# Donald Audette

Donald Daniel Audette (born September 23, 1969) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey forward who played fourteen seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the Buffalo Sabres, Los Angeles Kings, Atlanta Thrashers, Dallas Stars, Montreal Canadiens and Florida Panthers.

## Playing career

He was selected in the ninth round of the 1989 NHL Entry Draft (183rd overall) by the Buffalo Sabres. Prior to playing in the National Hockey League (NHL), Audette won the Dudley "Red" Garrett Memorial Award as the top rookie in the American Hockey League (AHL), while playing for the Rochester Americans.
Despite his small stature, Audette became known for his gritty, feisty style of play and quickly endeared himself to Buffalo hockey fans with a 31-goal rookie campaign. However, his approach to the game often led to lengthy trips to the injury reserve, including several knee injuries that cut short his 1990–91, 1992–93 and 1995–96 seasons respectively.
In 1998, Audette was traded to the Los Angeles Kings. Two years later, as a member of the Atlanta Thrashers, he reached his career high in goals (34) and assists (45) and was chosen as participant in that season's NHL All-Star game.
Audette would be traded back to the Sabres in March 2001, and signed a multimillion-dollar contract with the Dallas Stars later that summer. In the midst of the 2001–02 season, Audette was again traded, this time to the Montreal Canadiens. In a game against the New York Rangers on December 1, 2001, Audette had the tendons of his forearm severed by an opponent's skate and required life-saving surgery to repair the extensive damage, but still managed to recover in time for the playoffs.
After being placed on unconditional waivers by the Canadiens in January 2004, Audette signed with the Florida Panthers for the latter half of the 2003–04 season. Following this, he announced his retirement from professional play.

## Personal life

Audette's son Daniel (b. 1996) was the first pick of the 2012 Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) Draft and was selected by the Montreal Canadiens in the 2014 NHL Entry Draft.
Currently, Audette works an amateur scout with the Canadiens organization.

## Career statistics

| | | | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs |
| Season | Team | League | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM |
| 1985–86 | Laval Régents | QMAAA | 41 | 32 | 38 | 70 | 51 | 8 | 5 | 9 | 14 | 10 |
| 1986–87 | Laval Titan | QMJHL | 66 | 17 | 22 | 39 | 36 | 14 | 2 | 6 | 8 | 10 |
| 1987–88 | Laval Titan | QMJHL | 63 | 48 | 61 | 109 | 56 | 14 | 7 | 12 | 19 | 20 |
| 1988–89 | Laval Titan | QMJHL | 70 | 76 | 85 | 161 | 123 | 17 | 17 | 12 | 29 | 43 |
| 1989–90 | Rochester Americans | AHL | 70 | 42 | 46 | 88 | 78 | 15 | 9 | 8 | 17 | 29 |
| 1989–90 | Buffalo Sabres | NHL | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1990–91 | Rochester Americans | AHL | 5 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1990–91 | Buffalo Sabres | NHL | 8 | 4 | 3 | 7 | 4 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1991–92 | Buffalo Sabres | NHL | 63 | 31 | 17 | 48 | 75 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1992–93 | Rochester Americans | AHL | 6 | 8 | 4 | 12 | 10 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1992–93 | Buffalo Sabres | NHL | 44 | 12 | 7 | 19 | 51 | 8 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 6 |
| 1993–94 | Buffalo Sabres | NHL | 77 | 29 | 30 | 59 | 41 | 7 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 6 |
| 1994–95 | Buffalo Sabres | NHL | 46 | 24 | 13 | 37 | 27 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4 |
| 1995–96 | Buffalo Sabres | NHL | 23 | 12 | 13 | 25 | 18 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1996–97 | Buffalo Sabres | NHL | 73 | 28 | 22 | 50 | 48 | 11 | 4 | 5 | 9 | 6 |
| 1997–98 | Buffalo Sabres | NHL | 75 | 24 | 20 | 44 | 59 | 15 | 5 | 8 | 13 | 10 |
| 1998–99 | Los Angeles Kings | NHL | 49 | 18 | 18 | 36 | 51 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1999–2000 | Los Angeles Kings | NHL | 49 | 12 | 20 | 32 | 45 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1999–2000 | Atlanta Thrashers | NHL | 14 | 7 | 4 | 11 | 12 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2000–01 | Atlanta Thrashers | NHL | 64 | 32 | 39 | 71 | 64 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2000–01 | Buffalo Sabres | NHL | 12 | 2 | 6 | 8 | 12 | 13 | 3 | 6 | 9 | 4 |
| 2001–02 | Dallas Stars | NHL | 20 | 4 | 8 | 12 | 12 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2001–02 | Montreal Canadiens | NHL | 13 | 1 | 5 | 6 | 8 | 12 | 6 | 4 | 10 | 10 |
| 2002–03 | Montreal Canadiens | NHL | 54 | 11 | 12 | 23 | 19 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2002–03 | Hamilton Bulldogs | AHL | 11 | 5 | 5 | 10 | 8 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2003–04 | Montreal Canadiens | NHL | 23 | 3 | 5 | 8 | 16 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2003–04 | Florida Panthers | NHL | 28 | 6 | 7 | 13 | 22 | — | — | — | — | — |
| NHL totals | NHL totals | NHL totals | 735 | 260 | 249 | 509 | 584 | 73 | 21 | 27 | 48 | 46 |

## Awards and honours

| Award | Year |
| QMJHL |||
| First All-Star Team | 1989 |
| Guy Lafleur Trophy | 1989 |
| AHL |||
| Dudley "Red" Garrett Memorial Award | 1990 |
| First All-Star Team | 1990 |
| NHL |||
| NHL All-Star Game | 2001 |