Alexandre Texier Bio
Alexandre Texier is a French professional ice hockey forward who plays for the Montreal Canadiens of the National Hockey League. Standing 6 feet 1 inch tall and weighing 201 pounds, he shoots left and has built a career that spans the French Ligue Magnus, the Finnish Liiga, the American Hockey League, the Swiss National League, and the NHL. Drafted 45th overall by the Columbus Blue Jackets in 2017, Texier became the first player drafted directly out of the French league.
Over the years, Texier has collected trophies at home and abroad, including the Jean-Pierre Graff Trophy, a Coupe de France title, and a Spengler Cup championship. He has also represented France in international competitions, including the Winter Olympics, and reached a major NHL milestone in 2026 as the third French-born player to record 100 career points.
Early Life and Background
Alexandre Texier was born on 13 September 1999 in Saint-Martin-d’Hères, a suburb of Grenoble in southeastern France. He grew up in a household shaped by ice hockey, as his father Fabrice Texier was himself a player. Fabrice played four games in the 1986–87 QMJHL season with the Laval Titan before spending the bulk of his career in France, primarily with the Brûleurs de Loups in Grenoble from 1989 until 1992.
Through his father, Alexandre was introduced to the sport at a young age and joined the Brûleurs de Loups youth system. The Grenoble-based club, the same organization his father had once played for, became the foundation of his development. Surrounded by the alpine environment of the Isère region and a strong local hockey culture, he progressed through the junior ranks and earned a place on the senior roster by his mid-teens.
Path to Hockey
Texier made his senior debut with the Brûleurs de Loups in 2016–17 at just 16 years old, becoming a rookie in the Ligue Magnus. He quickly stood out as one of the league’s top first-year players and was awarded the Jean-Pierre Graff Trophy as the best young player in the French league. He also helped the club capture the Coupe de France that same season, giving him both an individual honor and a team championship in his first professional year.
Heading into the 2017 NHL Entry Draft, NHL Central Scouting ranked Texier as the 16th-best European skater. The Columbus Blue Jackets selected him in the second round, 45th overall, making him the first player ever drafted directly out of the French league. After the draft, he was also chosen 17th in the CHL Import Draft by the Baie-Comeau Drakkar of the QMJHL, but he chose instead to sign with KalPa of the Finnish Liiga to begin his path toward the NHL.
Alexandre Texier Career
Early Career (2016–2019)
Texier’s first two professional seasons were split between Grenoble and Kuopio, Finland. As the youngest player on the KalPa roster in 2017–18, he posted 13 goals and 22 points in 53 Liiga games, showing steady growth against grown men. On 23 May 2018, after his first Finnish season, Columbus signed him to a three-year entry-level contract but allowed him to return to KalPa for a second year, where he led the team with 41 points in 55 games.
In 2019, Texier was assigned to the Cleveland Monsters, Columbus’ AHL affiliate, where he tallied seven points in seven games before earning his first NHL recall. He made his NHL debut on 5 April 2019 against the New York Rangers and scored his first NHL goal the very next night against the Ottawa Senators. He then lit the lamp in his first career playoff game, finding the net against the Tampa Bay Lightning in the opening round.
Columbus Blue Jackets Breakthrough (2019–2022)
Texier’s first full NHL season was interrupted by a lumbar stress fracture that limited him to 36 games in 2019–20, in which he recorded six goals and seven assists. During the NHL’s return-to-play that summer, he contributed four assists in 10 postseason games, helping the Blue Jackets make a deeper run than expected. When the 2020–21 season was delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic, he was originally loaned to KalPa but returned on loan to the Brûleurs de Loups for personal reasons until the NHL resumed.
On 28 January 2021, Texier produced one of the season’s most memorable moments, using a rare offensive poke check to score the game-winning shootout goal in a 3–2 win over the Florida Panthers. The move, dubbed the “French poke,” highlighted his creativity and hand skill. He continued to develop as a top-six forward in Columbus until the Blue Jackets decided to loan him abroad for 2022–23.
ZSC Lions and St. Louis Blues Era (2022–2025)
For the 2022–23 season, Columbus loaned Texier to the ZSC Lions of the Swiss National League, where he gained a fresh start and significant responsibility in a top European league. He spent two seasons in Zurich, refining his two-way game and producing offense in a structured system. On 28 June 2024, the Blue Jackets traded him to the St. Louis Blues in exchange for a fourth-round pick in the 2025 NHL Entry Draft, and Texier quickly signed a two-year, 4.2 million dollar extension with his new club.
