11th year center Andrew Desjardins(11) was left without an offer to continue with Chicago Blackhawks.
He spent the last pair of seasons and later part of 2014/2015 with the team after a trade from original squad San Jose Sharks and skated 21 playoff games en route to the 2015 Stanley Cup Championship.
The 6’1″ 195 lbs. forward was offered a training camp invite by New York Rangers but was a late cut as the new season approached.
It didn’t take long for the agitating fourth liner to sign his first deal overseas joining Adler Mannheim of DEL.
He has always worked for every break he’s received, from his first contract with Laredo Bucks of the Central Hockey League to the next deal with Phoenix Roadrunners that lasted only 5 ECHL games before being loaned up to Worcester Sharks.
Known as a tough to play against instigator, he would sign a first big league contract towards the end of the 2009/2010 campaign, then split his time between the two leagues before being a full-time NHL player in 2011/2012 and has amassed 408 games.
The 31-year old will likely perform well in Germany’s top league and could spend a few seasons there before deciding to hang up the skates.
Andrew Desjardins(22) San Jose Sharks
Only a couple of seasons ago, undrafted 4th year center Andrew Desjardins(22) was one-third of a line for the Worcester Sharks‘ dubbed “the crazed rats” for their tenacious, agitating style of play.
Desjardins(69) parlayed that style of play into a spot in San Jose Sharks‘ lineup for 20 games of the ’10/’11 season including 3 in the playoffs.
He was recently re-signed for a one-year two-way deal but expect him to mostly stick with the big club for the 2011/2012 season.
Andrew Desjardins(22) Worcester Sharks
Congratulations to Worcester Sharks‘ center Andrew Desjardins on his first NHL call-up and action on 1/4-11.
Nice way to start the new year for the undrafted forward that started his career in the Central Hockey League for one season and then very briefly played in the ECHL before making his way up to the AHL in 2008.
He’s chosen to wear no. 69 for San Jose.
Joe Colbourne(22) – Andrew Desjardins(22)
A pair of 22’s in the face-off circle: Providence Bruins‘ Joe Colborne, Boston’s 16th overall pick in the 2008 draft and Worcester Sharks‘ 3rd year center Andrew Desjardins.