ARIZONA COYOTES

Coyotes assign Jason Demers to Tucson for conditioning

Mar 2, 2019, 10:31 AM

Arizona Coyotes' Jason Demers (55) celebrates with teammates after scoring a goal against the New J...

Arizona Coyotes' Jason Demers (55) celebrates with teammates after scoring a goal against the New Jersey Devils during the first period of an NHL hockey game, Saturday, Dec. 2, 2017, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ralph Freso)

(AP Photo/Ralph Freso)

The Arizona Coyotes announced Saturday that defenseman Jason Demers would be sent to to the AHL on a conditioning loan as he makes his way back from injury.

Demers has been out since Nov. 15 with a lower-body injury that threatened the remainder of his season. But his recovery has him healthy enough to get a conditioning loan with the Tucson Roadrunners, a sign that he could be back to the NHL roster well before the end of the regular season.

The NHL’s collective bargaining agreement stipulates that conditioning loans can’t last longer than two weeks.

The right-shot defenseman was regularly on the Coyotes’ top defensive pairing with Oliver Ekman-Larsson, who of late has played with Niklas Hjalmarsson but was matched with other blueliners in Demers’ absence. Demers has 10 seasons of NHL experience with 591 games played, 44 goals and 150 assists.

The 30-year-old’s apparent proximity to returning to the Coyotes’ lineup is welcome news, since the team has been decimated by injuries this season all over the ice. Center Christian Dvorak just played his first game of the season on Tuesday, while the Coyotes will be without center Derek Stepan for four to six weeks after he went down on Thursday.

It’s difficult to say whom Demers will replace in the lineup upon his seemingly-imminent return to the Coyotes. Kevin Connauton has been the scratched defenseman lately, and yet another defenseman will have to come out for Demers to slot in.

Comments

Comment guidelines: No name-calling, personal attacks, profanity, or insults. Please keep the conversation civil and help us moderate comments by reporting abuse.
comments powered by Disqus

Arizona Coyotes

Matias Maccelli #63 of the Arizona Coyotes skates with the puck during an NHL game at Mullett Arena...

Associated Press

Josh Doan nets twice in NHL debut, Coyotes score 4 goals in 3rd and beat Blue Jackets

Josh Doan had two goals including the go-ahead score in his first NHL game and the Arizona Coyotes beat the Columbus Blue Jackets 6-2.

1 day ago

ASU hockey player Josh Doan and father Shane Doan wave to fans before the ceremonial first puck to ...

David Veenstra

Arizona Coyotes forward Josh Doan scores twice in NHL debut

Coyotes forward Josh Doan scored twice in his NHL debut on Tuesday. Doan had goals in the second and third period against Columbus. 

1 day ago

Josh Doan...

Damon Allred

Arizona Coyotes recall forward Josh Doan from Tucson Roadrunners

The Arizona Coyotes recalled former second-round pick Josh Doan, son of former captain Shane Doan, from the Tucson Roadrunners.

3 days ago

Miro Heiskanen #4 of the Dallas Stars skates with the puck while being defended by Alex Kerfoot #15...

Associated Press

Arizona Coyotes fall to Dallas Stars for 2nd time in last 3 games

Miro Heiskanen broke a tie with 5:28 left and the Stars won their fourth consecutive game, beating the Coyotes on Sunday night.

3 days ago

Dylan Guenther...

Associated Press

Coyotes’ Dylan Guenther scores overtime game-winner vs. Kraken

Dylan Guenther scored in overtime to give the Arizona Coyotes a win over Seattle on Friday night.

5 days ago

Arizona Coyotes center Liam O'Brien...

Associated Press

Coyotes’ struggles in Dallas continue despite Clayton Keller stacking goals

The Dallas Stars extended their home points streak against the Coyotes to 19 games with a victory on Wednesday night.

7 days ago

Coyotes assign Jason Demers to Tucson for conditioning