Dallas Stars defenseman Jason Demers will be out for at least six weeks after suffering a shoulder injury on Tuesday night. Demers was injured against the Montreal Canadiens and in response, the team has recalled Stephen Johns from the AHL to help with defensive depth with Demers injured.
Demers is the latest Stars player to deal with an injury. The team has been playing without Patrick Sharp, John Klingberg and Jordie Benn in the lineup over the past week due to injuries. Coach Lindy Ruff said that Demers will be evaluated in six weeks and then the team will know "where he is at." With just over a month left in the regular season, Demers could be out until the playoffs for Dallas.
Demers was injured after getting his arm caught in a collision with Montreal Canadiens forward Lucas Lessio. The Stars have taken a hit at the blue line with injuries to Demers as well as Benn and Klingberg. The team recalled Johns and he will make his NHL debut on Friday against the Chicago Blackhawks.
"I kind of got wrapped up with the guy," Demers said. "His stick kind of wrapped around. It was in the corner and I guess my arm got caught hallway up."
Klingberg is dealing with a lower-body injury and he missed the game for the Stars against the Canadiens. Klingberg is expected to be out at least two more games for Dallas after being unable to practice on Tuesday. Patrick Sharp remains out for the Stars, and he will miss the game against his former team on Friday. Sharp may return against the Los Angeles Kings when they visit Dallas on March 15.
"Sharp is doing the best of them all. Klingberg looks like he's still a period of time away. Jordie Benn is still a little bit of time away," Ruff said. "I know they'll miss the next two, and then we'll look at it after the weekend and see where they are at."
The Stars are battling for playoff position in the Western Conference, and they are in a tight race with the Chicago Blackhawks and St. Louis Blues. All three teams have the chance to win the division over the final stretch of the season. The Blackhawks and Stars are tied with 88 points in first place, while the Blues have 87 points.
