January 11, 2023 by Eric Friesen

For most professional hockey players, the chances of making it to the NHL after age 25 drop off significantly. Of course, there are plenty of examples of players defying these odds and carving out an NHL career for themselves as spending many years in lower leagues.

Fernando Pisani made his NHL debut with the Edmonton Oilers at age 26 on January 8, 2003 in a game against the Anaheim Ducks. Pisani went on to play eight years in the best league in the world, tallying 87 goals and 169 points in 462 career NHL games. Now, almost 20 years later to the day, Vincent Desharnais will play in his first NHL game for the Oilers in the same arena where Pisani’s career started.

The Laval, Quebec native said his parents – Jacques and Josée – have been his biggest supporters over the years, and sharing the news with them was a thrill.

“It’s been crazy,” Desharnais told Oilers TV after practice on Tuesday. “Just being able to tell my parents was such a great moment. Obviously, I would have liked to win the game [against the Calgary Wranglers in the AHL]. It sucked to have lost that game, but to go into the office, and for the coaching staff to tell me I was getting called up, it was such a great moment. I’ve been waiting for this moment my whole life, and for it to actually happen, it was pretty special.”

Selected 183rd overall in the 2016 NHL Draft as a double overage player, Desharnais spent four years with the Providence College Friars in the NCAA, and parts of the past four seasons with the Bakersfield Condors in the AHL. While many people in hockey circles doubted he would ever get an NHL opportunity, Desharnais has learned to block out the negativity and play for the love of the game.

“A lot of people have said ‘you’re too tall, you’re not quick enough, you’re too slow.’ I’ve heard them all,” said Desharnais. “It’s just believing in yourself and having fun with it. I’d say that’s the biggest thing I’ve done for the last three years of pro, is to have fun with it. You can’t think of it as a job. You just have to show up to the rink with a smile on your face and have fun. Because if you can’t have fun, what’s the purpose of it?”

The 6-foot-6, 215-pound defenceman has five goals and 39 points in 122 career AHL games, so he isn’t going to be an offensive contributor at the NHL level. In fact, he hasn’t scored a goal in the AHL in 11 months. But considering the Oilers defensive struggles this season, it’s no surprise that a big, defence-first blueliner like Desharnais has climbed the ladder.

“You can’t compare yourself to other players, everyone is different, ” said Desharnais. “My body is different. My skillset is different. It took me a little bit longer to develop, to get my confidence, to get my feet. And I feel ready. I feel like I can come here and help the team win.”