Xavier Ouellet

Xavier Ouellet
Ouellet at the 2016 AHL All-Star Game
Born (1993-07-29) July 29, 1993
Bayonne, France
Height 6 ft 0 in (183 cm)
Weight 196 lb (89 kg; 14 st 0 lb)
Position Defence
Shoots Left
KHL team
Former teams		 Dinamo Minsk
Detroit Red Wings
Montreal Canadiens
NHL draft 48th overall, 2011
Detroit Red Wings
Playing career 2013–present

Xavier Ouellet (born July 29, 1993) is a French-born Canadian[1] professional ice hockey defenceman and alternate captain for HC Dinamo Minsk of the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL). He was selected in the second round, 48th overall, by the Detroit Red Wings in the 2011 NHL entry draft. Ouellet has also previously played for the Montreal Canadiens.

Playing career

As a youth, Ouellet played in the 2006 Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament with a minor ice hockey team from Basses-Laurentides Ouest.[2]

Junior

During his rookie major junior season in 2009–10, Ouellet appeared in 43 games for the Montreal Juniors of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL). He recorded two goals and 14 assists for 16 points as well as three assists across seven playoff games. For his efforts, he was named to the QMJHL's All-Rookie Team.

In 67 games for the Juniors over the 2010–11 season, Ouellet recorded eight goals and 35 assists for 43 points. In January 2011, he played for Team Orr at the 2011 CHL Home Hardware Top Prospects Game.

Amidst the 2011–12 season, Ouellet was named as team captain for the Blainville-Boisbriand Armada following the Juniors' re-location from Montreal. With a combative, physical style game, he scored 21 goals along with 39 assists in 63 games. The Armada finished first in the West Division and advanced to the second round of the playoffs. Following the season, he was named to the QMJHL's First All-Star Team.

Over the 2012–13 season, Ouellet returned to Blainville-Boisbriand for his fourth and final QMJHL season. Scoring 10 goals and 31 assists in 50 games, the Armada finished first in the West Division and reached the Western Conference finals.[3] Ouellet was rewarded for his outstanding play by being named to the QMJHL's First All-Star Team for a second consecutive year.[4]

Professional

On March 25, 2012, the Detroit Red Wings signed Ouellet to a three-year entry-level contract.[5]

During the 2013–14 season, in his first professional season with the Grand Rapids Griffins, the Red Wings' American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, Ouellet recorded four goals and 13 assists in 70 games.[6] On October 21, 2013, Ouellet made his NHL debut for the Red Wings in a game against the San Jose Sharks.[7]

During the 2014–15 season, Ouellet recorded one goal and 15 assists in 52 games with the Griffins, and was named to the 2015 AHL All-Star Classic. On November 28, 2014, Ouellet scored his first career NHL goal against Cory Schneider of the New Jersey Devils.[8] In 21 games for the Red Wings, Ouellet recorded two goals and one assist.

On November 16, 2015, the Red Wings signed Ouellet to a one-year contract extension.[9]

On December 19, 2015, Ouellet was recalled by the Red Wings.[10] He was returned to the Griffins on December 23.[11] Ouellet was named to the 2016 Toyota AHL All-Star Classic.[12] On February 13, 2016, Ouellet was recalled by the Red Wings.[13] On February 24, Ouellet was assigned to the Griffins.[14] On April 20, Ouellet was recalled by the Red Wings. Prior to being recalled, he recorded four goals and 25 assists in 61 games with the Griffins.[15] He was reassigned to the Griffins on April 21.[16]

During the 2016–17 season, in his first full NHL season, Ouellet recorded three goals and nine assists in 66 games for the Red Wings. On July 3, 2017, the Red Wings signed Ouellet to a two-year contract extension.[17]

In the following 2017–18 season, Ouellet recorded seven assists in 45 games. With his development having stagnated within the Red Wings organization, on June 24, 2018 the Red Wings waived Ouellet for the purpose of a contract buyout on the remaining year of his contract.[18]

On July 1, 2018, the Montreal Canadiens signed Ouellet to a one-year, two-way contract.[19] Ouellet spent majority of the 2018–19 season with the Laval Rocket. In 47 games with the Rocket, he scoring seven goals and 21 assists. Ouellet also skated in 19 games with the Canadiens, recording three assists.

