Brandon Duhaime Bio
Brandon Duhaime (born May 22, 1997) is an American professional ice hockey winger for the Washington Capitals of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was selected by the Minnesota Wild in the fourth round, 106th overall, of the 2016 NHL Entry Draft. After developing through junior and collegiate programs, Duhaime has emerged as a reliable bottom-six forward known for his work ethic, defensive responsibility, and physical presence.
Standing 6 feet 2 inches tall and weighing approximately 200 pounds, Duhaime combines size with skating ability, traits that have helped him carve out a role in the NHL. His journey from Coral Springs, Florida, a non-traditional hockey market, to the NHL highlights the dedication required to reach the highest level of the sport.
Early Life and Background
Brandon Duhaime was born on May 22, 1997, in Coral Springs, Florida, to parents Trevor and Martine Duhaime. His father, Trevor Duhaime, was a former professional ice hockey player who competed at both the American Hockey League and ECHL level. This family connection gave Brandon early exposure to the sport and shaped his understanding of what it takes to play professionally.
Duhaime began skating at the age of two, and his mother’s Quebec heritage further strengthened his ties to hockey culture. As a young player in Florida, his parents drove him 90 minutes each way to attend practices and games, a routine that reflected the family’s commitment to his development. He also began playing youth hockey with future NHL teammate Jakob Chychrun, a fellow Florida native who remained a close friend throughout their professional careers.
While playing minor ice hockey, Duhaime won the Bell Capital Cup in Ottawa and qualified for nationals in Buffalo with the Florida Everblades. These early competitive experiences helped establish his foundation before he made the significant move north to pursue higher-level opportunities.
Path to Hockey
At the age of 14, Duhaime left Florida with his father to play junior hockey with the Pursuit of Excellence (POE) Hockey Academy in Kelowna, British Columbia. During his time with POE, he recorded 32 points across 37 U18 Prep Canadian Sport School Hockey League games, demonstrating steady offensive growth. He then spent one full season in the British Columbia Hockey League (BCHL) with the Merritt Centennials, where he posted six goals and 19 assists through 53 games in 2014–15.
Following his lone BCHL season, Duhaime joined the Chicago Steel of the United States Hockey League for the 2015–16 campaign. In December 2015, he de-committed from Brown University and reopened his collegiate recruitment, eventually committing to Providence College of Hockey East. After being traded to the Tri-City Storm, he helped the club capture the Clark Cup championship, a major development milestone in his junior career.
Prior to his freshman year at Providence, Duhaime was drafted 106th overall by the Minnesota Wild in the 2016 NHL Entry Draft. The selection validated his progression and set the stage for his collegiate career with the Providence Friars men’s ice hockey team.
Brandon Duhaime Career
Early Career (2016–2019)
Duhaime played for the Providence Friars men’s ice hockey team at Providence College from 2016 to 2019 while majoring in sociology. During his rookie season, he appeared in 35 games and recorded four goals and eight assists, netting his first collegiate goal on October 21, 2016, in a 3–3 tie with the Clarkson Golden Knights. That summer, he attended the Minnesota Wild’s 2017 Development Camp, where he was recognized as the organization’s most improved prospect.
In his sophomore year, Duhaime improved to seven goals and 19 assists through 40 games, earning Hockey East Third Team All-Star honors. He helped the Friars reach the 2018 Frozen Four, tallying an assist and a goal in a 4–0 win over Cornell University in the NCAA East Regional Finals, and became the first Friar to record multiple playoff overtime goals. After his junior season, Duhaime signed a two-year entry-level contract with the Minnesota Wild on April 18, 2019.
Minnesota Wild Era (2019–2024)
Following the signing of his entry-level contract, Duhaime joined the Wild’s American Hockey League affiliate, the Iowa Wild, on an amateur tryout agreement for the remainder of the 2018–19 season. He continued to develop in the AHL before earning a spot on Minnesota’s opening night roster for the 2021–22 campaign. Duhaime made his NHL debut on October 16, 2021, in a 2–1 win over the Anaheim Ducks.
One week later, on October 23, 2021, he scored his first career NHL goal against the same Ducks, deflecting the puck off his skate. He went on to play a consistent role with the Wild before missing his first game on January 6, 2022, after testing positive for COVID-19. Across his time in Minnesota, Duhaime established himself as a dependable depth forward who could be trusted in defensive situations.
Colorado Avalanche Era (2024)
On March 7, 2024, the Minnesota Wild traded Duhaime to the Colorado Avalanche in exchange for a 2026 third-round draft pick. He faced his former team the very next day in his Avalanche debut, a matchup he described as “a weird experience” in a pre-game interview, though he expressed relief at getting the unusual reunion out of the way quickly. The Avalanche ultimately won the contest 2–1 in overtime.
Washington Capitals Era (2024–Present)
On July 1, 2024, the Washington Capitals signed Duhaime to a two-year contract worth $3.7 million. The move brought him to a new organization looking to bolster its forward group with reliable, two-way players. Duhaime has continued to bring energy, physicality, and penalty-killing capability to the Capitals’ lineup.
Driving Style and Strengths
Duhaime is regarded as a hard-working, defensively responsible winger who thrives in a bottom-six role. His combination of size, skating, and hockey IQ makes him effective on the penalty kill and in matchup-driven situations. He is known for winning board battles, blocking shots, and bringing a physical edge to every shift.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among his career highlights, Duhaime won the Bell Capital Cup as a youth player, helped the Tri-City Storm capture the Clark Cup, reached the 2018 Frozen Four with Providence College, and scored his first NHL goal against the Anaheim Ducks on October 23, 2021. His first game against the Wild following his trade to Colorado in March 2024 also stood out as a memorable chapter in his career.
Brandon Duhaime Family
Family Background and Hockey Lineage
Hockey runs deep in the Duhaime family. His father, Trevor Duhaime, was a former professional ice hockey player who competed at both the AHL and ECHL levels, giving Brandon a firsthand understanding of the professional game from a young age. His mother, Martine Duhaime, brings Quebec heritage to the family, reinforcing the Canadian roots that ultimately helped guide Brandon’s hockey path.
Personal Life
Brandon Duhaime maintains close ties to his family and his Florida roots, including a longstanding friendship with fellow NHL player Jakob Chychrun, a teammate from his youth hockey days. Off the ice, he is known for a grounded and disciplined lifestyle that reflects the values instilled by his parents during his early years in Coral Springs.
2025 Season Performance
Entering the 2025 season, Brandon Duhaime is in the second year of his two-year, $3.7 million contract with the Washington Capitals. He has continued to serve as a steady presence in the Capitals’ bottom-six forward group, providing penalty-killing support, physicality, and energy in a checking role. His familiarity with the system and the coaching staff’s trust in his two-way play have helped him remain a consistent part of the lineup.
The Capitals are counting on Duhaime’s blend of speed, size, and defensive awareness to stabilize their forward depth as they push for a playoff position. With his contract set to expire after the 2025–26 campaign, he also has the opportunity to use the season as a platform to earn a longer-term extension in Washington or elsewhere around the league.
Shoulder seasons and stretches of inconsistency are typical for role players of Duhaime’s type, but his track record of reliability suggests he will continue to contribute in specialized situations. If he can add more offensive production while maintaining his defensive standards, Duhaime could be poised for one of his most impactful NHL seasons yet.