Antoine Vermette
Canadian centre who won the Stanley Cup in 2015.
Antoine Vermette (born July 20, 1982) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey centre who spent 14 seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL). He suited up for the Ottawa Senators, Columbus Blue Jackets, Arizona Coyotes, Chicago Blackhawks, and Anaheim Ducks. Drafted 55th overall by Ottawa in the second round of the 2000 NHL Entry Draft, Vermette reached the Stanley Cup Final with the Senators in 2007 and later won the Cup with the Chicago Blackhawks in 2015.
As a youth, Vermette played in the Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournaments in 1995 and 1996 with teams from Chaudière-Appalaches and South Shore. He spent four seasons in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL). After being drafted by Ottawa, he returned to the QMJHL for two more years, posting a career-high 119 points in 2000–01. In his final junior season, a misdiagnosed nerve issue in his neck—initially thought to be post-concussion syndrome—limited him to just four regular-season games. He returned for the playoffs, recording 26 points in 22 games to lead the Victoriaville Tigres to the 2002 President’s Cup as QMJHL champions. The team also reached the 2002 Memorial Cup in Guelph, Ontario, where they lost the final to the WHL’s Kootenay Ice and earned a silver medal.
Vermette began his pro career in 2002–03 with Ottawa’s AHL affiliate, the Binghamton Senators, scoring 18 goals and 20 assists in 74 games and earning a spot on the AHL All-Rookie Team. The following season, he made Ottawa’s NHL roster out of training camp, appearing in 57 games and notching 14 points as a rookie. During the 2004–05 lockout, he returned to Binghamton and finished second in team scoring with 28 goals and 45 assists, trailing only Jason Spezza. When NHL play resumed, Vermette broke out with 21 goals, providing valuable secondary scoring behind the Senators’ top line of Dany Heatley, Jason Spezza, and Daniel Alfredsson. His six short-handed goals ranked second in the league. In the 2006 playoffs, the Senators were upset by the Buffalo Sabres in five games. On July 18, 2006, Vermette signed a two-year, $2 million contract extension with Ottawa.
In 2006–07, Vermette improved to 39 points, spending most of the season on a checking line with fellow penalty-killer Chris Kelly.
Quick Facts
- Ntl Team
- CAN
- Played For
- Ottawa Senators / Columbus Blue Jackets / Arizona Coyotes / Chicago Blackhawks / Anaheim Ducks
- League
- NHL
- Position
- Centre
- Shoots
- Left
- Height Ft
- 6
- Height In
- 1
- Weight Lb
- 196
- Birth Date
- 1982-07-20
- Birth Place
- Saint-Agapit, Quebec, Canada
- Draft
- 55th overall
- Draft Year
- 2000
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Vermette was drafted in the second round, 55th overall, by the Ottawa Senators in 2000. He played four seasons in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL), recording a career-high 119 points in 2000–01. In his final junior year, a misdiagnosed nerve problem in his neck limited him to four regular-season games, but he returned for the playoffs to lead the Victoriaville Tigres to the President's Cup and a silver medal at the Memorial Cup. He began his NHL career with Ottawa in 2003–04, appearing in 57 games and scoring 14 points. During the 2004–05 lockout, he played for Ottawa's AHL affiliate, the Binghamton Senators, finishing second in team scoring. In 2005–06, he broke out with 21 goals and ranked second in the league in short-handed goals. Vermette scored a notable goal from behind the net through his legs against the Tampa Bay Lightning in December 2006, which was named TSN's 'Goal of the Season.' He recorded his first career hat-trick on April 3, 2008, against the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Reader's Guide
Vermette's tenure with the Columbus Blue Jackets began on March 4, 2009, when he was traded from Ottawa for goaltender Pascal Leclaire and a second-round draft pick. He spent parts of four seasons with the Blue Jackets, recording 61 goals in 241 games. The trade was made as Columbus sought scoring help for its first playoff push. Vermette was later traded to the Phoenix Coyotes on February 22, 2012, in exchange for goaltender Curtis McElhinney and draft picks. With the Coyotes, he finished in the top ten in faceoff win percentage in both 2012–13 and 2013–14, posting percentages above 56%. He recorded his second career hat-trick on December 21, 2013, against his former team, the Ottawa Senators, with the third goal being the overtime game-winner. At the 2015 trade deadline, he was sent to the Chicago Blackhawks, where his role shifted to limited ice time. He was a healthy scratch for the first two games of the 2015 playoffs but later scored three game-winning goals, including a double-overtime winner against the Anaheim Ducks in the Western Conference Finals, and won the Stanley Cup. He finished the postseason with a 58.9% faceoff win percentage. After returning to Arizona on a two-year deal, he was bought out in August 2016. He then signed a two-year contract with the Anaheim Ducks, where he was suspended 10 games in February 2017 for slashing a linesman. Vermette retired on January 31, 2019, with a career faceoff win percentage of 56.6%, ninth best among all players since the NHL began tracking the stat in 1997.
Did You Know?
- He won the Stanley Cup with the Chicago Blackhawks in 2015, scoring three game-winning goals in the playoffs.
- He finished his career with a 56.6% faceoff win percentage, ninth best among all players since the NHL began tracking the stat in 1997.
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