On May 27, 2019, the Canadiens re-signed Ouellet to a one-year, two-way contract worth $700,000.[20] On October 9, 2020, the Canadiens re-signed Ouellet to a two-year, two-way contract worth $737,500.[21]

After his fourth season within the Canadiens organization, Ouellet left as an unrestricted free agent to sign a two-year, two-way contract with the Pittsburgh Penguins on July 13, 2022.[22]

At the conclusion of his contract with the Penguins, Ouellet embarked on a career abroad by agreeing to a contract with Belarusian club, HC Dinamo Minsk of the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL), on June 3, 2024.[23] On February 25, 2025, Ouellet agreed to a two-year extension with Minsk, which is scheduled to run through the 2026–27 season.[24]

International play

Medal record
Representing  Canada
Ice hockey
Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament
Gold medal – first place2010 Russia

Internationally, Ouellet first represented Hockey Canada as part of team Canada Quebec at the 2010 World U-17 Hockey Challenge where his team ultimately finished in sixth place.[25] Thereafter, he was named to the national under-18 team for that year's Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament,[26] winning a gold medal.[27]

In 2013, he was named to the Canada men's national junior ice hockey team for the annual World Junior Championships. Canada ultimately finished fourth in the tournament, losing to Russia in overtime of the bronze medal game.[28][29]

Personal life

Ouellet married Virginian Elizabeth Kranz on January 27, 2018.[30] The couple welcomed their first child in July 2017.[31]

He is the son of French Olympian Robert Ouellet.[32]

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
2009–10 Montreal Junior Hockey Club QMJHL 43 2 14 16 22 7 0 3 3 12
2010–11 Montreal Junior Hockey Club QMJHL 67 8 35 43 44 10 0 8 8 6
2011–12 Blainville-Boisbriand Armada QMJHL 63 21 39 60 67 11 3 7 10 14
2012–13 Blainville-Boisbriand Armada QMJHL 50 10 31 41 44 15 7 9 16 22
2013–14 Grand Rapids Griffins AHL 70 4 13 17 22 8 0 0 0 4
2013–14 Detroit Red Wings NHL 4 0 0 0 2 1 0 0 0 0
2014–15 Grand Rapids Griffins AHL 52 1 15 16 24 16 1 5 6 8
2014–15 Detroit Red Wings NHL 21 2 1 3 2 — — — — —
2015–16 Grand Rapids Griffins AHL 61 4 25 29 66 9 2 2 4 6
2015–16 Detroit Red Wings NHL 5 0 1 1 2 — — — — —
2016–17 Detroit Red Wings NHL 66 3 9 12 51 — — — — —
2017–18 Detroit Red Wings NHL 45 0 7 7 6 — — — — —
2018–19 Montreal Canadiens NHL 19 0 3 3 13 — — — — —
2018–19 Laval Rocket AHL 47 7 21 28 20 — — — — —
2019–20 Laval Rocket AHL 39 9 15 24 13 — — — — —
2019–20 Montreal Canadiens NHL 12 0 2 2 4 10 0 1 1 14
2020–21 Laval Rocket AHL 19 3 1 4 11 — — — — —
2020–21 Montreal Canadiens NHL 6 0 0 0 2 — — — — —
2021–22 Laval Rocket AHL 61 8 33 41 47 15 1 8 9 10
2022–23 Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins AHL 29 2 15 17 21 — — — — —
2023–24 Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins AHL 63 2 23 25 31 2 0 0 0 4
2024–25 Dinamo Minsk KHL 68 3 25 28 30 11 0 6 6 10
2025–26 Dinamo Minsk KHL 46 6 18 24 18 8 0 2 2 9
NHL totals 178 5 23 28 82 11 0 1 1 14

International

Year Team Event Result GP G A Pts PIM
2010 Canada Quebec U17 6th 5 1 1 2 4
2010 Canada IH18 1st place, gold medalist(s) 5 1 1 2 2
2013 Canada WJC 4th 6 1 2 3 2
Junior totals 16 3 5 7 8

