Vincent Desharnais Delivers Old-School Edge in Sharks Win Over Panthers
You can take Vincent Desharnais out of Edmonton, but you can’t take the edge out of his game-especially when Matthew Tkachuk is on the ice.
Now with the San Jose Sharks, Desharnais made his presence felt Monday night in a 4-1 win over the Florida Panthers, and he didn’t waste any time getting reacquainted with an old playoff rival. In just his 22nd game of the season, the physical defenseman reminded everyone that he still knows how to stir the pot-and throw a punch or two-when the moment calls for it.
Tkachuk, playing in his first game back from injury, found himself right in the middle of the action-and Desharnais was more than happy to welcome him back to the lineup. The two tangled early, reigniting a rivalry that traces back to those heated Stanley Cup Final matchups between Edmonton and Florida. And while Desharnais may be wearing teal now, his disdain for Tkachuk clearly didn’t get left behind in Alberta.
“I think it’s just part of my game,” Desharnais said postgame. “I try to get under their guy’s skin, and he’s a good player; he plays hard.
I was just trying to do my job, and I like those kinds of battles. It’s playoff-like.”
That playoff intensity was on full display. After their early scrap, Desharnais delivered a crushing open-ice hit on Tkachuk later in the game-one that felt like it had been brewing for a couple of years. If you’re an Oilers fan still nursing wounds from back-to-back Cup Final losses, that hit probably hit a little different.
And Desharnais wasn’t just making noise with his fists and shoulders-he made a rare appearance on the scoresheet, too. The 6-foot-7 blueliner scored just the second goal of his NHL career, adding a little offense to a night that was already full of highlights.
After the game, reporters predictably zeroed in on the Tkachuk feud. But Desharnais, smiling, made sure his goal didn’t get lost in the shuffle.
“No questions about the goal?” he joked.
“First goal in two seasons, and we don’t even ask that? Come on, pump up my tires, come on here!”
It was a well-earned moment for a player who’s bounced around the league since leaving Edmonton in the summer of 2024. After a brief stop in Vancouver, followed by a stint in Pittsburgh, Desharnais landed in San Jose, where he’s carving out a role on a young, rebuilding Sharks team.
And while he may not be a fixture in the lineup just yet, performances like Monday night’s are the kind that stick with coaches-and fans. In a game where the Sharks took down the defending champs, Desharnais brought a little old-school edge, a bit of offense, and a whole lot of emotion.
For Oilers fans, it was a reminder of the kind of grit Desharnais brought to their blue line. And with the trade deadline always looming, you can’t help but wonder if a reunion might be something worth exploring.