Desharnais says trade to Oilers was hard ‘but I needed change’
David Desharnais has forged an impressive career for a 5-foot-7, 180-pound centre who wasn’t selected at the NHL Draft.
On Thursday, the 31-year-old was back at the Bell Centre — where his NHL career started with the Canadiens eight years ago — as a member of the New York Rangers after signing a one-year, US$1-million contract as a free agent last summer.
It’s been money well spent by the Rangers with Desharnais posting 6-20-26 totals, including an assist in a 3-1 loss to the Canadiens at the Bell Centre, while winning nine of 14 faceoffs (64 per cent). Only five Canadiens have more points than Desharnais and no Montreal centre has been better in the faceoff circle, where Desharnais has won 55.3 per cent of his draws.
Next week will mark the first anniversary of the Canadiens trading Desharnais to Edmonton in exchange for defenceman Brandon Davidson, who the Oilers reclaimed from Montreal off waivers this season. A year later, he remains an effective player, especially when used in a proper role as a third-line centre, which is where he is with the Rangers.
“It always feels a little bit weird, but excited at the same time,” Desharnais said about returning to the Bell Centre after the Rangers’ morning skate on Thursday.
After finishing last season in Edmonton and seeing two rounds of playoff action with the Oilers, Desharnais said he has really enjoyed living in Manhattan this season with his girlfriend, Isabelle Desjardins, and their 7-month-old son, Victor, who joined him in Montreal for Thursday night’s game.
“It’s been pretty crazy,” he said. “It’s a big city and there’s always something to do, something always going on. It’s been great.”
But leaving Quebec wasn’t easy for the native of Laurier- Station, a village about 200 kilometres from Montreal with a population of less than 3,000.
“It was really hard,” Desharnais said about the trade. “Playing for Montreal was my dream. I played here for seven seasons, so it was hard. But I needed that change for my career and I had some great experiences in Edmonton … we had a great run there.”
Desharnais doesn’t know what the future holds, but he wants to keep playing until at least age 35, even if that means going to Europe.