In 1982-83, Steve Duchesne played for the QMJHL's Drummondville Voltigeurs and scored 21 points as a rookie. The following season, he upped his total to 35 points and in his final season he established a career high with 81 points on 22 goals and 59 assists. In 1985-86, the Sept-Iles, Quebec turned pro with the AHL's New Haven Nighthawks and went on to score 14 goals and 49 points as an AHL rookie.
Duchesne signed as a free agent with the Los Angeles Kings on October 1, 1984. Two seasons later, he made his NHL debut on October 11 against the New York Islanders. Just four nights later, he scored his first goal against the Detroit Red Wings. In his rookie season he dressed for 75 games, scoring 13 goals and 38 points and was named an All-Rookie Team defenceman. In 1987-88, Duchesne had 55 points and followed that up the following year with 75 points to lead all Kings' defencemen in scoring and was selected to play in his first NHL All-Star Game.
On May 30, 1991, Duchesne was traded to the Philadelphia Flyers and that season, he led all Flyers' defencemen in scoring with 18 goals and 38 assists for 56 points.
Duchesne was traded again in 1992, in what will go down in NHL history as one of the biggest deals ever. He, along with Ron Hextall, Kerry Huffman, Mike Ricci, the rights to Peter Forsberg, a first-round draft pick, cash and future considerations was moved to the Québec Nordiques for Eric Lindros. The deal obviously had an immediate impact on the Nordiques as the club improved 52 points to make the playoffs for the first time in six years. It also marked the third time Duchesne was selected to the mid-season All-Star Game.
On January 23, 1994, Duchesne was traded to the St. Louis Blues and not too long after, on August 4, 1995, Duchesne was traded yet again, this time to the Ottawa Senators.
Duchesne always seemed to gravitate to Los Angeles, and greatly enjoyed his time with the Kings, so he re-signed with them as a free agent in July 1998, but after just 60 games, his second tour of duty ended in L.A. when he was traded to the Philadelphia Flyers for the second time in his career.
Prior to the 1999-2000 season, Duchesne signed as a free agent with the Detroit Red Wings. He played his 1,000th career game on October 15, 2000 and would spend three seasons with Detroit, realizing a life-long dream of winning the Stanley Cup in his final NHL season in 2002.
