Jason Demers is set to return tonight for the Arizona Coyotes after missing six games out on injured reserve.
So far this year, he only has 5 assists in 30 games, but the team is still atop the Pacific Division and he averages over 21 minutes per night; he also has 42 hits and 41 blocked shots, making him an important cog in the defensive zone.
A seventh-round draft pick of the San Jose Sharks (186th in total, 2008), he ranks 14th in his draft class in terms of games played, ahead of established players like Colin Wilson (7th), Adam Henrique (82nd), Jared Spurgeon (156th), Travis Hamonic (53rd), T.J. Brodie (114th), Roman Josi (38th), Jake Gardiner (17th), Cam Atkinson (157th), and Gustav Nyquist (121st). He's already on his fourth team, having also suited up with the Dallas Stars and Florida Panthers.
He had 64 points in 67 games for the LHJMQ's Victoriaville Tigres, so there were some scouts who thought he had an upside similar to that of Kris Letang, but his most productive season was worth 34 points in 2013-14 with the Sharks.
He is an analytics darling, however, with a PDO that's usually above 100% despite own-zone starts over 50% (51.9% this season).
Here he is wearing San Jose's best-looking white (then-away) uniform from the 2007-13 era (if only they'd removed those front numbers sooner) on card #284 from Upper Deck's 2009-10 Collector's Choice set and Choice Rookie sub-set:
He signed it in blue sharpie while with the Stars (2014-16).
Internationally, he has suited up for Team Canada (lost in semi-finals) at the 2013 Spengler Cup and 2017 World Championships (silver medal).
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