Donald Audette

Donald Daniel Audette (born September 23, 1969) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey forward who played fourteen seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the Buffalo Sabres, Los Angeles Kings, Atlanta Thrashers, Dallas Stars, Montreal Canadiens and Florida Panthers.

Playing career He was selected in the ninth round of the 1989 NHL entry draft (183rd overall) by the Buffalo Sabres. Prior to playing in the National Hockey League (NHL), Audette won the Dudley "Red" Garrett Memorial Award as the top rookie in the American Hockey League (AHL), while playing for the Rochester Americans.

Despite his small stature, Audette became known for his gritty, feisty style of play and quickly endeared himself to Buffalo hockey fans with a 31-goal rookie campaign. However, his approach to the game often led to lengthy trips to the injury reserve, including several knee injuries that cut short his 1990–91, 1992–93 and 1995–96 seasons respectively.

In 1998, Audette was traded to the Los Angeles Kings. Two years later, as a member of the Atlanta Thrashers, he reached his career high in goals (34) and assists (45) and was chosen as participant in that season's NHL All-Star game.

Audette would be traded back to the Sabres in March 2001, and signed a multimillion-dollar contract with the Dallas Stars later that summer. In the midst of the 2001–02 season, Audette was again traded, this time to the Montreal Canadiens. In a game against the New York Rangers on December 1, 2001, Audette had the tendons of his forearm severed by an opponent's skate and required life-saving surgery to repair the extensive damage, but still managed to recover in time for the playoffs.

After being placed on unconditional waivers by the Canadiens in January 2004, Audette signed with the Florida Panthers for the latter half of the 2003–04 season. Following this, he announced his retirement from professional play.

Personal life Audette's son Daniel (b. 1996) was the first pick of the 2012 Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) Draft and was selected by the Montreal Canadiens in the 2014 NHL entry draft.

Currently, Audette works an amateur scout with the Canadiens organization.

Career statistics Regular season Playoffs Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM 1985–86 Laval Régents QMAAA 41 32 38 70 51 8 5 9 14 10 1986–87 Laval Titan QMJHL 66 17 22 39 36 14 2 6 8 10 1987–88 Laval Titan QMJHL 63 48 61 109 56 14 7 12 19 20 1988–89 Laval Titan QMJHL 70 76 85 161 123 17 17 12 29 43 1989–90 Rochester Americans AHL 70 42 46 88 78 15 9 8 17 29 1989–90 Buffalo Sabres NHL — — — — — 2 0 0 0 0 1990–91 Rochester Americans AHL 5 4 0 4 2 — — — — — 1990–91 Buffalo Sabres NHL 8 4 3 7 4 — — — — — 1991–92 Buffalo Sabres NHL 63 31 17 48 75 — — — — — 1992–93 Rochester Americans AHL 6 8 4 12 10 — — — — — 1992–93 Buffalo Sabres NHL 44 12 7 19 51 8 2 2 4 6 1993–94 Buffalo Sabres NHL 77 29 30 59 41 7 0 1 1 6 1994–95 Buffalo Sabres NHL 46 24 13 37 27 5 1 1 2 4 1995–96 Buffalo Sabres NHL 23 12 13 25 18 — — — — — 1996–97 Buffalo Sabres NHL 73 28 22 50 48 11 4 5 9 6 1997–98 Buffalo Sabres NHL 75 24 20 44 59 15 5 8 13 10 1998–99 Los Angeles Kings NHL 49 18 18 36 51 — — — — — 1999–2000 Los Angeles Kings NHL 49 12 20 32 45 — — — — — 1999–2000 Atlanta Thrashers NHL 14 7 4 11 12 — — — — — 2000–01 Atlanta Thrashers NHL 64 32 39 71 64 — — — — — 2000–01 Buffalo Sabres NHL 12 2 6 8 12 13 3 6 9 4 2001–02 Dallas Stars NHL 20 4 8 12 12 — — — — — 2001–02 Montreal Canadiens NHL 13 1 5 6 8 12 6 4 10 10 2002–03 Montreal Canadiens NHL 54 11 12 23 19 — — — — — 2002–03 Hamilton Bulldogs AHL 11 5 5 10 8 — — — — — 2003–04 Montreal Canadiens NHL 23 3 5 8 16 — — — — — 2003–04 Florida Panthers NHL 28 6 7 13 22 — — — — — NHL totals 735 260 249 509 584 73 21 27 48 46

Awards and honours Award Year QMJHL First All-Star Team 1989 Guy Lafleur Trophy 1989 AHL Dudley "Red" Garrett Memorial Award 1990 First All-Star Team 1990 NHL NHL All-Star Game 2001