DESHARNAIS IS FINDING A ROLE IN MCDAVID’S WORLD
Life is different for francophone playing in Edmonton market focused on its young star
After Edmonton lost 3-2 in a shootout to the Pittsburgh Penguins on Friday night at Rogers Place, Connor McDavid was surrounded by the media in the Oilers’ locker-room.
McDavid, the NHL scoring leader heading into Sunday night’s game against the Canadiens with 23 goals and 75 points at age 20, scored once in regulation time and again in the shootout and had nine shots on goal. He also logged an incredible 26:53 of ice time.
“He was a big, positive factor in our game tonight,” Oilers coach Todd McLellan said. “He was all over the rink. He played well offensively, defensively, he was a threat every time he was out there. Good in the (faceoff ) circle, overtime ... I don’t know what else you want me to say. I think it says right here he played 26 minutes as a forward, so we can’t play him any more than that.”
While the Oilers captain was surrounded by reporters and TV cameras, David Desharnais was quietly taking off his equipment by himself about 10 locker stalls to the young superstar’s left. The former Canadien had also played a strong game, logging 12:16 of ice time and scoring his first goal as an Oiler, giving him a goal and an assist in three games since being traded from Montreal on Feb. 28 for defenceman Brandon Davidson.
“That’s a big goal … it’s nice to get it out of the way,” Desharnais said. “I thought we deserved better tonight than a loss.”
Said McLellan about Desharnais: “I thought this was probably his best game tonight ... He’s looking more and more confident. We used him in some power-play situations, too. I think it will still take him a little while, but he feels like he’s beginning to fit in, or at least that’s what it looks like to me as a coach.”
The spotlight will be much less bright on Desharnais in Edmonton with McDavid on centre stage and handling it amazingly well, both on and off the ice, for someone his age — actually, for any age.
Desharnais was the only francophone on the Canadiens last season before Phillip Danault was acquired at the NHL trade deadline, carrying a heavy burden in La Belle Province on his small frame. The fact the 5-foot-7 Desharnais even made it to the NHL is quite remarkable since he was never drafted and only earned an invitation to a Canadiens rookie camp as a favour to Guy Carbonneau, who was head coach at the time and also part owner of the Chicoutimi Saguenéens, where Desharnais played junior hockey.
Desharnais would earn a spot with the ECHL’s Cincinnati Cyclones and won the league scoring title in the 2007-08 season, posting 29-77-106 totals in 68 games and leading his team to the league championship. Two seasons later, after playing with the AHL’s Hamilton Bulldogs, Desharnais made his NHL debut with the Canadiens.
Desharnais would play 435 games with the Canadiens, posting 79 goals and 250 points, before being traded to Edmonton. The 30-year-old struggled with Montreal this season, posting four goals and six assists in 31 games. He missed 24 games after a knee injury suffered on Dec. 6 in St. Louis and was a healthy scratch for eight of his final 10 games with the Canadiens.
After the trade, Desharnais said he tried to enjoy every second he was wearing bleu-blanc-rouge, through the highs and lows.
When asked if he now has something to prove in Edmonton, Desharnais said, “No, not really. I’m here for a reason … just to help this team go to the playoffs and that’s what I’m trying to do.”
Desharnais has been slotted in as the third-line centre, playing between a couple of other former Canadiens: Benoit Pouliot and Zack Kassian. Desharnais is in the final season of a four-year, US$14-million contract, with the Canadiens retaining 20 per cent of his US$4-million salary-cap hit as part of the trade.
Asked if he is concerned about his future after this season, Desharnais said, “Not at all. It’s going to come or it’s not going to come … I don’t really care right now. I’m trying to have fun and just to play my game.”
Desharnais came to Edmonton
I think it will still take him (Desharnais) a little while, but he feels like he’s beginning to fit in, or at least that’s what it looks like to me as a coach.
by himself after the trade, but his girlfriend joined him from Montreal for the weekend. He said life in Edmonton has been good since dealing with the emotions of the trade.
“Systems-wise, it’s still a hockey game and I feel better and better every night,” said Desharnais, who is now wearing No. 13.
There weren’t any Oilers jerseys spotted at Rogers Place on Friday night with “Desharnais” and “13” on the back and there might never be. But there were a lot of “McDavid” and “97” jerseys in the house.
Desharnais is happy to see the kid take the spotlight in Edmonton.
“It’s really fun to watch him,” Desharnais said. “When he gets going, he’s amazing.”