In any sport, a trip to the general manager's office can be a stressful experience.
So when he arrived at BB&T Center on Monday morning to begin his usual pre-game routine, Philippe Desrosiers, with a sharp chill running down his spine, immediately started to think the worst when he heard that Panthers general manager Bill Zito wanted to have a word with him.
'Dream Come True' as Desrosiers is Rewarded for Hard Work
"I saw Lu [Panthers special advisor to the general manager Roberto Luongo] and Bill walking around, so I thought that something was going on," Desrosiers said. "When they grabbed me, I actually thought that I was getting sent down because we have a couple of goalies here now."
On the contrary, the meeting turned into more of a surprise party.
Pulled into a group full of excited coaches and staff, goaltending coach Robb Tallas stepped forward and told Desrosiers that not only would he be staying up, but he'd also be serving as a backup for the first time his NHL career when the Panthers hosted the Stars later that evening.
Having some fun, Desrosiers said Tallas kept him sweating as he delivered the news.
"He said, 'You've been good all year, but unfortunately we have too many goalies… so we're going to send you to the bench tonight," Desrosiers recalled. "I was like, 'Phew, thank God.'"
Watching from the sidelines, Joel Quenneville noted how powerful the moment was.
"I think he was almost in tears," the Panthers head coach said. "It really meant a lot to him. He couldn't believe it. He was thrilled to death. Tallas also had the best delivery I've ever seen."
Originally selected in the second round (54th overall) by the Stars back in the 2013 NHL Draft, Desrosiers has certainly paid his dues over the years. The CHL Goaltender of the Year in 2015, the 25-year-old played in 106 games in the ECHL and 72 in the AHL over the last five seasons.
After posting a 16-10-2 record with a .916 save percentage while manning the crease for Florida's former AHL affiliate in Springfield, Mass. during the 2019-20 campaign, Desrosiers was called up to join the Panthers for the NHL's "Return to Play" postseason this past summer.
Making a good impression on the organization, he then parlayed that stint into a more concrete position with the Panthers as the primary puck stopper on the team's Taxi Squad heading into this season. And, until he was called into action on Monday, that's where he's been ever since.
Usually one of the last players on the ice after every practice, it was Desrosiers' job to keep his fellow Taxi Squad members fresh, while also giving injured players a target to shoot on as they progressed through their rehab. When one of Florida's starting goaltenders needed a day off, he would also sometimes pull double duty, working with the main group as well as the Taxi Squad.
"My job wasn't easy, but it was lots of fun," said Desrosiers, who inked a one-year, two-way extension with the Panthers back in October. "My job was to make sure guys are ready to perform in games and do what I can to make them ready. Just stop pucks, that was my job."
Whether they'd spent time on the Taxi Squad or not, the news that Desrosiers would be backing up against the Stars brought a smile to everyone's face in the locker room. And as he left the ice following Monday's morning skate, several players and trainers showered him with loud cheers.
For these Panthers, individual success is viewed as team success.
"It's awesome," Panthers forward Ryan Lomberg said. "It's definitely one of those feel-good moments for the group. He's one of those guys that comes to the rink every day and is one of the hardest workers, if not the hardest worker. He shows up with a smile on his face every day."
As for Desrosiers, one can only imagine the emotions he felt as he watched the Panthers defeat the Stars 5-4 in overtime from ice-level. It was a moment he said he'd always imagined, and his emotions were evident when he skated out onto the ice to join the club's post-game celebration.
Although the road to the NHL can be a long one, hard work will always be rewarded in South Florida.
"I worked so hard for this in my life," Desrosiers said. "It's a dream come true."
