BIOGRAPHY
Derek Grant was born on April 20, 1990, in Abbotsford, British Columbia. He is a Centre in the National Hockey League.
After being drafted in the 4th round (119th overall) of the 2008 NHL Entry Draft by the Ottawa Senators, Grant played with the NCAA Division I collegiate ice hockey with the Michigan State Spartans men's ice hockey team from 2009 to 2011. During this time, he earned numerous CCHA honors including being an Honorable Mention for the CCHA All-Rookie Team. Following his sophomore season, Grant joined the Senators organization and was assigned to their American Hockey League affiliate, the Binghamton Senators, to finish out the 2010–11 season. During this time, he helped the Senators in their 2011 Calder Cup playoffs push and won a Calder Cup.
As Grant was not offered a new contract by the Senators, he signed a one-year contract with the Calgary Flames on July 1, 2015, as a free agent. He attended the Flames' training camp but was re-assigned to their AHL affiliate, the Stockton Heat, prior to the start of the 2015–16 season. He was quickly recalled to the NHL level and played in nine games for Calgary. Grant recorded his first career NHL point during their 5–2 win over the Arizona Coyotes. Upon returning to the AHL, Grant was named the Heat's Most Valuable Player, Offensive Player Of The Year, and this season's Fan Favorite.
On July 2, 2016, Grant signed a one-year two-way contract as a free agent with the Buffalo Sabres. After a successful training camp and pre-season with the Sabres, he made the opening night roster to begin the 2016–17 season. Grant appeared in 35 games with the Sabres, and tallied three assists, before being claimed by the Nashville Predators on January 11, 2017. He played six games with the Predators before being picked up by the Sabres after being waived. Upon being picked up, he was immediately assigned to their AHL affiliate, the Rochester Americans. Although he was re-assigned to the AHL, Grant was quickly recalled to the NHL level a few days later.
As a result of his play during the 2016–17 season, Grant signed a one-year, one-way deal on the second day of free agency with the Anaheim Ducks. Grant officially recorded his first two NHL goals a few games later on October 20 against the Montreal Canadiens and eventually found his role on the Ducks' third-line and responded by producing a career-high 12 goals, 12 assists, and 24 points through 66 games. Having played his first full season in the NHL, Grant left the Ducks as a free agent and agreed to a one-year, $650,000 contract with the Pittsburgh Penguins on July 20, 2018 and on January 16, 2019, Grant was returned to the Anaheim Ducks after a trade with the Penguins. Upon rejoining the Ducks for the remainder of the 2018–19 season, Grant contributed two goals and nine points through 31 games. At the end of the season, Grant was re-signed by the Ducks to a one-year $700,000 contract extension. In the following 2019–20 season, Grant established a career high 14 goals through 49 games with the Ducks, including recording his first career NHL hat-trick. Despite this, he was dealt at the NHL trade deadline to the Philadelphia Flyers on February 24, 2020. As a free agent, Grant opted to return for a third stint with the Anaheim Ducks, securing a three-year, $4.5 million contract on October 9, 2020.
