Jason Demers

After Hockey Canada announced that they will no longer be participating in the Spengler Cup, players were left scrambling for other opportunities to stay in game shape. For Jason Demers, that means a contract with Ak Bars Kazan of the KHL. The veteran defenseman has signed a deal for the rest of the season, one that will presumably still allow him to take part in the Olympics for Canada should the NHL officially pull the plug.

After Hockey Canada announced that they will no longer be participating in the Spengler Cup, players were left scrambling for other opportunities to stay in game shape. For Jason Demers, that means a contract with Ak Bars Kazan of the KHL. The veteran defenseman has signed a deal for the rest of the season, one that will presumably still allow him to take part in the Olympics for Canada should the NHL officially pull the plug.

On this episode of The Sick Podcast, NHL player and former teammate of Christian Dvorak, Jason Demers joins Tony Marinaro to discuss his career and what Dvorak brings to the Montreal Canadiens. Don’t forget to follow The Sick Podcast on iHeartRadio, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, and all other podcast platforms!

The free agent defenseman market is drying up by the minute before we head into the weekend. The Calgary Flames made a splash today by signing both Michael Stone and Erik Gudbransson to contracts. PTOs were expected for those dmen but they were able to land official deals with the...

Unfortunately, the 33-year-old will be relying on his track record to make that happen, not his performance last season. There’s no sugar coating it – 2020-21 wasn’t pretty. Demers slipped down the depth chart to the third pairing, averaged his lowest ice time in nearly a decade, and eventually found himself scratched with some frequency down the stretch with Arizona well out of playoff contention.

Demers registered an assist, five hits and a plus-2 rating in Friday's 3-0 win over the Golden Knights. Demers had the secondary helper on John Hayden's first-period goal. The 32-year-old Demers ended an 11-game point drought with his assist. He's been a mainly defensive player in 2020-21 with only four helpers, 39 shots on goal, 68 hits, 29 blocked shots and a minus-3 rating through 38 contests.

Demers picked up an assist and two shots on goal in Monday's 5-2 win over the Kings. Demers snapped a 12-game point drought dating back to Feb. 15 with his assist Monday. He's also sat out 12 games in that span, as the 32-year-old defenseman has ceded some playing time to Jordan Gross and Jordan Oesterle. Demers has only three assists, 36 hits, 20 PIM and a minus-4 rating through 26 appearances.

Demers has been a healthy scratch in the last two games. Demers played in the previous six games, but sat out seven contests before that. He's stuck in a part-time role competing with Ilya Lyubushkin and Jordan Oesterle for playing time. Demers has only two assists to go with 18 shots on net, 18 PIM and 27 hits in 21 appearances this year.

Demers posted an assist, three shots on goal and a plus-2 rating in Saturday's 5-4 overtime loss to the Blues. Demers got the puck to Nick Schmaltz for a goal after Oliver Ekman-Larsson's shot generated a rebound early in the third period. The 32-year-old Demers was a healthy scratch in Friday's 4-1 loss to the Blues, but he returned to the lineup with Niklas Hjalmarsson (upper body) sidelined. Demers should be able to maintain a spot in the lineup, but the veteran defenseman has just two helpers in 13 appearances this year. He's added 15 shots, 14 PIM, 16 hits and 10 blocked shots in a primarily defensive role.

Demers posted an assist, two hits and two blocked shots in Thursday's 4-3 win over the Blues. Demers set up Conor Garland for the Coyotes' third goal at 5:18 of the second period. In the third, Demers briefly left the contest after getting struck in the face by a puck, but he was able to return. The 32-year-old blueliner's assist was his first point in 10 games this year. He's added 12 hits, 11 shots on goal, nine blocked shots and 10 PIM.