Awards and honours

Award Year Ref
QMJHL
All-Rookie Team 2010 [33]
First All-Star Team 2012, 2013 [34][35]
CHL
CHL Canada/Russia Series 2010, 2011, 2012 [36][37][38]
CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game 2011 [39]
International
Canada–Russia Challenge 2012 [40]
AHL
All-Star Game 2015, 2016, 2023 [41][42][43]

References

  1. ↑ "French-born Ouellet making good impression with Wings". Fox Sports. January 6, 2015. Retrieved February 5, 2017.
  2. ↑ "Pee-Wee players who have reached NHL or WHA" (PDF). Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament. 2018. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 6, 2019. Retrieved January 6, 2019.
  3. ↑ Xavier Ouellet
  4. ↑ "Jonathan Drouin wins big at Quebec Major Junior Hockey League awards". The Globe and Mail. April 3, 2013. Retrieved October 25, 2013.
  5. ↑ Bowness, Rick (March 25, 2012). "Sproul, Ouellet sign entry-level contracts". Detroit Red Wings. Archived from the original on August 16, 2012. Retrieved March 25, 2012 – via NHL.com.
  6. ↑ "Red Wings Firsts: Xavier Ouellet". Detroit Red Wings. July 23, 2014. Archived from the original on July 27, 2014. Retrieved July 23, 2014 – via NHL.com.
  7. ↑ Kujawa, Kyle (October 21, 2013). "Helm, Ouellet recalled; Glendening assigned". Detroit Red Wings. Archived from the original on October 22, 2013. Retrieved October 21, 2013 – via NHL.com.
  8. ↑ "Ouellet fires first NHL goal past Schneider". Yahoo! Sports. November 28, 2014. Archived from the original on December 5, 2014. Retrieved November 28, 2014.
  9. ↑ Kujawa, Kyle (November 16, 2015). "Wings sign Ouellet to one-year extension". Detroit Red Wings. Archived from the original on November 17, 2015. Retrieved November 16, 2015 – via NHL.com.
  10. ↑ Kujawa, Kyle (December 19, 2015). "Red Wings Recall Nosek and Ouellet From Griffins". Detroit Red Wings. Archived from the original on December 22, 2015. Retrieved December 19, 2015 – via NHL.com.
  11. ↑ Kujawa, Kyle (December 23, 2015). "Ouellet returned to Grand Rapids". Detroit Red Wings. Archived from the original on December 25, 2015. Retrieved December 23, 2015 – via NHL.com.
  12. ↑ "Ouellet Named 2016 Toyota AHL All-Star Classic Participant". Grand Rapids Griffins. January 7, 2016. Archived from the original on January 18, 2016. Retrieved January 7, 2016.
  13. ↑ Kujawa, Kyle (February 13, 2016). "Red Wings recall Ouellet". Detroit Red Wings. Archived from the original on February 16, 2016. Retrieved February 13, 2016 – via NHL.com.
  14. ↑ Kujawa, Kyle (February 24, 2016). "Red Wings assign Ouellet to Griffins". Detroit Red Wings. Archived from the original on February 27, 2016. Retrieved February 24, 2016 – via NHL.com.
  15. ↑ Kujawa, Kyle (April 20, 2016). "Wings recall Ouellet from Grand Rapids". Detroit Red Wings. Archived from the original on April 23, 2016. Retrieved April 20, 2016 – via NHL.com.
  16. ↑ Kujawa, Kyle (April 21, 2016). "Red Wings re-assign Ouellet to Griffins". Detroit Red Wings. Archived from the original on April 24, 2016. Retrieved April 21, 2016 – via NHL.com.
  17. ↑ Kujawa, Kyle (July 3, 2017). "Red Wings and Ouellet agree to terms on two-year deal". Detroit Red Wings. Retrieved July 3, 2017 – via NHL.com.
  18. ↑ St. James, Helene (June 24, 2018). "Detroit Red Wings parting with Xavier Ouellet, little-used defenseman". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved June 25, 2018.
  19. ↑ Braverman, Dave (July 1, 2018). "Canadiens agree to terms with Xavier Ouellet". Montreal Canadiens. Retrieved July 1, 2018 – via NHL.com.
  20. ↑ "One-year, two-way contract for defenseman Xavier Ouellet". Montreal Canadiens. May 27, 2019. Retrieved May 27, 2019 – via NHL.com.
