Playing career

Duchesne began his notable hockey career with the Drummondville Voltigeurs of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. Never drafted by an NHL team, he was signed as a free agent by the Los Angeles Kings on October 1, 1984. He played one season with the New Haven Nighthawks of the American Hockey League before becoming an NHL regular in 1986-87. In his rookie NHL season, he played well enough to be named to the NHL All-Rookie Team. It did not take Duchesne long to establish himself as an above average offensive defenceman. In the 1988-89 NHL season, he led all defensemen in shorthanded goals with 5.

Duchesne remained with the Kings until May 30, 1991, when he was traded to the Philadelphia Flyers in a deal that brought future Hall of Famer Jari Kurri to Los Angeles. Duchesne played one season in Philadelphia, before being involved in one of the biggest trades in NHL history, moving to the Quebec Nordiques with a package of several players and cash in the Eric Lindros trade. Although Duchesne set a career high with 82 points in Quebec, he was again traded after one season to the St. Louis Blues. He spent two seasons with the Blues before being acquired by the upstart Ottawa Senators. After two successful seasons with the Senators, in which he scored the goal that clinched the team's first ever playoff spot, he was traded back to the Blues for Igor Kravchuk due to financial considerations. Duchesne's journeyman status continued, as he returned to the Kings as a free agent after one season with the Blues. During his first season back with the Kings, he was traded to the Flyers at the trade deadline. Finally, after the 1998-99 season, Duchesne signed as a free agent with the Detroit Red Wings, where he would win the Stanley Cup in his final season, 2001-02.

Personal life

Duchesne now resides in Westlake, Texas with his wife and two children. He coaches the U18 Dallas Stars Midget Major AAA hockey team. He is a co-owner of the Allen Americans, a Central Hockey League team which began play in the 2009-10 season.

International play

Medal record
Representing Canada
Men's ice hockey
World Championships
	1994 Italy
	1996 Austria

Duchesne has represented Team Canada in two international tournaments:

• 1994 Men's World Ice Hockey Championships
• 1996 Men's World Ice Hockey Championships

Awards

• QMJHL First All-Star Team (1985)
• NHL All-Rookie Team (1987)
• Played in NHL All-Star Game (1989, 1990, 1993)
• Barry Ashbee Trophy (1992)
• Stanley Cup Champion (2002)

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

				Regular season						Playoffs
Season	Team	League		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
1983-84	Drummondville Voltigeurs	QMJHL		67	1	34	35	79		—	—	—	—	—
1984-85	Drummondville Voltigeurs	QMJHL		65	22	54	76	94		5	4	7	11	8
1985-86	New Haven Nighthawks	AHL		75	14	35	49	76		5	0	2	2	9
1986-87	Los Angeles Kings	NHL		75	13	25	38	74		5	2	2	4	4
1987-88	Los Angeles Kings	NHL		71	16	39	55	109		5	1	3	4	14
1988-89	Los Angeles Kings	NHL		79	25	50	75	92		11	4	4	8	12
1989-90	Los Angeles Kings	NHL		79	20	42	62	36		10	2	9	11	6
1990-91	Los Angeles Kings	NHL		78	21	41	62	66		12	4	8	12	8
1991-92	Philadelphia Flyers	NHL		78	18	38	56	86		—	—	—	—	—
1992-93	Quebec Nordiques	NHL		82	20	62	82	57		6	0	5	5	6
1993-94	St. Louis Blues	NHL		36	12	19	31	14		4	0	2	2	2
1994-95	St. Louis Blues	NHL		47	12	26	38	36		7	0	4	4	2
1995-96	Ottawa Senators	NHL		62	12	24	36	42		—	—	—	—	—
1996-97	Ottawa Senators	NHL		78	19	28	47	38		7	1	4	5	0
1997-98	St. Louis Blues	NHL		80	14	42	56	32		10	0	4	4	6
1998-99	Los Angeles Kings	NHL		60	4	19	23	22		—	—	—	—	—
1998-99	Philadelphia Flyers	NHL		11	2	5	7	2		6	0	2	2	2
1999-00	Detroit Red Wings	NHL		79	10	31	41	42		9	0	4	4	10
2000-01	Detroit Red Wings	NHL		54	6	19	25	48		6	2	4	6	0
2001-02	Detroit Red Wings	NHL		64	3	15	18	28		23	0	6	6	24
NHL totals				1,113	227	525	752	824		121	16	61	77	96

International

Year	Team	Event	Result		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
1994	Canada	WC	01 !		6	0	1	1	0
1996	Canada	WC	02 !		8	1	3	4	4
Senior totals					14	1	4	5	4

[ Source: Wikipedia ]