Raphael Diaz

Raphael Salvador Diaz (born January 9, 1986) is a Swiss professional ice hockey defenceman who currently plays with HC Fribourg-Gottéron in the National League (NL). Diaz previously played with the Rangers during the 2014 season after the trade deadline. He began his professional career with EV Zug in 2003 and has also played with the Montreal Canadiens, Vancouver Canucks, New York Rangers and the Calgary Flames. After returning to Switzerland with EV Zug Diaz has won the 2019 Swiss Cup and the 2020-21 NL Championship

For people named Rafael Díaz, see Rafael Díaz (disambiguation).
Raphael Diaz
Born (1986-01-09) January 9, 1986
Baar, Switzerland
Height 5 ft 11 in (180 cm)
Weight 194 lb (88 kg; 13 st 12 lb)
Position Defence
Shoots Right
NL team
Former teams		 HC Fribourg-Gottéron
Montreal Canadiens
Vancouver Canucks
New York Rangers
Calgary Flames
EV Zug
National team   Switzerland
NHL Draft Undrafted
Playing career 2003–present

Diaz was selected to play for the Switzerland men's national ice hockey team at the 2010 and 2014 Winter Olympics. He previously represented Switzerland at the 2004 IIHF World U18 Championships, the 2005 and 2006 IIHF World U20 Championship, the 2008 Ice Hockey World Championship, and captained the team at the 2017 Spengler Cup.

Playing career

As a youth, Diaz played in the 2000 Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament with a team from Central Switzerland.[1]

On May 13, 2011, Diaz signed a one-year two-way contract with the Montreal Canadiens of the NHL.[2] He made his NHL debut October 6, 2011 against the Toronto Maple Leafs.[3] Diaz scored his first NHL goal on October 18, 2011, against Ryan Miller of the Buffalo Sabres in the 2nd Period.[4] He appeared as a rookie team member at the 2012 All Star game skills competition, as an injury replacement for Adam Larsson.[5] He participated in the G Series NHL Skills Challenge Relay performing the control relay skill skating with the puck through a series of 6 cones.[6] Diaz was traded to the Vancouver Canucks on February 3, 2014, for Dale Weise.[7]

On March 5, 2014, Diaz was traded to the New York Rangers for a 5th-round pick in the 2015 NHL Entry Draft[8]

After attending the Calgary Flames training camp on a try-out, Diaz capped a successful pre-season by signing a one-year contract with the club on October 6, 2014.[9]

On July 1, 2015, the New York Rangers signed Diaz as a free agent to a one-year, $700,000 contract.[10] In his return to the Rangers organization, Diaz was assigned to AHL affiliate, the Hartford Wolf Pack for the duration of the 2015–16 regular season. On December 23, 2015, Diaz was signed by the EV Zug to a five-year, CHF 5 million[11] contract starting in the 2016–17 season.[12]

On June 2, 2017, Diaz was named captain of EV Zug.[13] He won his first NL title with Zug in 2021.

On January 27, 2021, Diaz was signed to a four-year deal by HC Fribourg-Gottéron, starting with the 2021–22 season and through the 2024–25 season.[14]

Personal life

Diaz's father is originally from Spain, while his mother is Swiss.[3] His name was originally 'Rafael,' and is still used by the Swiss national team, though as his passport uses 'Raphael,' he uses that as his official name.[15]

His sister Daniela Diaz also played hockey.[16]

