Derek Grant is a Canadian professional ice hockey player who has played in the National Hockey League (NHL) for several teams. He was born on April 20, 1990, in Abbotsford, British Columbia, Canada. Grant began his hockey career playing for the Abbotsford Pilots of the Pacific Junior Hockey League (PJHL) in 2006-07. He then moved on to play for the Langley Chiefs of the British Columbia Hockey League (BCHL) for two seasons.
In 2008, Grant was drafted by the Ottawa Senators in the fourth round of the NHL Entry Draft. He played for the Senators' American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Binghamton Senators, for four seasons. During his time with the Binghamton Senators, Grant was a consistent scorer and helped the team win the Calder Cup in 2011.
Grant made his NHL debut with the Senators in 2012-13, playing in 20 games and scoring one goal. He then played for the Calgary Flames, Buffalo Sabres, Nashville Predators, and Anaheim Ducks over the next several seasons. Grant was known for his versatility, playing both center and wing positions, and his strong defensive play.
In the 2019-20 season, Grant had a breakout year with the Anaheim Ducks, scoring a career-high 15 goals and 25 points in 56 games. He was then traded to the Philadelphia Flyers at the trade deadline and played in seven games for the team before the season was paused due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Grant re-signed with the Flyers for the 2020-21 season and continued to be a reliable player for the team. He played in 49 games, scoring five goals and 11 points, and was a key penalty killer for the team. Grant was also known for his leadership and was named an alternate captain for the Flyers.
In the 2021-22 season, Grant signed with the Detroit Red Wings as a free agent. He played in 43 games for the team, scoring two goals and six points. However, Grant was traded to the Boston Bruins at the trade deadline and played in just six games for the team before suffering a season-ending injury.
Overall, Derek Grant had a successful career in the NHL, playing for several teams and establishing himself as a reliable and versatile player. He scored a total of 44 goals and 96 points in 397 NHL games. Grant was also known for his strong defensive play and leadership qualities, making him a valuable asset to any team he played for.
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