J. J. Daigneault Explained

Position:Defence
Played For:Vancouver Canucks
Philadelphia Flyers
Montreal Canadiens
St. Louis Blues
Pittsburgh Penguins
Mighty Ducks of Anaheim
New York Islanders
Nashville Predators
Phoenix Coyotes
Minnesota Wild
Shoots:Left
Height Ft:5
Height In:11
Weight Lb:180
Ntl Team:CAN
Birth Date:October 12, 1965
Birth Place:Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Draft:10th overall
Draft Year:1984
Draft Team:Vancouver Canucks
Career Start:1984
Career End:2001

Jean-Jacques Daigneault (born October 12, 1965) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey defenceman who played in the National Hockey League from 1984 to 2000. He was the head coach of the Halifax Mooseheads of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League from 2019 to 2021.[1] [2] He also served as an assistant coach for the Montreal Canadiens of the NHL from 2012 until the end of the 2017–18 NHL season.[3] [4]

Playing career

As a youth, Daigneault and his teammate Mario Lemieux, played in the 1977 and 1978 Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournaments with a minor ice hockey team from Ville-Émard.[5]

Daigneault was selected tenth overall in the first round of the 1984 NHL Entry Draft by the Vancouver Canucks. Daigneault is one of the most well-travelled players in NHL history. When he joined his tenth team, the Minnesota Wild, in 2000, he tied the NHL record held by Michel Petit. The record has since been broken by Mike Sillinger. Daigneault remains tied for second in the category, along with Petit, Jim Dowd, Lee Stempniak, Derick Brassard, Mathieu Schneider, Dominic Moore and Olli Jokinen.

Daigneault played for the Vancouver Canucks (1984–851985–86), Philadelphia Flyers (1986–871987–88), Montreal Canadiens (1989–901995–96), St. Louis Blues (1995–96), Pittsburgh Penguins (1995–96 – 1996–97), Mighty Ducks of Anaheim (1996–97 – 1997–98), New York Islanders (1997–98), Nashville Predators (1998–99), Phoenix Coyotes (1998–99 – 1999–2000), and Minnesota Wild (2000–01). He played in the Stanley Cup finals with Philadelphia in 1987, and was a key member of the Montreal Canadiens as they won their 24th Stanley Cup in 1993.

1987 Stanley Cup Finals

Daigneault's earliest fame at the NHL level came when he scored the winning goal for the Philadelphia Flyers in the sixth game of the 1987 Stanley Cup Finals against the Edmonton Oilers. Daigneault had scored only six goals during the regular season, and, up to that point, had zero points in 8 playoff games. In 2006 this game was voted the eighth-greatest game in Philadelphia Flyers history according to fan voting.[6]

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

  Regular season Playoffs
SeasonTeamLeagueGPGAPtsPIMGPGAPtsPIM
1980–81Montreal-ConcordiaQMAAA487485595
1981–82Laval VoisinsQMJHL644252941181342
1982–83Longueuil ChevaliersQMJHL7026588458154111535
1983–84CanadaIntl626152140
1983–84Longueuil ChevaliersQMJHL10211136143131630
1984–85Vancouver CanucksNHL674232769
1985–86Vancouver CanucksNHL64523284530220
1986–87Philadelphia FlyersNHL77616225691010
1987–88Hershey BearsAHL101568
1987–88Philadelphia FlyersNHL2822412
1988–89Hershey BearsAHL120101013
1988–89Sherbrooke CanadiensAHL631033434861342
1989–90Sherbrooke CanadiensAHL288192718
1989–90Montreal CanadiensNHL36210121490002
1990–91Montreal CanadiensNHL51316193150110
1991–92Montreal CanadiensNHL794141836110334
1992–93Montreal CanadiensNHL6681018572013422
1993–94Montreal CanadiensNHL682121473701112
1994–95Montreal CanadiensNHL4535840
1995–96Montreal CanadiensNHL70116
1995–96St. Louis BluesNHL3713424
1995–96Worcester IceCatsAHL91101110
1995–96Pittsburgh PenguinsNHL133362317191036
1996–97Pittsburgh PenguinsNHL533141736
1996–97Mighty Ducks of AnaheimNHL132911221127916
1997–98Mighty Ducks of AnaheimNHL532151728
1997–98New York IslandersNHL1806621
1998–99Nashville PredatorsNHL3522438
1998–99Phoenix CoyotesNHL350773260008
1999–2000Phoenix CoyotesNHL531672210000
2000–01Cleveland LumberjacksIHL44891718
2000–01Minnesota WildNHL10002
2001–02EHC Biel-BienneCHE II75271420000
NHL totals899531972506879952631100

International

YearTeamEvent GPGAPtsPIM
1984CanadaWJC70222
1984CanadaOG71120

Coaching career

Seasons Team League Role
2005–2006 Assistant coach
2007–2012 Assistant coach
2012–2018 Assistant coach
2018–2019 American Hockey League Assistant coach
2019–2021 Head coach

Personal life

Daigneault and his wife Janie have three daughters, Valérie, Gabrielle and Juliette. All three of the girls were born in different states where Daigneault was playing at the time. The family resides in Dorval, Quebec.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Halifax Mooseheads Hire J.J. Daigneault as Head Coach . OurSports Central . July 9, 2019.
  2. Web site: Mooseheads Dismiss Daigneault . OurSports Central . April 22, 2021.
  3. Web site: Canadiens hire Jean-Jacques Daigneault as assistant-coach. NHL.com.
  4. Web site: Dominique Ducharme named assistant coach with the Canadiens. NHL.com. 27 April 2018 .
  5. Web site: Pee-Wee players who have reached NHL or WHA. 2018. Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament. 2019-01-13. 2019-03-06. https://web.archive.org/web/20190306085544/https://www.publicationsports.com/ressources/files/439/Joueurs_Pro.pdf. dead.
  6. Web site: Flyers Victory Over Boston to Clinch First Stanley Cup Named Greatest Game . Philadelphia Flyers . August 14, 2006 . February 5, 2013.