Through the interminable bus rides, road trips to desolate hotels and the fast-food meals consumed before games in the ECHL, it would have been easy for Vincent Desharnais to quit. But his NHL dream never wavered.
Not drafted until the seventh round (183rd overall) by Edmonton in 2016 — as a 20-year-old no less, his third and final opportunity to be selected — Desharnais, a defenceman for Vancouver, is now in his third NHL season, having not made it to the big leagues until January 2023, his debut coming in a game against Anaheim.
Making it to the NHL from the AHL isn’t uncommon. That Desharnais made it this far after cutting his teeth with Wichita of the ECHL, however, is both astounding and inspiring.
“I’m proud that I made it to the NHL, but I’m (more) proud that I stayed there,” the Laval native told The Gazette before Monday night’s game between the Canucks and Canadiens at the Bell Centre. “It’s hard to make it, but it’s even harder to stay and to create a role for yourself. I was a late bloomer. Never really in the plans, but I stuck with it.
“I hope it shows other kids it’s not because you’re a little bit older, or you don’t necessarily fit the mould that everyone sees. Keep your dream in front of you, work as hard as you can and have fun. You never know what’s going to happen.”
Desharnais’s resolve will never be questioned. He left home as a teenager, attending a prep school in Lake Placid, N.Y., ostensibly to learn English, before deciding to play junior in Chilliwack, B.C. He then spent four years at Providence College, graduating with degrees in business management and finance, which gave him career options if his NHL dreams did not come to fruition.
At 6-foot-7 and 226 pounds, there were plenty of critics along the way. Desharnais doesn’t score much and isn’t the most fluid skater. But he provides grit, intensity and a long reach to every team he has played for.
“There were some dark days in the East Coast,” Desharnais admitted. “You’re travelling a lot and you’re (wondering) what am I doing here? I had a good time there, but the motivation isn’t the same. They’re not pushing to play in the NHL. They’re (trying) to put food on the table. I’m glad I went there. You see things I probably wouldn’t have seen. It was a tough time when I went down there. The love of the game wasn’t there as much.”
While improving the physical aspects of his game, Desharnais realized the mental side was equally, if not more, important. He began writing his thoughts in a journal while leaning on the support his family provided. His epiphany occurred during a frank conversation with his older brother, Alex.
“I was complaining to my brother and he told me to shut up,” Desharnais said while laughing. “He wakes up at 5 a.m. to go to a job he doesn’t like for 12 hours. The only thing I do is go practise, go home and hang out the rest of the day. He told me to be grateful for that. That stuck with me. It happened six years ago and I still remember exactly where I was. The exact day.”
Desharnais and the Oilers made it to the seventh game of the Stanley Cup final before losing to Florida last season. On July 1, the opening day of free agency, he signed a two-year, US$4-million contract with Vancouver. Canucks general manager Patrik Allvin was impressed by the size and strength Desharnais displayed during Edmonton’s second-round playoff victory against Vancouver.
While adapting to a new system and coaching staff has been laborious for Desharnais, he has started playing more regularly for head coach Rick Tocchet. The 28-year-old has three assists in 26 games while averaging a career-high 16:03 ice time. In 140 career games, Desharnais has one goal and 18 assists.
“The last three or four weeks he has really worked on his game,” Tocchet said. “His skating and decision-making have been better. He’s moving his feet a lot more. That’s why he has been playing better. I’ve seen some positive signs from him. Whether it’s a system thing or detail thing, he’s starting to really pay attention.
“He’s a great guy to coach, an awesome kid. The last month he has worked hard on details of his game. If he works on his game, with the coaching we have, he can turn himself into a really good defenceman.”