NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Dylan DeMelo spent a lot of nights last fall awake and worrying about the fate of his career.
The Sharks defenseman knew this season was going to be a make or break year, and after just two games, he found himself back in the press box wondering if his opportunity to be an everyday NHL player had passed him by.
Now, DeMelo’s back in the lineup and playing a key role in the Sharks late-season charge, recording 10 points in 13 games this month. The 24-year-old traces his resurgence, and the peace of mind he’s playing with, back to a conversation he had with veteran Paul Martin during the darkest moment of his three-year NHL career.