9 0 6 6 2 - - - - -
1994-95 Philadelphia NHL 34 5 18 23 12 15 4 4 8 10
1995-96 Philadelphia NHL 80 7 40 47 45 12 0 6 6 2
1996-97 Philadelphia NHL 82 12 34 46 50 19 2 8 10 12
1997-98 Philadelphia NHL 77 6 27 33 36 5 0 1 1 0
1998-99 Philadelphia NHL 68 15 36 51 38 6 2 2 4 4
1999-00 Philadelphia NHL 81 14 41 55 32 18 2 10 12 2
2000-01 Philadelphia NHL 79 15 33 48 50 6 1 1 2 0
2001-02 Philadelphia NHL 65 6 19 25 24 5 0 1 1 2
2002-03 Philadelphia NHL 79 8 24 32 35 5 2 1 3 0
2003-04 Philadelphia NHL 48 1 11 12 28 - - - - -
2005-06 Philadelphia NHL 45 4 20 24 56 6 1 3 4 6
NHL Totals 1143 136 439 575 757 168 23 57 80 93

[edit] International play

Played for Canada in:

  • 1987 World Junior Championships
  • 1988 World Junior Championships
  • 1991 Canada Cup
  • 1996 World Cup of Hockey
  • 1998 Winter Olympics

[edit] International statistics

Year Team Event GP G A Pts PIM
1987 Canada WJC-A 7 0 0 0 6
1988 Canada WJC-A 7 1 4 5 6
1991 Canada Can-Cup 8 1 2 3 6
1996 Canada WC 8 1 2 3 4
1998 Canada Olym. 6 0 0 0 2

[edit] References

  1. ^ Desjardins finishes as a Flyer, NHL.com, retrieved on December 17 2006

[edit] External links

Preceded by
Eric Lindros		 Philadelphia Flyers captains
2000-01		 Succeeded by
Keith Primeau

Note: Desjardins was named captain late in the 1999-2000 NHL season, after Lindros was stripped of the role. Desjardins, later resigned the captaincy early in the 2001-02 NHL season, in favor of Primeau.

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