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs
Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
2001–02 EV Zug SUI U20 40110 —————
2002–03 EV Zug SUI U20 307101732 711212
2002–03 EHC Seewen–Herti SUI.2 U20 ————— —————
2002–03 EHC Seewen–Herti SUI.3 9123— 6011—
2003–04 EV Zug SUI U20 15651122 —————
2003–04 EV Zug NLA 3821316 50002
2004–05 EV Zug SUI U20 41124 —————
2004–05 EV Zug NLA 4114512 90004
2005–06 EV Zug SUI U20 30112 —————
2005–06 EV Zug NLA 3552734 70004
2006–07 EV Zug NLA 4424622 120116
2007–08 EV Zug NLA 503111444 70004
2008–09 EV Zug NLA 50491336 101124
2009–10 EV Zug NLA 494273122 1315610
2010–11 EV Zug NLA 4512273926 102464
2011–12 Montreal Canadiens NHL 593131630 —————
2012–13 EV Zug NLA 327222912 —————
2012–13 Montreal Canadiens NHL 23113146 50000
2013–14 Montreal Canadiens NHL 460111112 —————
2013–14 Vancouver Canucks NHL 61120 —————
2013–14 New York Rangers NHL 111124 40000
2014–15 Calgary Flames NHL 5622410 30000
2015–16 Hartford Wolfpack AHL 376152116 —————
2015–16 New York Rangers NHL ————— 10110
2016–17 EV Zug NLA 468223028 1659146
2017–18 EV Zug NL 485253026 41234
2018–19 EV Zug NL 4312193110 1415614
2019–20 EV Zug NL 4710213151 —————
2020–21 EV Zug NL 4410172724 110664
2021–22 HC Fribourg–Gottéron NL 375141922 90226
2022–23 HC Fribourg–Gottéron NL 507182526 20000
NL totals 69997243340411 12911354672
NHL totals 2018414962 130110

International
Medal record
Ice hockey
Representing   Switzerland
World Championships
Silver medal – second place2013 Sweden/Finland
Silver medal – second place2018 Denmark
Year Team Event Result GP G A Pts PIM
2004 Switzerland WJC D1 11th 51344
2005 Switzerland WJC 8th 61128
2006 Switzerland WJC 8th 60116
2008 Switzerland WC 7th 70000
2010 Switzerland OG 8th 50004
2011 Switzerland WC 9th 63144
2013 Switzerland WC 2nd place, silver medalist(s) 40110
2014 Switzerland OG 9th 40004
2016 Switzerland WC 11th 50662
2017 Switzerland WC 6th 80116
2018 Switzerland OG 10th 30000
2018 Switzerland WC 2nd place, silver medalist(s) 101568
2019 Switzerland WC 8th 80222
2021 Switzerland WC 6th 81232
2022 Switzerland OG 8th 51122
Junior totals 1725718
Senior totals 736192534

References
  1. "Pee-Wee players who have reached NHL or WHA" (PDF). Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament. 2018. Retrieved 2019-02-14.
  2. "Raphael Diaz signed by the Canadiens". Montreal Canadiens. 2011-05-13. Retrieved 2011-05-13.
  3. Stubbs, Dave (2011-10-07). "Dream begins for rookie Diaz". The Gazette. Montreal. Retrieved 2014-02-03.
  4. "Sabres win as Habs continue to struggle". CBC Sports. 2011-10-18. Retrieved 2011-10-18.
  5. "Habs' Diaz, Rangers' Hagelin added to All-Star rookie roster". The Sports Network. 2012-01-25. Retrieved 2012-01-25.
  6. "2012 NHL All-Star skills". National Hockey League. 2012-01-29. Retrieved 2012-01-29.
  7. Canadian Press (2014-02-03). "Canadiens trade Diaz to Canucks for Weise". The Sports Network. Retrieved 2014-02-03.
  8. "Canucks send defenceman Raphael Diaz to Rangers for fifth-round pick". The Canadian Press. 2014-03-05. Retrieved 2014-03-05.
  9. "Flames sign Raphael Diaz". Calgary Flames. 2014-10-06. Retrieved 2014-10-06.
  10. "Rangers bring back Raphael Diaz". blueshirtbanter.com. 2015-07-01. Retrieved 2015-07-01.
  11. "For more than CHF 1 million per year? Raphael Diaz offered to Swiss teams as of 2016". swisshockeynews.ch. 2015-11-05. Retrieved 2016-02-27.
  12. "Five-year contract with Zug - Raphael Diaz will return to Switzerland". swisshockeynews.ch. 2015-12-23. Retrieved 2016-02-27.
  13. "Raphael Diaz succeeds Josh Holden as captain of EV Zug". swisshockeynews.ch. 2017-06-02. Retrieved 2017-06-02.
  14. "Gotteron confirms arrival of Raphael Diaz". swisshockeynews.ch. 2021-01-27. Retrieved 2021-04-17.
  15. "Canadiens sign Swiss defenceman Raphael Diaz to two-year contract". NHL.com. Associated Press. 2012-07-13. Retrieved 2014-02-03.
  16. "Raphael Diaz".
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