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Antoine Vermette

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Antoine Vermette
Vermette pictured during his first stint with the Coyotes
Born (1982-07-20) July 20, 1982 (age 42)
Saint-Agapit, Quebec, Canada
Height 6 ft 1 in (185 cm)
Weight 196 lb (89 kg; 14 st 0 lb)
Position Centre
Shoots Left
NHL team
Former teams		 Free Agent
Ottawa Senators
Columbus Blue Jackets
Arizona Coyotes
Chicago Blackhawks
Anaheim Ducks
National team  Canada
NHL draft 55th overall, 2000
Ottawa Senators
Playing career 2002–present

Antoine Vermette (born July 20, 1982) is a Canadian professional ice hockey centre who is currently an unrestricted free agent of the National Hockey League (NHL).

Vermette previously played in the NHL for the Ottawa Senators, Columbus Blue Jackets, Arizona Coyotes, Chicago Blackhawks and Anaheim Ducks. Drafted in the second round, 55th overall in 2000 by Ottawa, Vermette was a member of the 2007 Senators team that appeared in the 2007 Stanley Cup Final. Vermette won the Stanley Cup in 2015 with the Chicago Blackhawks.

Playing career

Major junior

Vermette played four seasons in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL). Upon being drafted in the second round, 55th overall, by the Ottawa Senators at the 2000 NHL Entry Draft, he returned to the QMJHL for two more seasons and recorded a major junior career-high 119 points in 2000–01. In his final year of junior, Vermette was limited to just four games during the regular season due to an mis-diagnosed nerve problem in his neck originally thought to be Post-concussion syndrome. He returned in the playoffs to contribute 26 points in 22 games, leading the Victoriaville Tigres to the 2002 President's Cup as QMJHL champions, as well as an appearance in the 2002 Memorial Cup in Guelph, Ontario, finishing with a silver medal from the tournament after falling in the finals to the Western Hockey League (WHL)'s Kootenay Ice.

Ottawa Senators

Emerging from his major junior career, Vermette played the 2002–03 season with Ottawa's American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Binghamton Senators. In 74 games, he scored 18 goals and 20 assists and earned a place on the AHL All-Rookie Team. The following season, 2003–04, Vermette earned an NHL roster spot with Ottawa out of training camp. In his rookie NHL season, he would appear in 57 games, scoring 14 points.

During the 2004–05 NHL lock-out, Vermette returned to Binghamton and scored 28 goals and 45 assists, second in team scoring only to Jason Spezza. As NHL play resumed the next season, Vermette broke out with 21 goals. He proved to be a valuable part of the Senators' line-up, providing valuable secondary scoring behind the team's top line of Dany Heatley, Jason Spezza and Daniel Alfredsson. Vermette's six short-handed goals ranked second in the League in the statistic. In light of the 2006 Stanley Cup playoffs, the Senators were considered Stanley Cup contenders by many, but were ultimately upset by the Buffalo Sabres in five games. In the subsequent off-season, on July 18, Vermette signed a two-year, $2 million contract extension with Ottawa.

Vermette during his tenure with the Blue Jackets.

In 2006–07, Vermette continued to improve, increasing his points total to 39 points, spending the majority of the season on a checking line with fellow penalty-killer Chris Kelly. The duo were rarely apart. On December 2, 2006, Vermette famously scored from behind the net through his legs on the short side against the Tampa Bay Lightning goaltender Johan Holmqvist. The goal became well-known around the League and was named TSN's "Goal of the Season." During the 2007 playoffs, Vermette recorded five points in 20 games and helped the Senators to the Prince of Wales Trophy as Eastern Conference champions before ultimately losing the Stanley Cup to the Anaheim Ducks in five games.

Vermette recorded his first career hat-trick on April 3, 2008, against Vesa Toskala in an 8–2 win against the Toronto Maple Leafs. After completing another career-year in 2007–08, recording personal bests with 24 goals, 29 assists and 53 points, Vermette re-signed with the Senators on July 31, 2008, to a two-year, $2.525 million contract, thereby avoiding salary arbitration.

