As free agency carries on and the San Jose Sharks fill out the final roster, particularly defense, fans have had to say goodbye to some of their favorite players. One player who will be missed in particular is defenseman Vincent Desharnais.
Desharnais’ fate was more or less sealed when the Sharks signed defenseman Jacob Trouba to a four-year, $33 million contract. Shortly after the announcement of this contract, Desharnais signed his own four-year, $16.8 million contract with the Washington Capitals. Trouba will certainly slip into the role Desharnais played, but he will definitely be missed by fans.
While he isn’t the most skilled player, Vincent Desharnais has heart. Standing at a towering 6-foot seven inches, Desharnais isn’t afraid to use his body to protect his goaltenders and more finesse players like Macklin Celebrini. He was not only well liked by fans, but also by his teammates.
Desharnais was particularly good for young defenseman Sam Dickinson. Dickinson struggled to an extent this year, being only 20-years-old and at the time not old enough to be sent down to the AHL. Sending Dickinson back to his junior team was not an option, as it would not have benefited his growth.  So, the Sharks were essentially stuck with a defenseman struggling to find his footing. However, Desharnais did wonders for Dickinson’s confidence, allowing him to lean into his more offensive capabilities while Desharnais hung back to protect the blue line. For this reason in particular, Desharnais will be deeply missed from the roster.
There is no concern about Jacob Trouba’s skill and ability to lead, a role he falls into quite easily. However, Vincent Desharnais’ attitude and support will absolutely be missed by teammates and fans alike.Â
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