Alexandre Texier Bio
Alexandre Texier is a French professional ice hockey forward who currently plays for the Montreal Canadiens of the National Hockey League (NHL). Standing 6 feet 1 inch tall and weighing 201 pounds, he shoots left and has been described as one of the most talented French players of his generation. Born on 13 September 1999 in Saint-Martin-d’Hères, France, Texier began his senior career with Brûleurs de Loups, where he won the Coupe de France and earned the Jean-Pierre Graff Trophy as the Ligue Magnus top first-year player in 2017.
Selected 45th overall by the Columbus Blue Jackets in the 2017 NHL Entry Draft, Texier became the first player drafted directly out of the French league. After successful stints with KalPa in Finland and the Cleveland Monsters in the American Hockey League (AHL), he debuted in the NHL in April 2019. He has also represented France at the junior and senior levels, including the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan.
Early Life and Background
Alexandre Texier was born on 13 September 1999 in Saint-Martin-d’Hères, a commune in the Grenoble metropolitan area of southeastern France. He grew up surrounded by the game of ice hockey, a sport deeply rooted in the local culture of Grenoble. From a young age, he developed his skills on the rinks of his hometown, eventually joining the youth program of Brûleurs de Loups, the historic club based in Grenoble.
Texier’s father, Fabrice Texier, was an ice hockey player who introduced his son to the sport. Fabrice himself had played four major junior games for the Laval Titan of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League during the 1986–87 season before returning to France, where he spent most of his career with Brûleurs de Loups between 1989 and 1992. The elder Texier’s background gave Alexandre an early understanding of the game and a clear pathway into competitive hockey.
Path to Hockey
Texier joined the senior ranks of Brûleurs de Loups for the 2016–17 Ligue Magnus season as a rookie. He quickly established himself as a promising young talent, helping his club capture the Coupe de France that year. His breakout campaign earned him the Jean-Pierre Graff Trophy as the league’s best first-year player, an award that highlighted his scoring touch and two-way responsibility at such a young age.
Ranked as the 16th-best European skater ahead of the 2017 NHL Entry Draft by the NHL Central Scouting Bureau, Texier was selected in the second round, 45th overall, by the Columbus Blue Jackets. He also heard his name called in the Canadian Hockey League (CHL) Import Draft by the Baie-Comeau Drakkar of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL). Rather than reporting to North America immediately, Texier opted to continue his development overseas by signing with KalPa of the Finnish Liiga for the 2017–18 season.
Alexandre Texier Career
Early Career (2016–2018)
Texier opened his senior career with Brûleurs de Loups during the 2016–17 season, immediately making an impact in the Ligue Magnus. He finished the year with the Jean-Pierre Graff Trophy and a Coupe de France championship, giving him both team and individual silverware before he turned 18. Those accomplishments positioned him as the most talked-about French prospect heading into the NHL Draft.
Following his draft selection, Texier moved to KalPa of the Finnish Liiga in 2017. As the youngest player in the lineup, he produced 13 goals and 22 points in 53 games during his first season in Finland. On 22 May 2018, the Columbus Blue Jackets signed him to a three-year entry-level contract but allowed him to spend one more year abroad to continue refining his game.
KalPa and AHL Transition (2018–2019)
In his second season with KalPa, Texier elevated his production, leading the team with 41 points in 55 games while helping the club capture the 2018 Spengler Cup, a prestigious European tournament. The performance cemented his readiness for North American hockey and prompted Columbus to recall him for the final stretch of the 2018–19 campaign.
Assigned first to the Blue Jackets’ AHL affiliate, the Cleveland Monsters, Texier scored seven points in seven games before earning his first NHL recall. On 5 April 2019, he made his NHL debut against the New York Rangers and scored his first NHL goal the following night against the Ottawa Senators. Days later, he recorded his first playoff goal against the Tampa Bay Lightning in Game 4 of a first-round sweep.
Columbus Blue Jackets Era (2019–2022)
Texier’s first full NHL season, 2019–20, was disrupted by a lumbar stress fracture that limited him to 36 games, in which he tallied six goals and seven assists. He still contributed four assists in 10 postseason games, showing he could produce in high-stakes moments. When the 2020–21 season was delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic, he briefly agreed to rejoin KalPa on loan before canceling the move for personal reasons and returning to Brûleurs de Loups until play resumed.
On 28 January 2021, Texier used a rare offensive poke check to score the game-winning shootout goal in a 3–2 victory over the Florida Panthers, a move now nicknamed “The French Poke.” Citing personal issues and a need to be closer to family, he stepped away from Columbus in August 2022 and signed a one-year deal with the ZSC Lions of the Swiss National League for the 2022–23 season.
