# Nathan Dempsey

Nathan Dempsey (born July 14, 1974) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey defenceman. He last played 260 games in the National Hockey League with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Chicago Blackhawks, Los Angeles Kings and the Boston Bruins.

## Playing career

Nathan Dempsey was selected in the 11th round, 245th overall, in the 1992 NHL Entry Draft by the Toronto Maple Leafs from the WHL's Regina Pats.
Dempsey spent the majority of his 9-year tenure with the Leafs with their AHL affiliate, the St. John's Maple Leafs. His most successful season came in the 2001–02 season where he scored 61 points in 75 games for St. John's. Dempsey had only played 48 games for Toronto when he left as a free agent on July 12, 2002, signing with the Chicago Blackhawks.
He established himself as an NHL regular in the Blackhawks blueline in the 2003–04 season and on March 2, 2004, he was traded from the Blackhawks to the Los Angeles Kings for a 4th round draft selection (Nathan Davis) in 2005 and future considerations.
Dempsey spent the 2004 NHL lockout with German team Eisbären Berlin of the DEL, before returning to the Kings for the 2005–06 season.
He joined his fourth NHL team on August 7, 2006, when he signed with the Boston Bruins. He spent the majority of the year in the minors with AHL affiliate the Providence Bruins.
On July 10, 2007, Dempsey signed with Swiss team, SC Bern of the NLA for his last professional season.

## Personal life

At age 37, Dempsey was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease. He still plays hockey, coaches and works at Edmonton's Vimy Ridge Hockey Academy.

## Career statistics

| | | | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs |
| Season | Team | League | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM |
| 1991–92 | Regina Pats | WHL | 70 | 4 | 22 | 26 | 72 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1992–93 | Regina Pats | WHL | 72 | 12 | 29 | 41 | 95 | 13 | 3 | 8 | 11 | 14 |
| 1992–93 | St. John's Maple Leafs | AHL | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1993–94 | Regina Pats | WHL | 56 | 14 | 36 | 50 | 100 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| 1994–95 | St. John's Maple Leafs | AHL | 74 | 7 | 30 | 37 | 91 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 11 |
| 1995–96 | St. John's Maple Leafs | AHL | 73 | 5 | 15 | 20 | 103 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 9 |
| 1996–97 | St. John's Maple Leafs | AHL | 52 | 8 | 18 | 26 | 108 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4 |
| 1996–97 | Toronto Maple Leafs | NHL | 14 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1997–98 | St. John's Maple Leafs | AHL | 68 | 12 | 16 | 28 | 85 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1998–99 | St. John's Maple Leafs | AHL | 67 | 2 | 29 | 31 | 70 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| 1999–00 | St. John's Maple Leafs | AHL | 44 | 15 | 12 | 27 | 40 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1999–00 | Toronto Maple Leafs | NHL | 6 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2000–01 | St. John's Maple Leafs | AHL | 55 | 11 | 28 | 39 | 60 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 8 |
| 2000–01 | Toronto Maple Leafs | NHL | 25 | 1 | 9 | 10 | 4 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2001–02 | St. John's Maple Leafs | AHL | 75 | 13 | 48 | 61 | 66 | 11 | 1 | 5 | 6 | 8 |
| 2001–02 | Toronto Maple Leafs | NHL | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| 2002–03 | Chicago Blackhawks | NHL | 67 | 5 | 23 | 28 | 26 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2003–04 | Chicago Blackhawks | NHL | 58 | 8 | 17 | 25 | 30 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2003–04 | Los Angeles Kings | NHL | 17 | 4 | 3 | 7 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2004–05 | Eisbären Berlin | DEL | 10 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 26 | 12 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 14 |
| 2005–06 | Los Angeles Kings | NHL | 53 | 2 | 11 | 13 | 48 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2006–07 | Boston Bruins | NHL | 17 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 6 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2006–07 | Providence Bruins | AHL | 46 | 4 | 17 | 21 | 40 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 2007–08 | SC Bern | NLA | 29 | 3 | 10 | 13 | 20 | — | — | — | — | — |
| NHL totals | NHL totals | NHL totals | 260 | 21 | 67 | 88 | 120 | 6 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 |

## Awards and honours

| Award | Year |
| WHL |||
| East Second All-Star Team | 1993–94 |
| AHL |||
| All-Star Game | 2001, 2002 |
| Second All-Star Team | 2002 |
| Fred T. Hunt Memorial Award | 2002 |