LAUSANNE, SWITZERLAND - FEBRUARY 18: #51 David Desharnais formerly of Montreal Canadiens. (Photo by RvS.Media/Monika Majer/Getty Images)
The ECHL is widely seen as an afterthought amongst hockey fans. However, history has shown us its benefits, especially for the Montreal Canadiens.
David Desharnais was never expected to make the NHL. Despite putting up back to back 100-point seasons in his final two years in the QMJHL, he was woefully undersized at 5’07, in a time where many believed that size was a major contributing factor to NHL success. With no NHL takers, the Laurier-Station, Quebec native attended the Montreal Canadiens training camp in 2007, off of a recommendation from his coach, former Habs captain Guy Carbonneau.