Éric Dazé

Éric Dazé (born July 2, 1975) is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey winger who played primarily for the Chicago Blackhawks of the National Hockey League (NHL). His career was cut short as a result of many major injuries.

Playing career
Eric Daze began his career playing midget with Laval in Quebec AAA Midget Hockey League. In the 1992–93, he joined the Hull Olympiques of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) before being traded to the Beauport Harfangs late in the season. Despite starring for Beauport, and a strong junior career (finishing with 261 points in 191 games), Daze's value amongst NHL scouts dropped sharply due to his unwillingness to play a rough game, despite possessing the abilities for it.

Daze was drafted in the fourth round, 90th overall, in the 1993 NHL Entry Draft by the Chicago Blackhawks (with the draft pick the Blackhawks received with Stephane Beauregard for Dominik Hasek). He had early success and was named to the NHL All-Rookie Team in 1996 after scoring 30 goals as a rookie. He scored at least 20 goals in each season between 1996 and 2003, even when struggling with injuries, and was named to the NHL All-Star Game in 2002. He often polarized Chicago fans because he showed a reluctance to involve himself in the physical (hitting) aspect of the game despite his prototypical power forward build. Instead he displayed a combination of size and good scoring ability, especially during key, or clutch, moments of the game. He possessed a quick wrist shot and an excellence with one-timers.

Unfortunately, Daze ran into severe back problems during his career, which limited him to only 19 games in the 2003–04 NHL season. Even after three herniated disc surgeries in a five-year span, pain was still a problem in Daze's back when he attempted to return to the Blackhawks in 2005. He quietly left professional hockey after playing a single period in the season opener for the Blackhawks that season.

Awards

 * 1994 — QMJHL First All-Star Team
 * 1995 — QMJHL First All-Star Team
 * 1995 — QMJHL Frank J. Selke Memorial Trophy (Most Gentlemanly Player)
 * 1995 — CHL Sportsman of the Year Award
 * 1996 — NHL All-Rookie Team
 * 2002 — Played in NHL All-Star Game
 * 2002 — NHL All-Star Game MVP