gold star for USAHOF

16. Steve Duchesne

16. Steve Duchesne

You don’t expect an undrafted Canadian player to do much in the National Hockey League, but Steve Duchesne had other ideas.

Duchesne signed with Los Angeles in 1984 and made the Kings two years later after two seasons in the Minors.  In his first year in the NHL, the Defenseman surprised the hockey world with a 38 Point year and an All-Rookie Selection.  Duchesne progressed into one of the better offensive Defenseman of the game, and he secured 55 Points as a sophomore, which he grew to 75 the year after, which netted him his first All-Star Game appearance.

Duchesne was an All-Star again in 1990, scoring 62 Points, a mark he would reach the following year again.  The Kings elected to retool, and he was traded to Los Angeles in a transaction that reunited Wayne Gretzky and Jari Kurri.  Duchesne returned as a Free Agent in 1998, but would not complete the season, as he was traded to Philadelphia again.

As a King, Duchesne played 442 Games, scoring 315 Points with a Plus/Minus of +50.

The Bullet Points

  • Position: Defence
  • Acquired: Signed as a Free Agent 10/1/84.
  • Departed:

    Traded to the Philadelphia Flyers with Steve Kasper and a 1991 4th Round Pick (which would be Aris Brimanis) for Jeff Chychrun and Jari Kurri 5/30/91.

    Acquired (2): Signed as a Free Agent 7/2/98.

    Departed (2): Traded to the Philadelphia Flyers for Dave Babych and a 2000 5th Round Pick (which would be Nathan Marsters) 3/23/98.

  • Games Played: 442
  • Notable Statistics:

    99 Goals
    216 Assists 
    315 Points 
    399 PIM 
    .71 PPG 
    +50 Plus/Minus 
    42.0 Point Shares 

    43 Playoff Games
    13 Goals
    26 Assists 
    39 Points 
    44 PIM 
    .90 PPG 
    -12 Plus/Minus 

  • Major Accolades and Awards:

    All-Star (1989 & 1990)
    First Team All-Rookie (1987)

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