  21. ↑ "Canadiens sign defenseman Xavier Ouellet to a two-year contract extension". Montreal Canadiens. October 9, 2020. Retrieved July 20, 2026 – via NHL.com.
  22. ↑ "Penguins Sign Defenseman Xavier Ouellet to a Two-Year Contract". Pittsburgh Penguins. July 13, 2022. Retrieved July 13, 2022 – via NHL.com.
  23. ↑ "Достигнута договоренность о подписании контракта с Ксавье Уэлле" [An agreement has been reached to sign a contract with Xavier Ouellet] (in Russian). HC Dinamo Minsk. June 3, 2024. Retrieved June 3, 2024.
  24. ↑ O'Brien, Derek (February 27, 2025). "French-Born Ex-Wing, Hab Signs Contract Extension In KHL". The Hockey News. Retrieved February 27, 2025.
  25. ↑ "Pacific 4 – Québec 0". Hockey Canada. January 3, 2010. Retrieved July 22, 2026.
  26. ↑ "Xavier Ouellet Among 4 QMJHL Representatives at Ivan Hlinka Tournament" (Press release). Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. August 4, 2010. Retrieved July 22, 2026 – via OurSportsCentral.com.
  27. ↑ "Canada's National Men's Summer Under-18 Team Wins Gold Medal at 2010 Memorial of Ivan Hlinka; Players and Staff to Return to Canada on Sunday, August 15". Hockey Canada. August 14, 2010. Retrieved July 22, 2026.
  28. ↑ O'Connor, David (December 21, 2012). "World Juniors 2013: Team Canada – The Defencemen and Goaltenders". TheHockeyWriters.com. Retrieved July 22, 2026.
  29. ↑ Spencer, Donna (January 5, 2013). "Russia beats Canada 6-5 in OT to win bronze at world junior championship". CTV News. Retrieved July 22, 2026.
  30. ↑ "Elizabeth Kranz and Xavier Ouellet". The Knot. Retrieved July 22, 2026.
  31. ↑ Wakiji, Dana (February 28, 2018). "Notes: Wings offer new dad DeKeyser some advice". Detroit Red Wings. Retrieved June 13, 2018 – via NHL.com. Xavier Ouellet can relate as his wife, Liz, had their baby girl, Thea, last July.
  32. ↑ Doucet, Raphaël (October 8, 2019). "La double vie de Xavier Ouellet" [Xavier Ouellet's Double Life]. Laval Rocket. Retrieved July 22, 2026.
  33. ↑ "Hoffman named MVP of the QMJHL". Sportsnet.ca. April 1, 2010. Retrieved July 20, 2026.
  34. ↑ "The Golden Puck Awards: recognition of excellence". Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. April 5, 2012. Retrieved July 20, 2026 – via CHL.ca.
  35. ↑ "The Golden Puck Awards: an unforgettable evening!". Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. April 3, 2013. Retrieved July 20, 2026 – via CHL.ca.
  36. ↑ "Team QMJHL Roster Announced for 2010 SUBWAY® Super Series". Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. October 18, 2010. Retrieved July 20, 2026 – via CHL.ca.
  37. ↑ "QMJHL Announces 2011 SUBWAY Super Series Roster". Canadian Hockey League. October 24, 2011. Retrieved July 20, 2026 – via CHL.ca.
  38. ↑ "QMJHL Announces 2012 SUBWAY Super Series Roster". Canadian Hockey League. October 16, 2012. Retrieved July 20, 2026 – via CHL.ca.
  39. ↑ "CHL Announces Rosters and Coaches for 2011 Home Hardware CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game". Canadian Hockey League. December 22, 2010. Retrieved July 20, 2026 – via CHL.ca.
  40. ↑ "Team Canada Roster Announced for 2012 Canada-Russia Challenge". Hockey Canada. June 15, 2012. Retrieved July 20, 2026.
  41. ↑ "Rosters announced for AHL All-Star Classic". American Hockey League. January 6, 2015. Retrieved July 20, 2026.
  42. ↑ "Rosters announced for AHL All-Star Classic". American Hockey League. January 6, 2016. Retrieved July 20, 2026.
  43. ↑ "Rosters announced for 2023 AHL All-Star Classic". American Hockey League. January 11, 2023. Retrieved July 20, 2026.
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