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 on May 29, 1996, in Laval, Quebec, Desharnais was selected by the Edmonton Oilers in the seventh round, 183rd overall, at the 2016 NHL Entry Draft. Standing 6 feet 7 inches tall, the right-shot defenceman has built his career through steady development in junior, collegiate, and minor professional hockey before reaching the NHL.
Early Life and Background
Vincent Desharnais was born on May 29, 1996, and grew up in Laval, Quebec, Canada. He is the youngest child in his family. His father, Jacques, and his brother, Alex, have been cited by Desharnais as his primary hockey-playing influences, and the family environment played an important role in shaping his early approach to the game.
Raised in a hockey-centric household in Quebec, Desharnais was introduced to the sport at a young age. His size and skill eventually drew the attention of junior scouts, and he joined the Chilliwack Chiefs of the British Columbia Hockey League (BCHL) for a season of junior hockey. The experience in British Columbia served as a key stepping stone before he moved on to the collegiate ranks.
Path to Hockey
After his season with the Chilliwack Chiefs, Desharnais enrolled at Providence College, where he played NCAA Division I hockey from 2015 to 2019. His time with the Providence Friars allowed him to refine his defensive game and adjust to the pace and physicality of high-level collegiate competition. During those years, he also continued to grow physically, eventually reaching his listed height of 201 centimetres and weight of 102 kilograms.
In 2016, while in his third year of draft eligibility, Desharnais was selected by the Edmonton Oilers in the seventh round, 183rd overall. Although he was a late-round selection, the organization tracked his progress closely throughout his college career. Following the completion of his senior season in 2019, Desharnais signed his first professional contract and began the next phase of his hockey journey.
Vincent Desharnais Career
Early Career (2019–2021)
Vincent Desharnais began his professional career in 2019 with the Wichita Thunder of the ECHL, where he spent his first two pro seasons adjusting to the demands of full-time professional hockey. The Thunder assignment gave him consistent playing time and allowed him to sharpen his defensive reads and puck-moving skills against older and more experienced opponents.
During his developmental stretch, Desharnais earned recognition off the ice as well. In 2019, he was announced as a nominee for the Hockey Humanitarian Award for his community work, including hosting an event called "PC Beats Cancer" that raised more than $5,100 for the Gloria Gemma Foundation. The following year, he raised over $6,000 for the Défi Tête rasée Leucan by shaving his head for charity.
American Hockey League Development (2021–2023)
Desharnais moved up to the American Hockey League (AHL) in 2021, joining the Bakersfield Condors, the top minor-pro affiliate of the Edmonton Oilers. With the Condors, he logged heavy minutes as a shutdown defenceman and continued to develop his game at a higher tempo. His steady progress convinced the Oilers to sign him to a two-year, entry-level contract in March 2022.
The 2022–23 season marked Desharnais’s long-awaited NHL debut. He was recalled by the Edmonton Oilers and played his first NHL game on January 11, 2023, a 6–2 victory against the Anaheim Ducks. The appearance was a milestone moment for the late-round pick, who had patiently worked his way through junior, college, and the minor leagues.
Edmonton Oilers Tenure (2023–2024)
Desharnais returned to the Oilers for the 2023–24 season and remained in the lineup on a regular basis. On October 29, 2023, he scored his first career NHL goal in memorable fashion, finding the back of the net during an outdoor game against the Calgary Flames, a contest Edmonton won 5–2. The goal capped years of perseverance and confirmed his arrival as an NHL defenceman.
During his time in Edmonton, Desharnais provided the Oilers with reliable defensive depth and a strong physical presence. His performances throughout the season helped solidify his standing within the organization, although the team ultimately chose not to qualify him, making him an unrestricted free agent at the end of his contract.
Vancouver Canucks and Pittsburgh Penguins (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 represented a significant step up in compensation and signalled the confidence the Canucks had in his abilities as an NHL defenceman. He joined a competitive Vancouver blue-line corps and was expected to contribute on the third pairing and penalty kill.
On January 31, 2025, the Vancouver Canucks traded Desharnais to the Pittsburgh Penguins along with a conditional 2025 first-round pick, forward Danton Heinen, and right wing prospect Melvin Fernström, in exchange for defenceman Marcus Pettersson and forward Drew O’Connor. Less than a month later, on March 5, 2025, the Penguins dealt him to the San Jose Sharks in exchange for a 2028 fifth-round draft pick.
San Jose Sharks Era (2025–Present)
Following the trade to the San Jose Sharks in March 2025, Vincent Desharnais joined a young and rebuilding Sharks roster. He is currently playing under a contract that runs through the 2025–26 season and carries an annual average value of $2,000,000. His veteran presence is expected to help mentor the Sharks’ emerging defensive prospects while providing minutes in a top-four role.
Desharnais has slotted into the San Jose line-up as a steady, defence-first blueliner. With his size and willingness to block shots, he has quickly become a trusted option on the penalty kill. As the 2025–26 season progresses, the Sharks are counting on his experience to support the team’s continued development.
Driving Style and Strengths
At 6 feet 7 inches tall, Vincent Desharnais brings an imposing physical profile to the blue line, and he uses his length effectively to close off passing lanes and win board battles. He is regarded as a defence-first defenceman who prioritizes positional play, shot blocking, and clearing the crease over offensive flash. His steady approach has earned him the trust of coaches throughout his professional career.
Notable Events and Milestones
Desharnais’s most memorable NHL moment came on October 29, 2023, when he scored his first career goal in an outdoor game against the Calgary Flames. Earlier milestones include his NHL debut on January 11, 2023, against the Anaheim Ducks and his March 2022 entry-level contract with the Edmonton Oilers. In 2022, he helped Kevin Raphael and Leucan raise more than $50,000 through a second shaved-head charity challenge.
Vincent Desharnais Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Vincent Desharnais comes from a hockey-oriented family based in Laval, Quebec. He is the youngest in his family and credits his father, Jacques, and his brother, Alex, as his biggest hockey influences. The support and example set by his father and brother played a significant role in his development as a player and in his decision to pursue hockey at the highest levels.
Personal Life
Off the ice, Desharnais has remained active in charitable work, including cancer-related fundraising efforts during his time at Providence College and beyond. His 2019 Hockey Humanitarian Award nomination recognized his volunteer leadership in the community, and he has continued to support Leucan through annual shaved-head fundraising challenges. Public details about his marital status, spouse, and children are not widely documented.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 calendar year has been a whirlwind for Vincent Desharnais. After signing a two-year, $4 million contract with the Vancouver Canucks on July 1, 2024, he spent the first half of the season in Vancouver before being traded to the Pittsburgh Penguins on January 31, 2025. He then moved again on March 5, 2025, this time to the San Jose Sharks, where he has settled in for the remainder of the campaign.
With the Sharks, Desharnais has taken on a meaningful role on the blue line, anchoring the penalty kill and providing a veteran presence alongside several younger defencemen. The Sharks, in the midst of a multi-year rebuild, have leaned on his defensive reliability and his willingness to log tough minutes. His steady play has been one of the few constants amid a busy trade season for San Jose.
Looking ahead to the rest of the 2025–26 season, Desharnais remains under contract and is expected to remain a key piece of the Sharks’ defence corps. His experience in Edmonton, Vancouver, Pittsburgh, and now San Jose gives him a unique perspective on multiple team systems, and he is positioned to continue contributing as San Jose evaluates its young core.