Marc Denis

Joseph Marc Denis (born August 1, 1977) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey goaltender, who last played with the Montreal Canadiens of the National Hockey League (NHL). For the 2009–10 season, he was hired as the goaltenders' coach of the Chicoutimi Saguenéens, a Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) team. He is currently working as a colour analyst for the Canadiens on the Francophone Canadian sports network RDS, working alongside Pierre Houde. He is the all time leader in save percentage in the shootout among goaltenders who have faced at least 40 shootout attempts.

Playing career In his youth, Denis played in the 1990 and 1991 Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournaments with a minor ice hockey team from Montreal.

Denis was drafted 25th overall by the Colorado Avalanche at the 1995 NHL entry draft. Upon turning professional with Colorado, Denis mainly played for Colorado's American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Hershey Bears, and played a total of 28 regular season games in three seasons for the Avalanche. On June 7, 2000, Denis was traded to the Columbus Blue Jackets for a second-round pick in the 2000 draft (used to choose Tomas Kurka). During the 2002–03 NHL season, he set the then-NHL record for most minutes in a season with 4,511, playing 77 regular season games that season.

On June 30, 2006, Denis was traded to the Tampa Bay Lightning for Fredrik Modin and Fredrik Norrena. In the 2007–08 season, on December 28, due to his sub-par and inconsistent play, the Lightning waived Denis. After he cleared waivers, Denis was sent down to the Lightning's AHL affiliate, the Norfolk Admirals. The Lightning later recalled Denis from Norfolk on March 26, 2008. Denis replaced goalie Jonathan Boutin, who was earlier recalled from the Admirals on an emergency basis because starting goalie Mike Smith had a sprained left ankle. After the season, Denis was bought out from the Lightning on June 25, 2008.

Denis, who therefore became a free agent, then signed a contract with his hometown team, the Montreal Canadiens, on July 3, 2008. After training camp, Marc Denis was assigned to Montreal's AHL affiliate, the Hamilton Bulldogs. Denis was recalled as an injury replacement for the Canadiens throughout the season and appeared in one game with the Canadiens when he relieved Jaroslav Halak for the third period in a 4–1 loss to the New Jersey Devils on January 2, 2009.

Career statistics Regular season and playoffs Regular season Playoffs Season Team League GP W L T OTL MIN GA SO GAA SV% GP W L MIN GA SO GAA SV% 1992–93 Montreal-Bourassa QMAAA 26 — — — — 1559 74 5 2.87 — — — — — — — — — 1993–94 Trois-Rivières Estacades QMAAA 36 10 22 3 — 2093 158 0 4.53 — 4 1 3 249 20 0 4.83 — 1994–95 Chicoutimi Saguenéens QMJHL 32 17 9 1 — 1688 98 0 3.48 .891 6 4 2 372 19 1 3.06 .917 1995–96 Chicoutimi Saguenéens QMJHL 51 23 21 4 — 2951 157 2 3.19 .891 16 8 8 957 69 0 4.32 .865 1996–97 Chicoutimi Saguenéens QMJHL 41 22 15 2 — 2317 104 4 2.69 .905 21 11 10 1229 70 1 3.42 .883 1996–97 Chicoutimi Saguenéens MC — — — — — — — — — — 3 0 3 179 15 0 5.02 .832 1996–97 Colorado Avalanche NHL 1 0 1 0 — 60 3 0 3.00 .885 — — — — — — — — 1996–97 Hershey Bears AHL — — — — — — — — — — 4 1 0 56 1 0 1.08 .960 1997–98 Hershey Bears AHL 47 17 23 4 — 2588 125 1 2.90 .899 6 3 3 346 15 0 2.59 .894 1998–99 Hershey Bears AHL 52 20 23 5 — 2908 137 4 2.83 .914 3 1 1 143 7 0 2.93 .909 1998–99 Colorado Avalanche NHL 4 1 1 1 — 217 9 0 2.49 .918 — — — — — — — — 1999–00 Colorado Avalanche NHL 23 9 8 3 — 1203 51 3 2.54 .917 — — — — — — — — 2000–01 Columbus Blue Jackets NHL 32 6 20 4 — 1830 99 0 3.25 .895 — — — — — — — — 2001–02 Columbus Blue Jackets NHL 42 9 24 5 — 2335 121 1 3.11 .899 — — — — — — — — 2002–03 Columbus Blue Jackets NHL 77 27 41 8 — 4511 232 5 3.09 .903 — — — — — — — — 2003–04 Columbus Blue Jackets NHL 66 21 36 7 — 3795 162 5 2.56 .918 — — — — — — — — 2005–06 Columbus Blue Jackets NHL 49 21 25 — 1 2786 151 1 3.25 .900 — — — — — — — — 2006–07 Tampa Bay Lightning NHL 44 17 18 — 2 2353 125 1 3.19 .883 — — — — — — — — 2007–08 Tampa Bay Lightning NHL 10 1 5 — 0 414 28 0 4.05 .859 — — — — — — — — 2007–08 Norfolk Admirals AHL 32 11 17 — 2 1832 89 1 2.91 .910 — — — — — — — — 2008–09 Hamilton Bulldogs AHL 46 27 18 — 0 2659 109 5 2.46 .920 6 2 4 359 20 0 3.34 .890 2008–09 Montreal Canadiens NHL 1 0 0 — 0 20 1 0 3.00 .857 — — — — — — — — NHL totals 349 112 179 28 3 19,526 982 16 3.02 .902 — — — — — — — —

International

Year Team Event GP W L T MIN GA SO GAA SV% 1996 Canada WJC 2 2 0 0 120 2 0 1.00 — 1997 Canada WJC 7 5 0 2 419 13 1 1.86 .933 2006 Canada WC 5 4 1 0 263 11 0 2.51 .911 Junior totals 9 7 0 2 539 15 1 1.67 — Senior totals 5 4 1 0 263 11 0 2.51 .911

Awards and honours Award Year QMJHL Marcel Robert Trophy 1996 Jacques Plante Memorial Trophy 1997 CHL First All-Star Team 1997 CHL Goaltender of the Year 1997 AHL Calder Cup (Hershey Bears) 1997 International Best Goaltender 1997