His time in St. Louis, however, was cut short. On 22 November 2025, the Blues placed him on unconditional waivers for the purpose of terminating his contract, ending his tenure with the organization earlier than planned.
Montreal Canadiens Era (2025–Present)
Shortly after his release from St. Louis, Texier was signed to a one-year contract by the Montreal Canadiens for the remainder of the 2025–26 season. The Canadiens inserted him onto the top line alongside center Nick Suzuki and winger Cole Caufield, and his offensive production rose with the increased opportunity. On 7 January 2026, he recorded his first career three-point game against the Calgary Flames, reaching 100 career NHL points and joining Pierre-Édouard Bellemare and Antoine Roussel as the third French-born player to hit the century mark.
The very next night, on 8 January 2026, Texier registered his first NHL hat-trick against the Florida Panthers, capping a remarkable 48-hour stretch. He posted 16 points in his first 25 games with Montreal, and on 14 January 2026 the team signed him to a two-year contract extension. Used primarily in a supporting role down the stretch, he finished the regular season with eight goals and 12 assists in 43 games for the Canadiens, helping the club qualify for the 2026 Stanley Cup playoffs against the Tampa Bay Lightning.
Driving Style and Strengths
Texier is a smooth, skilled forward whose game blends creativity, vision, and offensive hockey sense. He is best known for his deceptive hands, including his trademark poke check, and his ability to play a possession-oriented, pass-first style. Coaches have trusted him in both top-six offensive roles and responsible defensive situations, and he has shown comfort on the wing as well as at center.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among Texier’s signature moments are his first NHL goal in April 2019, his first NHL hat-trick in January 2026, and his game-winning playoff goal against Tampa Bay in the 2026 postseason. He is also remembered as the first player drafted directly from the French league and as one of only three French-born players to reach 100 NHL points.
Alexandre Texier Career Wins
Across club and international play, Texier has accumulated team championships and individual awards at every level he has competed. His résumé includes a Coupe de France title with the Brûleurs de Loups, a Spengler Cup championship with KalPa, and a Jean-Pierre Graff Trophy as the best young player in the Ligue Magnus.
Club and International Highlights
Texier won the Coupe de France with the Brûleurs de Loups in 2017 during his rookie season, the same year he claimed the Jean-Pierre Graff Trophy. With KalPa, he helped the Finnish side capture the prestigious Spengler Cup in 2018, becoming one of the youngest players to lift that trophy. Internationally, he helped France’s under-18 team win the 2017 U18 World Championship and earn promotion to the elite division for the first time, recording five points in five games and earning tournament top-forward honors.
Alexandre Texier Family
Family Background and Hockey Lineage
Hockey runs deep in the Texier family. Alexandre’s father, Fabrice Texier, played the sport professionally and was his earliest coach and mentor. Fabrice appeared in four QMJHL games with the Laval Titan during the 1986–87 season before returning to France, where he played primarily for the Brûleurs de Loups in Grenoble between 1989 and 1992, the same club where his son would later launch his career.
Personal Life
Texier was raised in Saint-Martin-d’Hères near Grenoble and remains closely connected to his hometown club. He has kept much of his personal life private, and there are no publicly confirmed details about a spouse or children from verified sources.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 calendar year was one of the most eventful of Texier’s career. He began the season with the St. Louis Blues, where he had signed a two-year extension the previous summer, but was placed on unconditional waivers on 22 November 2025 for the purpose of terminating his contract. Within days, the Montreal Canadiens signed him to a one-year deal for the remainder of the 2025–26 season, giving him a fresh opportunity on a contending roster.
Texier made an immediate impact in Montreal, joining the top line with Nick Suzuki and Cole Caufield. He set a new personal standard by recording his first NHL hat-trick and his first three-point game within the same week in January 2026, and he reached 100 career NHL points during that stretch. His play earned him a two-year contract extension with the Canadiens on 14 January 2026.
Heading into the 2026 Stanley Cup playoffs against the Tampa Bay Lightning, Texier appeared settled in his top-six role and was producing at a pace that had eluded him in Columbus and St. Louis. Although he was used more in a supporting capacity down the stretch, finishing with eight goals and 12 assists in 43 games, his postseason contributions, including a game-winning goal on 29 April 2026, signaled that his best hockey may still be ahead.
