Éric Bélanger

Éric Bélanger (born December 16, 1977) is a Canadian professional ice hockey centre who is currently playing for the Edmonton Oilers of the National Hockey League.

Playing career
He was drafted in the fourth round, ninety-sixth overall, by the Los Angeles Kings in the 1996 NHL Entry Draft. Before making his NHL debut, Bélanger played with the Beauport Harfangs and Rimouski Océanic of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, Fredericton Canadiens, Springfield Falcons and Lowell Lock Monsters of the American Hockey League and the Long Beach Ice Dogs of the International Hockey League. Bélanger made his NHL debut on October 6, 2000. During the 2004–05 NHL lockout, Bélanger played for HC Bolzano in Italy.

On September 29, 2006, Bélanger and Tim Gleason were traded to the Hurricanes for Oleg Tverdovsky and Jack Johnson. On February 9, 2007, Bélanger was traded to the Nashville Predators in exchange for center Josef Vašíček. The following day, he was sent to the Atlanta Thrashers for defenseman Vitaly Vishnevski. During his time in Atlanta, he helped the Thrashers to their first playoff berth where on April 12th, 2007 he scored the first ever Atlanta Thrashers playoff goal off a feed from Niclas Havelid on the powerplay.

On July 3, 2007, Bélanger signed as a free agent with the Minnesota Wild on a 3-year deal.

On March 3, 2010, the NHL trade deadline, Bélanger was traded to the Washington Capitals for a 2nd round pick in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft. In game 5 of the Capitals' 2010 playoff series against the Montreal Canadiens, Bélanger took a high stick to the mouth from Canadiens defenseman Marc-Andre Bergeron, that resulted in Belanger losing 9 teeth. Moments after the hit, the game telecast showed Belanger on the bench removing a loose tooth from his mouth, using just his fingers and a piece of gauze.

He signed a three-year contract worth $5.25 million with the Edmonton Oilers on July 1, 2011.

Personal life
Eric and wife Alexandra have 2 daughters; Oceanne and Lola Pearl.