David Desharnais
A diminutive playmaker who defied every scout's size chart, willing his way from the Quebec league to become a Montreal Canadiens fan favorite.
Born 1986 (age 40)·Canadian ice hockey player·Birthday: September 14·Millennials
Biography
David Desharnais's hockey story is one of relentless perseverance. Undrafted and standing just 5'7", his path to the NHL was considered improbable at best. He dominated the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, but professionals were skeptical. He spent three full seasons in the ECHL and AHL, honing his elite vision and playmaking, before the Montreal Canadiens finally gave him a real shot. Once there, he seized it, centering a top line with Max Pacioretty and Erik Cole, and becoming a power-play maestro. For several seasons, he was the Habs' clever, beating heart, a symbol that skill and tenacity could overcome physical preconceptions. His journey inspired a generation of smaller players, proving that a high hockey IQ could carve out a substantial career at the sport's highest level.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
David was born in 1986, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When David Was Born
The biggest hits of 1986
#1 Movie
Top Gun
Best Picture
Platoon
#1 TV Show
The Cosby Show
David's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1986Born
Challenger disaster; Chernobyl nuclear meltdown
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $66,600Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"That's What Friends Are For" — Dionne & FriendsBest Picture: Platoon
1991Started school
Soviet Union dissolves; World Wide Web goes public
Gas: $1.14/galHome: $82,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"(Everything I Do) I Do It for You" — Bryan AdamsBest Picture: The Silence of the Lambs
1999Became a teenager
Columbine shooting; Y2K panic builds
Gas: $1.17/galHome: $113,900Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Believe" — CherBest Picture: American Beauty
2002Could drive
Euro currency enters circulation
Gas: $1.36/galHome: $137,800Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"How You Remind Me" — NickelbackBest Picture: Chicago
2004Could vote
Indian Ocean tsunami kills over 230,000
Gas: $1.88/galHome: $157,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Yeah!" — UsherBest Picture: Million Dollar Baby
2007Turned 21
iPhone released; Great Recession begins
Gas: $2.80/galHome: $172,600Min wage: $5.85/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Irreplaceable" — BeyonceBest Picture: No Country for Old Men
2016Turned 30
Donald Trump elected president; Brexit vote
Gas: $2.14/galHome: $181,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Love Yourself" — Justin BieberBest Picture: Moonlight
2026Turned 40
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Recorded a career-high 60 points (16 goals, 44 assists) in the 2011-12 NHL season with the Montreal Canadiens.
- Led the ECHL's Cincinnati Cyclones to a Kelly Cup championship in 2008, earning Playoff MVP honors.
- Played 524 regular-season games in the NHL across seven seasons.
- Represented Canada at the 2018 Spengler Cup, helping the team win the tournament.
Did You Know?
He wore number 51 for most of his NHL career as a tribute to his father, who was born in 1951.
He and his wife, actress and former Canadian ice dancer Mylène Girard, are both from Laurier-Station, Quebec.
He played his final professional seasons in Switzerland for HC Fribourg-Gottéron.
He was a teammate of Jaromir Jagr during his brief stint with the NHL's Calgary Flames.
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