Columbus Blue Jackets

Leading up to the 2009 NHL trade deadline, Vermette was widely rumoured to be the centerpiece of trade talks between the Senators and the Columbus Blue Jackets. Columbus General Manager Scott Howson, looking for scoring help as his team attempted to make the playoffs for the first time in its history, was reportedly offering star goaltender Pascal Leclaire, who had finished second in fan voting among Western Conference goaltenders for the 56th NHL All-Star Game,[1] in exchange for Vermette. The deal became official on March 4 when Vermette was traded to Columbus for Leclaire and Columbus' second-round pick in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft, which Ottawa would ultimately use to select goaltender Robin Lehner. Vermette would spend parts of four seasons with the Blue Jackets, recording 61 goals in 241 games.

Phoenix/Arizona Coyotes

Vermette was traded to the Phoenix Coyotes on February 22, 2012, in exchange for goaltender Curtis McElhinney, a 2012 second-round draft pick and a conditional 2013 fifth-round draft pick.[2] He would go on to score five goals with five assists for the Coyotes during the 2012 playoffs.

On December 21, 2013, Vermette recorded his second career hat-trick in a 4–3 win against his former team, the Ottawa Senators. Vermette's third goal of the night proved to be the game-winning goal in overtime.[3]

In both the 2012–13 and 2013–14 regular seasons with the Coyotes, Vermette finished in the top ten NHL leader list in faceoff win percentage; he finished both seasons with a faceoff win percentage above 56%.[4]

Chicago Blackhawks

On February 28, 2015, the Coyotes traded Vermette, a pending unrestricted free agent, to the Chicago Blackhawks in exchange for Klas Dahlbeck and a 2015 first-round draft pick (Nick Merkley) at the trade deadline.[5] From the Coyotes to the Blackhawks, Vermette's role transitioned from a top-line forward to a role player with limited ice-time.[6][7] Vermette recorded only three assists during the rest of the 2014-15 regular season without any goals. Vermette was a healthy scratch for the first two games of the 2015 Stanley Cup playoffs. Shortly after being reinstated into the line-up, Vermette scored his first goal as a Blackhawk against the Nashville Predators on April 22.[8] On May 23, Vermette scored the game-winning goal against the Anaheim Ducks in double overtime of the Western Conference Finals to tie the series 2-2.[9] Vermette and the Blackhawks defeated the Tampa Bay Lightning to win the 2015 Stanley Cup. He finished the playoffs with four goals, including three game winners, and three assists. Vermette was also dominant on the face-off dot, winning 166 of 282 draws for a 58.9% face-off win percentage during the postseason.[10]

Return to Arizona

On July 1, 2015, Vermette returned to the Arizona Coyotes on a two-year deal.[11] Vermette played in 76 games during the 2015–16 season. He scored 17 goals and 21 assists. On August 1, 2016, the Coyotes waived and bought-out the remaining $3.75 million on his contract with the intent on inserting their youth into the line-up.[12]

Anaheim Ducks

On August 15, 2016, Vermette agreed to a two-year contract with the Anaheim Ducks.[13] During his first season with the Ducks in 2016–17, on February 15, 2017, Vermette was suspended 10 games for slashing linesman Shandor Alphonso during a game between the Ducks and the Minnesota Wild that took place the previous day.[14]

Personal life

In 2009, Vermette married his childhood sweetheart, Karen, a pharmacist.[15] They have two daughters.[16]

