Vincent Desharnais Bio
Vincent Desharnais is a Canadian professional ice hockey player who plays as a defenceman for the San Jose Sharks of the National Hockey League (NHL). Born in Laval, Quebec, he was selected by the Edmonton Oilers in the seventh round, 183rd overall, of the 2016 NHL Entry Draft. Standing 6 feet 7 inches tall and playing the right side, he is recognized for his size, mobility, and steady presence on the back end.
Early Life and Background
Vincent Desharnais was born on May 29, 1996, in Laval, Quebec, Canada. He grew up in a hockey-focused household, with the sport serving as a central part of family life. He is the youngest in his family, and he has often credited his father, Jacques, and his brother, Alex, as the key influences who first introduced him to the game and shaped his understanding of it. Despite sharing a last name, he is not related to former Montreal Canadiens centre David Desharnais.
Before reaching the college ranks, Desharnais spent a season with the Chilliwack Chiefs of the British Columbia Hockey League, a developmental league that helped him transition to the demands of higher-level hockey. He later committed to Providence College in Rhode Island, where he would complete his NCAA career and emerge as one of the more reliable defencemen in the Hockey East conference.
Path to Hockey
Desharnais played college hockey with Providence College from 2015 to 2019, a four-year stretch that allowed him to mature physically and refine his defensive game. During his final season, he earned the Hockey East Best Defensive Defenseman of the Year award, a clear sign of his growing value at the college level. The Edmonton Oilers selected him in the seventh round of the 2016 NHL Entry Draft, 183rd overall, during his third year of draft eligibility, a pick that would later prove to be a significant value selection for the organization.
Following his graduation from Providence, Desharnais turned professional in 2019. He spent time with the Wichita Thunder of the ECHL and the Bakersfield Condors of the American Hockey League, working through the minor-league ranks to prepare for an NHL opportunity. After three seasons of development, he was signed by the Oilers to a two-year entry-level contract in March 2022.
Vincent Desharnais Career
Early Career (2019–2022)
Vincent Desharnais began his professional career with the Wichita Thunder of the ECHL in 2019, where he adjusted to the pace and physicality of pro hockey. The experience helped him build confidence and add muscle to his already imposing 6-foot-7 frame. He later moved up to the Bakersfield Condors, Edmonton’s AHL affiliate, where he continued to develop his defensive game and penalty-killing responsibilities.
Across his three minor-pro seasons, Desharnais proved he was ready for the next step. The Oilers rewarded that progress with an entry-level contract in March 2022, formally launching his NHL trajectory and bringing him closer to a full-time role with the parent club.
Edmonton Oilers Breakthrough (2022–2024)
Desharnais made his NHL debut with the Oilers on January 11, 2023, a 6–2 victory against the Anaheim Ducks. The appearance was the culmination of years of steady work in the minors. He became a regular presence on Edmonton’s blue line, contributing in a depth role while gaining valuable postseason experience during the 2022 and 2023 Stanley Cup playoffs.
A defining moment came on October 29, 2023, when he scored his first career NHL goal in an outdoor game against the Calgary Flames, helping Edmonton to a 5–2 win. The milestone, scored in a marquee setting, marked his arrival as an NHL contributor.
Vancouver Canucks Era (2024–2025)
On July 1, 2024, Desharnais signed a two-year, $4 million contract with the Vancouver Canucks as an unrestricted free agent. The deal reflected the strong impression he had made during his time in Edmonton. He slotted into a defensive role and brought his trademark physicality to the Canucks’ back end.
During the 2024–25 season, he posted three assists and 34 penalty minutes in 34 games with Vancouver, establishing himself as a steady, hard-to-play-against presence before being moved at the trade deadline.
Pittsburgh Penguins Era (2025)
On January 31, 2025, Desharnais was traded to the Pittsburgh Penguins as part of a package that included a conditional 2025 first-round pick, Danton Heinen, and prospect Melvin Fernström, in exchange for Marcus Pettersson and Drew O’Connor. His time in Pittsburgh was short but productive. In ten games with the Penguins, he earned a plus-four rating and four penalty minutes, showing the same dependable form he had demonstrated in Vancouver.
San Jose Sharks Era (2025–Present)
On March 5, 2025, the Penguins traded Desharnais to the San Jose Sharks in exchange for a 2028 fifth-round draft pick. The move gave him a fresh opportunity on a young, rebuilding club. He has since settled into a role with the Sharks, providing veteran size and defensive responsibility as the team continues to develop its younger core.
Driving Style and Strengths
Desharnais’s game is built around his 6-foot-7 frame and right-handed shot. He excels at clearing the defensive zone, using his reach to break up plays, and providing a physical presence in front of the net. His penalty-killing dependability and willingness to block shots have made him a trusted option in tight defensive situations. Off the ice, his willingness to speak openly about mental health has added a thoughtful dimension to his professional profile.
Notable Events and Milestones
Highlights of his career include his first NHL game on January 11, 2023, against the Ducks, and his first NHL goal on October 29, 2023, in the outdoor game against the Flames. He also appeared in back-to-back Stanley Cup playoffs with Edmonton and was a 2019 nominee for the Hockey Humanitarian Award during his senior season at Providence College.
Vincent Desharnais Career Wins
Vincent Desharnais’s career is defined less by offensive totals and more by reliability, durability, and defensive contributions. His progression from the ECHL to the NHL, including his first NHL goal and his appearances in the Stanley Cup playoffs with Edmonton, marks the most meaningful achievements of his professional journey to date.
NHL Highlights
Desharnais has recorded his first NHL goal and multiple points across his stints with Edmonton, Vancouver, Pittsburgh, and San Jose. His most recent verified season included three assists and 34 penalty minutes in 34 games with Vancouver, followed by ten games with Pittsburgh and a trade to the Sharks. Playoff appearances with the Oilers in 2022 and 2023 stand as early career milestones.
Other Wins and Performances
At the college level, Desharnais won the Hockey East Best Defensive Defenseman of the Year award in his senior season. He was also nominated for the 2019 Hockey Humanitarian Award for his work organizing the “PC Beats Cancer” event, which raised more than $5,100 for the Gloria Gemma Foundation.
Vincent Desharnais Family
Family Background and Hockey Lineage
Hockey runs deep in the Desharnais household. Vincent has frequently pointed to his father, Jacques, and his brother, Alex, as the people who first introduced him to the game and shaped his early development. He is the youngest in his family, and the support of his parents and siblings played a key role in his path to professional hockey.
Personal Life
Desharnais has been open about the mental health challenges he faced during his early professional career, including anxiety attacks and depression that followed a concussion in his first pro season. He has spoken about learning to accept help and developing strategies to manage his mental health. Off the ice, he has been recognized for his philanthropy, including raising more than $6,000 for Leucan’s head-shaving challenge in 2020 and helping raise over $50,000 for the same cause in 2022.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season has been one of the most eventful of Vincent Desharnais’s career. After signing a two-year, $4 million contract with the Vancouver Canucks in July 2024, he contributed three assists and 34 penalty minutes in 34 games while serving in a defensive role. On January 31, 2025, he was traded to the Pittsburgh Penguins in a multi-player deal, where he played ten games and finished with a plus-four rating.
On March 5, 2025, Desharnais was traded again, this time to the San Jose Sharks, in exchange for a 2028 fifth-round draft pick. The move gave him a stable landing spot on a young, rebuilding team looking for veteran size and defensive responsibility on the back end. His playoff picture for 2025 will depend on the Sharks’ late-season form, but his role as a steady, physical defenceman appears secure heading into the rest of the year.
