Former Sharks and Coyotes Defenseman "Pretty Much" Retired

With 13 years under his belt in the NHL, he only played one game in the league over the past two seasons, so now at the age of 35, defenseman Jason Demers is making it "pretty much" official, that he's hanging up his skates. 

Jason Demers says he's "pretty much" retired & has talked to NHL Network/NBC Sharks about doing TV.

He quipped: "I can badmouth the Sharks on NHL Network and then build them up when I'm on NBC."

Watch the full Demers interview & subscribe here --> https://t.co/8n2ZufuShx pic.twitter.com/nFnEwy51US

— Sheng Peng (@Sheng_Peng) August 26, 2023

Appearing on the San Jose Hockey Now podcast, Demers told the crew:

"I'm pretty much... either right on the edge of retirement or retired. I'm going to do some TV work with NHL Network... and I've also been talking a lot with NBC about (doing) San Jose (TV work)...

"Yeah, so I'm pretty much all retired."

The Edmonton Oilers called up Demers from the AHL for one single game this past April after he had signed a one-year, two-way deal with the team earlier in the season. 

Demers couldn't find an NHL job in 2021-22, so he took his talents to Russia where he played a season with the Kazan Ak-Bars in the KHL. His last regular work in North America had come with the Arizona Coyotes in 2020-21, when he played 41 games. 

Demers had spent the first 5½ years of his NHL career with the San Jose Sharks, who had drafted him in the 7th round in the 2008 Entry Draft. After stops in Dallas and Florida, he played four seasons with the 'Yotes. 

But as with most hockey players, giving it up for good isn't an easy call, so he says while this is likely it, he'll leave that door open just the tiniest crack. He likes to compare himself to another somewhat famous athlete that just never wants to retire:

"I always like to leave a Tom Brady thing going on," he joked. "So if I decide in a week if I have the need to play... I always say most athletes are 95% out, but there's that little 5% sliver you keep open."

Photo: Stan Szeto-USA TODAY Sports