Jason Demers was a promising young hockey player from Quebec, Canada. He was drafted by the San Jose Sharks in the 7th round of the 2008 NHL Entry Draft and went on to have a successful NHL career as a defenseman. However, Demers suffered several injuries over the years that impacted his playing time and career trajectory. This article will examine Demers’ hockey career, the injuries he sustained, and what he is doing now after his NHL playing days appear to be over.
Early Career
Jason Demers grew up playing hockey in Montreal, Quebec. He played junior hockey in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) for the Victoriaville Tigres. Demers put up strong offensive numbers as a defenseman in juniors, including 12 goals and 43 assists for 55 points in his draft year of 2008.
The San Jose Sharks selected Demers 186th overall in the 2008 draft. This was an astute late-round pick by the Sharks, as Demers would go on to far exceed the usual expectations for a 7th round selection.
After one more year in the QMJHL, Demers turned pro in 2009. He split time between the AHL and NHL as a rookie, putting up 17 points in 51 games for the Sharks during the 2009-10 season. Over the next three seasons, Demers cemented himself as an NHL regular in San Jose. Some key stats from his first few NHL seasons:
Season | Games Played | Goals | Assists | Points |
2009-10 | 51 | 4 | 13 | 17 |
2010-11 | 75 | 2 | 24 | 26 |
2011-12 | 75 | 5 | 26 | 31 |
In 2010-11, Demers played 75 games and posted solid offensive numbers from the blue line. He followed that up in 2011-12 by playing all 75 games and setting career highs with 5 goals and 31 points. He proved to be a durable, reliable defenseman capable of strong play at both ends of the ice.
Trade to Dallas
After a few successful seasons in San Jose, Demers’ career took its first major turn when he was traded to the Dallas Stars in November 2013. The Sharks dealt Demers to Dallas in exchange for defenseman Brenden Dillon.
Demers jumped right into a top four role with the Stars. He averaged over 19 minutes of ice time per game and finished with 3 goals and 19 assists for 22 points in 75 games. It was another steady effective season from Demers, who continued to produce from the back end despite the midseason trade.
Injuries Begin to Mount
While Demers had shown consistency and durability throughout the early stages of his NHL career, injuries unfortunately began to mount starting in the 2014-15 season. Here is a summary of some key injuries that had an impact:
2014-15 Season
Missed 17 games due to a concussion suffered in November. Still managed 20 points in 53 games.
2015-16 Season
Played only 52 games due to more concussion problems as well as an upper body injury. Production declined to just 9 points.
2016-17 Season
Appeared in only 34 games due to lingering concussion issues. Had 8 assists but no goals.
As the table shows, Demers went from being a reliable 75+ game player to someone who had trouble just staying in the lineup. The concussion problems especially hampered his availability. His offensive production also dried up as he dealt with these injury problems.
Season | Games Played | Goals | Assists | Points |
2014-15 | 53 | 3 | 17 | 20 |
2015-16 | 52 | 3 | 6 | 9 |
2016-17 | 34 | 0 | 8 | 8 |
Claimed by Florida
Unable to find consistency in Dallas due to the injury issues, Demers was placed on waivers by the Stars at the start of the 2017-18 season. He was claimed by the Florida Panthers, who were seeking defensive depth.
Demers rebounded strongly after the change of scenery. He produced 22 points in 69 games for the Panthers in 2017-18 while managing to stay mostly healthy. It was a solid bounce back year as he regained his effectiveness.
But unfortunately for Demers, more injuries were just around the corner.
More Injuries and Surgeries
After a decent first year in Florida, Demers could not carry that momentum into 2018-19. He suffered a serious facial injury just two games into the season that required surgery. This injury forced him to miss over 50 games.
Demers came back for the last part of 2018-19 but was clearly not 100%. He posted just 1 goal and 5 assists in 25 games.
In 2019-20, Demers suffered another major injury blow. He injured his knee and needed season-ending surgery after just 7 ineffective games. Between the two seasons, Demers played just 32 forgettable games for Florida over the two years.
Final NHL Season in Arizona
After the knee issues, Florida traded Demers to Arizona in September 2020. The Coyotes took a flier on the veteran defenseman, hoping he could bounce back and regain his pre-injury form.
Demers did manage to stay healthy for most of 2020-21, appearing in 51 games. However, his offense was nonexistent. He registered just 4 assists and failed to score a single goal. It was the weakest statistical output of his NHL career.
Arizona left Demers unprotected for the 2021 NHL Expansion Draft. The Seattle Kraken opted not to select him. Shortly after, Demers was traded again. Arizona sent him back to his original team, the San Jose Sharks, in July 2021. This brought Demers’ time with the Coyotes to an end after just one season.
Return to San Jose
The Sharks brought Demers back for what would turn out to be his final NHL season in 2021-22. San Jose hoped the then 33-year-old could recapture some of his earlier form with the team.
Unfortunately, Demers dressed for just 16 games, registering 1 assist. In November 2021, he was placed on injured reserve once again. The Sharks then traded Demers to the Canucks in March 2022. However, Vancouver immediately placed Demers on waivers and ultimately loaned him to their AHL affiliate.
So despite the late season trade, Demers did not see any further NHL action. Between San Jose and Vancouver, he played just 17 games with 1 assist in his final season. It was an unceremonious end to his once-promising NHL career.
What is Demers Doing Now?
Jason Demers is now 34 years old and currently without an NHL contract. His history of concussions and other severe injuries appears to have cut his career short. He was unable to fully recover after the major knee surgery in 2019-20.
According to recent updates, Demers is back home in Quebec with his family. In August 2022, he participated in a golf tournament organized by former NHL player David Desharnais to raise funds for minor hockey. Demers appears to be enjoying time with his kids and staying involved in hockey when possible.
While his NHL playing days seem to be over, Demers put together quite an impressive career for a 7th round pick. He played over 500 NHL regular season games, scored 228 points, and averaged nearly 19 minutes of ice time per game over his 11 seasons.
The injuries definitely took their toll and prevented Demers from maximizing his full potential. But he still managed to carve out a lengthy career and make an impact from the blue line. His contributions will not be forgotten by Sharks and Stars fans.
It remains to be seen if Demers will stay involved in pro hockey in some capacity, whether in coaching, management or player development. His knowledge and experience could certainly be an asset for organizations. But for now, he seems to be taking time for himself and his family after a grueling several years dealing with injuries.
Conclusion
Jason Demers rose from being a late round draft pick to become a steady, productive top four NHL defenseman. He was a key part of several teams, most notably the Sharks and Stars, for the better part of a decade. However, recurring injuries, especially concussions and his serious knee surgery, took their toll in later seasons.
After brief, unsuccessful stints with a few teams at the end of his career, Demers appears focused on life away from hockey for the time being. He played over 500 NHL games and contributed plenty of memorable moments over his injury-shortened career. For a 7th round pick to have that kind of NHL impact is a major accomplishment in itself.