ZSC Lions and St. Louis Blues (2022–2025)
Texier spent a single productive season with the ZSC Lions before returning to North America. On 28 June 2024, he was traded to the St. Louis Blues in exchange for a fourth-round pick in the 2025 NHL Entry Draft, and he quickly agreed to a two-year extension worth $4.2 million with the Blues. His time in St. Louis brought renewed opportunity, though it ended abruptly in November 2025.
On 22 November 2025, the Blues placed Texier on unconditional waivers for the purpose of terminating his contract. Days later, the Montreal Canadiens signed him to a one-year deal for the remainder of the 2025–26 season, giving him a fresh start in a Canadian market.
Montreal Canadiens Era (2025–Present)
Texier quickly found his footing with the Canadiens, recording his first career three-point outing on 7 January 2026 against the Calgary Flames. With that performance, he joined fellow countrymen Pierre-Édouard Bellemare and Antoine Roussel as the only French nationals to reach 100 career NHL points in league history. The following night, on 8 January 2026, he registered his first NHL hat-trick against the Florida Panthers, announcing himself as a key contributor down the stretch.
Driving Style and Strengths
Texier is recognized for his intelligent two-way play, smooth skating, and creative offensive instincts. His willingness to attempt unorthodox moves, such as the poke-check deke that became “The French Poke,” reflects his confidence with the puck. He combines a reliable shot with the hockey sense needed to read plays in transition.
Notable Events and Milestones
Texier became the first player drafted directly out of the French league when Columbus selected him 45th overall in 2017. He later became one of only three French-born players to reach 100 career NHL points and scored his first NHL hat-trick in January 2026. His 2018 Spengler Cup triumph with KalPa remains one of the signature trophies of his early career.
Alexandre Texier Career Wins
Alexandre Texier has collected a balanced mix of team and individual honours across European and North American hockey. His early résumé is anchored by French and Finnish titles, while his NHL résumé continues to grow with each new team he represents.
Ligue Magnus and Coupe de France
Texier won the Coupe de France with Brûleurs de Loups during the 2016–17 season and was named the top first-year player in the Ligue Magnus that same year, earning the Jean-Pierre Graff Trophy. These remain the foundation of his competitive résumé before his move to Finland.
Liiga and Spengler Cup
Across two seasons with KalPa, Texier established himself as a top Finnish-league contributor, culminating in the 2018 Spengler Cup championship. The tournament victory over European club opposition gave him a major trophy before his NHL arrival.
NHL and International Play
In the NHL, Texier has skated for the Columbus Blue Jackets, St. Louis Blues, and Montreal Canadiens, reaching the 100-point milestone in January 2026. Internationally, he led France’s under-18 team to victory at the 2017 U18 World Championship, earning promotion to the elite division for the first time in team history, and later represented France at multiple senior World Championships and the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan.
Alexandre Texier Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Alexandre Texier was raised in an athletic household headed by his father, Fabrice Texier, a former ice hockey player who spent most of his career with Brûleurs de Loups between 1989 and 1992. Fabrice also played four major junior games for the Laval Titan of the QMJHL during the 1986–87 season, giving Alexandre a direct family connection to both French and North American hockey. That lineage shaped Alexandre’s path into competitive play from a young age.
Personal Life
Texier has largely kept his personal life out of the public eye, with limited verified details about his relationships or residence. He has spoken about the importance of staying close to family, a priority that influenced his decision to leave Columbus in 2022 and return to Europe.
2025 Season Performance
Texier began the 2025–26 season with the St. Louis Blues after signing a two-year extension the previous summer. After appearing in a small number of games for the Blues, he was placed on unconditional waivers on 22 November 2025 for the purpose of terminating his contract. The Montreal Canadiens signed him to a one-year deal shortly thereafter, giving him a fresh opportunity in a competitive Atlantic Division lineup.
With Montreal, Texier produced his most productive stretch of NHL hockey to date. On 7 January 2026, he recorded his first career three-point game against the Calgary Flames, crossing the 100-point threshold and joining a short list of French-born players to reach that mark. The very next night, he tallied his first NHL hat-trick against the Florida Panthers, giving him back-to-back statement performances.
Texier was also named to France’s roster for the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan, adding an international stage to an already memorable campaign. With his contract running through the end of the 2025–26 season, his late-season surge has positioned him well for a meaningful role as the Canadiens push toward the playoffs and as he continues to build on his growing legacy.