Éric Desjardins

Jean Noël Éric Desjardins (born June 14, 1969) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey defenceman who played 17 seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the Montreal Canadiens and Philadelphia Flyers. He won the Stanley Cup with Montreal in 1993 and headlined the Flyers defence for over a decade.

Playing career Desjardins was drafted 38th overall in the 1987 NHL entry draft by the Montreal Canadiens from the Granby Bisons of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL). After playing one more season for Granby, he joined the Sherbrooke Canadiens of the American Hockey League (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 1989 Stanley Cup Final, 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 defencemen, often playing in power play situations with Mathieu Schneider. Perhaps his most famous performance happened in game two of the 1993 Stanley Cup Final 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 favour, which they would go on to win in five games to claim the Stanley Cup.

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 third-round pick in the 1995 NHL entry draft (Martin Hohenberger). He was brought in to solidify the Flyers defence 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 blueliner. 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 defencemen only to Mark Howe's 480 in team history. During the 1999–2000 season, Desjardins became the Flyers captain once Eric Lindros was stripped from captainship for his complaints about the Flyers' medical staff.

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. Desjardins was nicknamed Rico throughout his playing career. Afterwards, Desjardins was presented gifts and tokens of appreciation from both the Flyers and the Canadiens, his two former clubs.

On February 19, 2015, before the Flyers/Sabres game in Philadelphia, the Flyers inducted Desjardins into the Flyers Hall of Fame. His former defense partner Chris Therien honored him with a speech.

Records June 3, 1993: First and to date only defenceman to score a hat-trick in a Stanley Cup Final game.

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs Regular season Playoffs Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM 1985–86 Laval Laurentides QMAAA 42 6 30 36 54 8 2 10 12 14 1986–87 Granby Bisons QMJHL 66 14 24 38 75 8 3 2 5 10 1987–88 Granby Bisons QMJHL 62 18 49 67 138 5 0 3 3 10 1987–88 Sherbrooke Canadiens AHL 3 0 0 0 6 4 0 2 2 2 1988–89 Montreal Canadiens NHL 36 2 12 14 26 14 1 1 2 6 1989–90 Montreal Canadiens NHL 55 3 13 16 51 6 0 0 0 10 1990–91 Montreal Canadiens NHL 62 7 18 25 27 13 1 4 5 8 1991–92 Montreal Canadiens NHL 77 6 32 38 50 11 3 3 6 4 1992–93 Montreal Canadiens NHL 82 13 32 45 98 20 4 10 14 23 1993–94 Montreal Canadiens NHL 84 12 23 35 97 7 0 2 2 4 1994–95 Montreal Canadiens NHL 9 0 6 6 2 — — — — — 1994–95 Philadelphia Flyers NHL 34 5 18 23 12 15 4 4 8 10 1995–96 Philadelphia Flyers NHL 80 7 40 47 45 12 0 6 6 2 1996–97 Philadelphia Flyers NHL 82 12 34 46 50 19 2 8 10 12 1997–98 Philadelphia Flyers NHL 77 6 27 33 36 5 0 1 1 0 1998–99 Philadelphia Flyers NHL 68 15 36 51 38 6 2 2 4 4 1999–00 Philadelphia Flyers NHL 81 14 41 55 32 18 2 10 12 2 2000–01 Philadelphia Flyers NHL 79 15 33 48 50 6 1 1 2 0 2001–02 Philadelphia Flyers NHL 65 6 19 25 24 5 0 1 1 2 2002–03 Philadelphia Flyers NHL 79 8 24 32 35 5 2 1 3 0 2003–04 Philadelphia Flyers NHL 48 1 11 12 28 — — — — — 2005–06 Philadelphia Flyers NHL 45 4 20 24 56 6 1 3 4 6 NHL totals 1,143 136 439 575 757 168 23 57 80 93

International Year Team Event GP G A Pts PIM 1988 Canada WJC 7 0 0 0 6 1989 Canada WJC 7 1 4 5 6 1991 Canada CC 8 1 2 3 6 1996 Canada WCH 8 1 2 3 4 1998 Canada OG 6 0 0 0 2 Junior totals 14 1 4 5 12 Senior totals 22 2 4 6 12

All-Star Games Year Location G A P 1992 Philadelphia 0 1 1 1996 Boston 0 0 0 2000 Toronto 0 1 1 All-Star totals 0 2 2

Awards Award Year(s) Barry Ashbee Trophy 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2003 Emile Bouchard Trophy 1988 NHL second team All-Star 1999, 2000 QMJHL First Team All-Star 1988 QMJHL Second Team All-Star 1987 Yanick Dupre Memorial Class Guy Award 1999 Stanley Cup Champion 1993