Éric Dazé
Born (1975-07-02) July 2, 1975
Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Height 6 ft 6 in (198 cm)
Weight 235 lb (107 kg; 16 st 11 lb)
Position Winger
Shot Left
Played for Chicago Blackhawks
National team  Canada
NHL Draft 90th overall, 1993
Chicago Blackhawks
Playing career 19942005

Éric Dazé (born July 2, 1975) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey winger who played for the Chicago Blackhawks of the National Hockey League for eleven seasons from 1995 to 2005

Playing career

Eric Daze began his career playing midget with Laval in Quebec AAA Midget Hockey League. In the 1992–93, he joined the Hull Olympiques of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) before being traded to the Beauport Harfangs late in the season. Despite starring for Beauport, and a strong junior career (finishing with 261 points in 191 games), Daze's value amongst NHL scouts dropped sharply due to his unwillingness to play a rough game, despite possessing the abilities for it.

Daze was drafted in the fourth round, 90th overall, in the 1993 NHL Entry Draft by the Chicago Blackhawks (with the draft pick the Blackhawks received with Stephane Beauregard for Dominik Hasek). He had early success and was named to the NHL All-Rookie Team in 1996 after scoring 30 goals as a rookie. He scored at least 20 goals in each season between 1996 and 2003, even when struggling with injuries, and was named to the NHL All-Star Game in 2002. Daze who was appearing in his first All-Star Game, was named game MVP (two goals/one assist), becoming the first Blackhawk player to win the award since Bobby Hull in 1971. He often polarized Chicago fans because he showed a reluctance to involve himself in the physical (hitting) aspect of the game despite his prototypical power forward build. Instead he displayed a combination of size and good scoring ability, especially during key, or clutch, moments of the game. He possessed a quick wrist shot and an excellence with one-timers.

Daze ran into severe back problems during his career, which limited him to only 19 games in the 2003–04 NHL season. Even after three herniated disc surgeries in a five-year span, pain was still a problem in Daze's back when he attempted to return to the Blackhawks in 2005. He quietly left professional hockey after appearing in only the season opener that year. On March 20, 2010, Daze officially announced his retirement on the Comcast Sportsnet pregame show before the Blackhawks game.

Personal life

Daze is married to Guylaine, whom he met during his high school years. The couple have two children and the family resides in Hinsdale, Illinois.[1]

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GPGAPtsPIM GPGAPtsPIM
1990–91 Laval Régents QMAAA 3025204530
1991–92 Laval Régents QMAAA 3530295940 12810188
1991–92 Hull Olympiques QMJHL 10000
1992–93 Hull Olympiques QMJHL 5513193214
1992–93 Beauport Harfangs QMJHL 136172310
1993–94 Beauport Harfangs QMJHL 66594810731 15168242
1994–95 Beauport Harfangs QMJHL 5754459920 169122123
1994–95 Chicago Blackhawks NHL 41122 160114
1995–96 Chicago Blackhawks NHL 8030235318 103580
1996–97 Chicago Blackhawks NHL 7122194116 62132
1997–98 Chicago Blackhawks NHL 8031114222
1998–99 Chicago Blackhawks NHL 7222204222
1999–00 Chicago Blackhawks NHL 5923133628
2000–01 Chicago Blackhawks NHL 7933245716
2001–02 Chicago Blackhawks NHL 8238327036 50002
2002–03 Chicago Blackhawks NHL 5422224414
2003–04 Chicago Blackhawks NHL 1947110
2005–06 Chicago Blackhawks NHL 10002
NHL totals 601226172398176 3757128

International

Year Team Event GPGAPtsPIM
1995 Canada WJC 782100
1998 Canada WC 31450
1999 Canada WC 20110
Junior totals 782100
Senior totals 51560

Awards

See also

References

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