Bryan McAllister’s personal reference notebook
July 30, 2026Short & citedBlog
Civic Viewpoint.
A quiet encyclopedia with a personal desk
Kept by Bryan McAllister — short guides, clear facts, and the Canadian angle when it matters.
Sports Desk • Hockey

David Desharnais

David Desharnais is a Canadian former professional ice hockey centre born on September 14, 1986.

Updated July 30, 20261 min readCited sources

David Desharnais is a Canadian former professional ice hockey centre from Quebec who played in the NHL for the Montreal Canadiens, Edmonton Oilers, and New York Rangers. He later continued his career in Switzerland and the KHL before retiring.

Early life and junior hockey

Desharnais was born in Laurier-Station, Quebec, and developed as a player in Quebec junior hockey. His path to the NHL was notable because he was not drafted, instead signing as an undrafted free agent with the Montreal Canadiens after his major junior career in the QMJHL.

Professional career

After signing with the Canadiens, Desharnais became a regular NHL player, later also playing for the Edmonton Oilers and New York Rangers. He then moved to Europe, playing for Avangard Omsk in the KHL and HC Fribourg-Gottéron in Switzerland, where he ended his professional career.

International play and retirement

Desharnais represented Canada at the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing as an alternate captain, and also played for Team Canada at the Spengler Cup. He is listed as retired by hockey databases, with his last professional seasons spent in Switzerland.

In short

  • Undrafted free agent who made the NHL with Montreal Canadiens
  • Played for Edmonton Oilers and New York Rangers
  • Later played in KHL and Swiss National League
  • Represented Canada at the 2022 Winter Olympics
Canadian angle

Desharnais is from Quebec and built his career through Canadian junior hockey, Canadian NHL teams and Team Canada at the 2022 Winter Olympics.

Quick questions

Who is David Desharnais?
David Desharnais is a Canadian former professional ice hockey centre who played in the NHL and later in Europe.
Is David Desharnais retired?
Yes. He is listed by hockey databases and player profiles as retired.
What happened to David Desharnais?
He finished his playing career after stints in the NHL, KHL and Swiss National League, and later appeared for Canada at the 2022 Winter Olympics.

Sources

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Desharnais
    Supports: Full name, birth date, Canadian nationality, NHL teams, and overseas clubs.
  2. ESPN — https://www.espn.com/nhl/player/bio/_/id/5082/david-desharnais
    Supports: Birth date, birthplace, and position.
  3. Canadian Olympic Committee — https://olympique.ca/team-canada/david-desharnais/
    Supports: 2022 Olympic participation and role with Team Canada.
  4. Elite Prospects — https://www.eliteprospects.com/player/11122/david-desharnais
    Supports: Retired status, birth date, birthplace, position, and career summary.
  5. Hockey-Reference — https://www.hockey-reference.com/players/d/deshada01.html
    Supports: Age, birth date, last played season, and career statistics.
  6. PuckPedia — https://puckpedia.com/player/david-desharnais
    Supports: No current contract, retired status context, and estimated career earnings.