Raphael Diaz

Raphael Salvador Diaz (born January 9, 1986) is a Swiss professional ice hockey defenceman who currently plays with EV Zug in the National League (NL). He began his professional career with EV Zug in 2003 and has also played with the Montreal Canadiens, Vancouver Canucks, New York Rangers and the Calgary Flames. After returning to Switzerland with EV Zug Diaz has won the 2019 Swiss Cup and the 2020-21 NL Championship

Diaz was selected to play for the Switzerland men's national ice hockey team at the 2010 and 2014 Winter Olympics. He previously represented Switzerland at the 2004 IIHF World U18 Championships, the 2005 and 2006 IIHF World U20 Championship, the 2008 Ice Hockey World Championship, and captained the team at the 2017 Spengler Cup.

Playing career As a youth, Diaz played in the 2000 Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament with a team from Central Switzerland.

On May 13, 2011, Diaz signed a one-year two-way contract with the Montreal Canadiens of the NHL. He made his NHL debut October 6, 2011 against the Toronto Maple Leafs. Diaz scored his first NHL goal on October 18, 2011, against Ryan Miller of the Buffalo Sabres in the 2nd Period. He appeared as a rookie team member at the 2012 All Star game skills competition, as an injury replacement for Adam Larsson. He participated in the G Series NHL Skills Challenge Relay performing the control relay skill skating with the puck through a series of 6 cones. Diaz was traded to the Vancouver Canucks on February 3, 2014, for Dale Weise.

On March 5, 2014, Diaz was traded to the New York Rangers for a 5th-round pick in the 2015 NHL entry draft

After attending the Calgary Flames training camp on a try-out, Diaz capped a successful pre-season by signing a one-year contract with the club on October 6, 2014.

On July 1, 2015, the New York Rangers signed Diaz as a free agent to a one-year, $700,000 contract. In his return to the Rangers organization, Diaz was assigned to AHL affiliate, the Hartford Wolf Pack for the duration of the 2015–16 regular season. On December 23, 2015, Diaz was signed by the EV Zug to a five-year, CHF 5 million contract starting in the 2016–17 season.

On June 2, 2017, Diaz was named captain of EV Zug. He won his first NL title with Zug in 2021.

On January 27, 2021, Diaz was signed to a four-year deal by HC Fribourg-Gottéron, starting with the 2021–22 season and through the 2024–25 season.

Personal life Diaz's father is originally from Spain, while his mother is Swiss.

His sister Daniela Diaz also played hockey.

Career statistics Regular season and playoffs Regular season Playoffs Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM 2001–02 EV Zug SUI U20 4 0 1 1 0 — — — — — 2002–03 EV Zug SUI U20 30 7 10 17 32 7 1 1 2 12 2002–03 EHC Seewen–Herti SUI.2 U20 — — — — — — — — — — 2002–03 EHC Seewen–Herti SUI.3 9 1 2 3 — 6 0 1 1 — 2003–04 EV Zug SUI U20 15 6 5 11 22 — — — — — 2003–04 EV Zug NLA 38 2 1 3 16 5 0 0 0 2 2004–05 EV Zug SUI U20 4 1 1 2 4 — — — — — 2004–05 EV Zug NLA 41 1 4 5 12 9 0 0 0 4 2005–06 EV Zug SUI U20 3 0 1 1 2 — — — — — 2005–06 EV Zug NLA 35 5 2 7 34 7 0 0 0 4 2006–07 EV Zug NLA 44 2 4 6 22 12 0 1 1 6 2007–08 EV Zug NLA 50 3 11 14 44 7 0 0 0 4 2008–09 EV Zug NLA 50 4 9 13 36 10 1 1 2 4 2009–10 EV Zug NLA 49 4 27 31 22 13 1 5 6 10 2010–11 EV Zug NLA 45 12 27 39 26 10 2 4 6 4 2011–12 Montreal Canadiens NHL 59 3 13 16 30 — — — — — 2012–13 EV Zug NLA 32 7 22 29 12 — — — — — 2012–13 Montreal Canadiens NHL 23 1 13 14 6 5 0 0 0 0 2013–14 Montreal Canadiens NHL 46 0 11 11 12 — — — — — 2013–14 Vancouver Canucks NHL 6 1 1 2 0 — — — — — 2013–14 New York Rangers NHL 11 1 1 2 4 4 0 0 0 0 2014–15 Calgary Flames NHL 56 2 2 4 10 3 0 0 0 0 2015–16 Hartford Wolfpack AHL 37 6 15 21 16 — — — — — 2015–16 New York Rangers NHL — — — — — 1 0 1 1 0 2016–17 EV Zug NLA 46 8 22 30 28 16 5 9 14 6 2017–18 EV Zug NL 485253026 41234 2018–19 EV Zug NL 43 12 19 31 10 14 1 5 6 14 2019–20 EV Zug NL 4710213151 — — — — — 2020–21 EV Zug NL 44 10 17 27 24 11 0 6 6 4 2021–22 HC Fribourg–Gottéron NL 375141922 9 0 2 2 6 2022–23 HC Fribourg–Gottéron NL 507182526 2 0 0 0 0 2023–24 HC Fribourg–Gottéron NL 490131332 10 1 2 3 0 2024–25 HC Fribourg–Gottéron NL 5236922 14 0 1 1 4 2025–26 EV Zug NL 131676 7 0 1 1 6 NL totals 813 101 268 369 471 160 12 39 51 82 NHL totals 201 8 41 49 62 13 0 1 1 0

International

Year Team Event Result GP G A Pts PIM 2004 Switzerland WJC D1 11th 5 1 3 4 4 2005 Switzerland WJC 8th 6 1 1 2 8 2006 Switzerland WJC 8th 6 0 1 1 6 2008 Switzerland WC 7th 7 0 0 0 0 2010 Switzerland OG 8th 5 0 0 0 4 2011 Switzerland WC 9th 6 3 1 4 4 2013 Switzerland WC 4 0 1 1 0 2014 Switzerland OG 9th 4 0 0 0 4 2016 Switzerland WC 11th 5 0 6 6 2 2017 Switzerland WC 6th 8 0 1 1 6 2018 Switzerland OG 10th 3 0 0 0 0 2018 Switzerland WC 10 1 5 6 8 2019 Switzerland WC 8th 8 0 2 2 2 2021 Switzerland WC 6th 8 1 2 3 2 2022 Switzerland OG 8th 5 1 1 2 2 Junior totals 17 2 5 7 18 Senior totals 73 6 19 25 34