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
1998–99 Quebec Remparts QMJHL 57 9 17 26 32 13 0 0 0 2
1999–00 Victoriaville Tigres QMJHL 71 30 41 71 87 6 0 1 1 6
2000–01 Victoriaville Tigres QMJHL 71 57 62 119 102 9 4 6 10 14
2001–02 Victoriaville Tigres QMJHL 4 0 2 2 6 22 10 16 26 10
2002–03 Binghamton Senators AHL 74 18 20 38 54 18 2 2 4 16
2003–04 Ottawa Senators NHL 57 7 7 14 16 4 0 1 1 4
2003–04 Binghamton Senators AHL 3 0 0 0 6 — — — — —
2004–05 Binghamton Senators AHL 78 28 45 73 36 6 1 4 5 10
2005–06 Ottawa Senators NHL 82 21 12 33 44 10 2 0 2 4
2006–07 Ottawa Senators NHL 77 19 20 39 52 20 2 3 5 6
2007–08 Ottawa Senators NHL 81 24 29 53 51 4 0 0 0 4
2008–09 Ottawa Senators NHL 62 9 19 28 42 — — — — —
2008–09 Columbus Blue Jackets NHL 17 7 6 13 8 4 0 0 0 10
2009–10 Columbus Blue Jackets NHL 82 27 38 65 32 — — — — —
2010–11 Columbus Blue Jackets NHL 82 19 28 47 60 — — — — —
2011–12 Columbus Blue Jackets NHL 60 8 19 27 12 — — — — —
2011–12 Phoenix Coyotes NHL 22 3 7 10 16 16 5 5 10 24
2012–13 Phoenix Coyotes NHL 48 13 8 21 36 — — — — —
2013–14 Phoenix Coyotes NHL 82 24 21 45 44 — — — — —
2014–15 Arizona Coyotes NHL 63 13 22 35 34 — — — — —
2014–15 Chicago Blackhawks NHL 19 0 3 3 6 20 4 3 7 4
2015–16 Arizona Coyotes NHL 76 17 21 38 93 — — — — —
2016–17 Anaheim Ducks NHL 72 9 19 28 42 17 1 2 3 2
2017–18 Anaheim Ducks NHL 64 8 8 16 34 2 0 0 0 0
NHL totals 1,046 228 287 515 622 97 14 14 28 58

International

Year Team Event Result GP G A Pts PIM
2011 Canada WC 5th 4 0 0 0 0
Senior totals 4 0 0 0 0

Awards and honours

Award Year
QMJHL
Mike Bossy Trophy (top draft prospect) 2000
CHL Top Prospects Game 2000
AHL
All-Rookie Team 2003
NHL
Stanley Cup (Chicago Blackhawks) 2015

References

  1. ^ "Final NHL All-Star Voting". NHL. 8 January 2008. Retrieved 2008-01-29. [dead link‍]
  2. ^ "Coyotes add Jackets' Vermette". National Hockey League. February 22, 2012. Retrieved February 22, 2012.
  3. ^ "Vermette Completes Hat Trick with OT Goal". National Hockey League. December 21, 2013. Retrieved December 21, 2013.
  4. ^ "Regular Season Faceoff Leaders". National Hockey League. December 18, 2014.
  5. ^ "Vermette acquired by Blackhawks for steep deadline price". Yahoo! Sports. February 28, 2015. Retrieved February 28, 2015. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  6. ^ Roarke, Shawn (2015-06-14). "Vermette overcame tough transition to Blackhawks". nhl.com. Retrieved 2015-06-16.
  7. ^ Leahy, Sean (2015-06-14). "Antoine Vermette can't stop scoring big goals for the Blackhawks". Yahoo! Sports. Retrieved 2015-06-16.
  8. ^ Cohen, Jay (2015-04-22). "Seabrook lifts Blackhawks to 3 OT win over Predators". Yahoo! Sports. Retrieved 2015-06-16.
  9. ^ "Vermette acquired by Blackhawks for steep deadline price". Yahoo! Sports. February 28, 2015. Retrieved February 28, 2015. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  10. ^ "2014-2015 / Playoffs / All Skaters / Faceoff Leaders / Faceoff Win Percentage". NHL. 2015-06-17. Retrieved 2015-06-17.
  11. ^ Kuc, Chris (2015-07-01). "Brad Richards and Antoine Vermette make it official — they're gone". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 2015-07-02.
  12. ^ McDonald, Joe (2016-08-01). "Coyotes place Antoine Vermette on buyout waivers". ESPN. Retrieved 2016-08-02.
  13. ^ "Ducks sign C Vermette to two-year contract". Anaheim Ducks. 2016-08-15. Retrieved 2016-08-15. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  14. ^ Beacham, Greg (2017-02-15). "Ducks' Vermette facing lengthy ban for slashing linesman". Yahoo! Sports. Retrieved 2017-02-16.
  15. ^ "Vermette announces marriage". 25stanley.com. 2010-02-03. Retrieved 2010-02-03. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  16. ^ Pascarella, Leah (June 22, 2015). "Two Blackhawks welcome daughters". NHL.com. Retrieved June 10, 2018.
Awards and achievements
Preceded by Winner of the Mike Bossy Trophy
1999–2000 		Succeeded by
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