Antoine Vermette is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey player who played in the National Hockey League (NHL) for 14 seasons. He was born on July 20, 1982, in Saint-Agapit, Quebec, Canada. Vermette began his hockey career in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) with the Victoriaville Tigres in 1999. He played for the Tigres for four seasons, scoring 282 points in 259 games.
Vermette was drafted by the Ottawa Senators in the second round of the 2000 NHL Entry Draft. He made his NHL debut with the Senators in the 2003-04 season and played for the team until 2009. During his time with the Senators, Vermette established himself as a reliable two-way forward, capable of scoring goals and playing solid defense. He was a key player for the Senators during their run to the Stanley Cup Finals in 2007.
In 2009, Vermette was traded to the Columbus Blue Jackets, where he played for five seasons. He continued to be a productive player for the Blue Jackets, scoring 65 goals and 72 assists in 241 games. Vermette was known for his versatility, as he could play both center and wing positions and was effective on both the power play and penalty kill.
In 2013, Vermette was traded to the Phoenix Coyotes, where he played for two seasons. He had a career-high 24 goals and 21 assists in the 2013-14 season and was named a finalist for the Lady Byng Trophy, which is awarded to the player who best exemplifies sportsmanship and gentlemanly conduct.
Vermette was traded to the Chicago Blackhawks in 2015 and played a key role in the team's run to the Stanley Cup championship that year. He scored three game-winning goals in the playoffs, including the series-clinching goal in double overtime of Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Finals against the Tampa Bay Lightning.
After one season with the Coyotes in 2016-17, Vermette signed with the Anaheim Ducks for the 2017-18 season. He played in 64 games for the Ducks, scoring eight goals and eight assists. Vermette announced his retirement from professional hockey on August 15, 2018.
Throughout his career, Vermette was known for his work ethic, leadership, and versatility. He played in 1,046 NHL games, scoring 228 goals and 287 assists for a total of 515 points. He also played in 97 playoff games, scoring 18 goals and 23 assists. Vermette was a two-time finalist for the Selke Trophy, which is awarded to the NHL's best defensive forward, and won the King Clancy Memorial Trophy in 2017, which is awarded to the player who best exemplifies leadership qualities on and off the ice.
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