Damon Severson Bio
Damon Severson (born August 7, 1994) is a Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman for the Columbus Blue Jackets of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was selected by the New Jersey Devils in the second round, 60th overall, in the 2012 NHL Entry Draft and spent the first decade of his NHL career in New Jersey before a sign-and-trade deal in June 2023 sent him to Columbus on a long-term contract. Standing 6 feet 2 inches tall and playing a right-handed shot, Severson is recognized for his mobility, offensive instincts from the blue line, and his willingness to play physical minutes in all situations.
Early Life and Background
Damon Severson was born on August 7, 1994, in Brandon, Manitoba, to Doug Severson and Donna Dixon. He grew up in nearby Melville, Saskatchewan, where he first laced up skates at the age of two and formally enrolled in hockey at the age of four. Beyond hockey, he also played football, baseball, basketball, and badminton during his childhood, an athletic background that helped shape his two-way game as a defenceman.
As a teenager, Severson progressed through the Saskatchewan amateur ranks. During the 2009–10 season, he played for the Yorkton Harvest of the Saskatchewan Male U18 AAA Hockey League and the Melville Millionaires of the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League, gaining experience against older competition. His strong junior play earned him a ninth-round selection by the Kelowna Rockets in the 2009 Western Hockey League (WHL) Bantam Draft, the first step toward his major junior career.
Path to Hockey
Severson made his major junior debut with the Kelowna Rockets at just 15 years old after an impressive training camp. He scored his first WHL goal on November 3, 2010, in a 5–2 win over the Kamloops Blazers, and finished that rookie campaign with 11 points in 32 games. The performance was strong enough to earn him a spot on Team West at the 2011 World U-17 Hockey Challenge, his first international appearance.
During his sophomore WHL season in 2011–12, Severson posted career highs of seven goals and 30 assists for 37 points in 56 games, earning the Rockets’ Most Improved Player award. He was invited to the 2012 NHL Draft Combine as the 48th-ranked North American skater and was selected 60th overall by the New Jersey Devils. After signing a three-year entry-level contract on September 6, 2012, he returned to Kelowna, where a 52-point season and another Top Defenceman award cemented his readiness for the professional ranks.
Damon Severson Career
Early Career (2013–2015)
After another dominant WHL season in 2013–14, in which Severson tallied 15 goals, posted a plus-47 rating, and was named to the WHL Western Conference Second All-Star Team, he cracked the New Jersey Devils’ NHL roster out of training camp in 2014. Paired with veteran Andy Greene and wearing number 28, the 20-year-old made his NHL debut on October 9, 2014, against the Philadelphia Flyers. Two days later, he recorded his first NHL point and first NHL goal in the same game against the Florida Panthers.
By the end of October 2014, Severson was averaging over three minutes per game on the power play and logging more than 22 minutes a night overall, ranking second among NHL rookies in ice time. A hairline ankle fracture in December cost him several weeks, but he returned in March 2015 to finish his rookie year with five goals and 17 points in 51 games, drawing early Calder Trophy discussion.
New Jersey Devils Breakthrough (2015–2019)
Severson played his first full NHL season in 2015–16, appearing in 72 games and recording one goal and 21 points. The following year marked his true arrival, as he set career highs with 28 assists and 31 points in 2016–17. Head coach John Hynes praised his growth, noting that Severson’s confidence, work ethic, and willingness to absorb contact had transformed his game. He notched his first career game-winning goal on October 29, 2016, against the Tampa Bay Lightning and skated in his 200th NHL game on April 1, 2017.
In September 2017, Severson signed a six-year, $25.2 million contract extension worth $4.1667 million annually. His 2017–18 season featured a two-goal performance that helped end a six-game losing streak against the New York Rangers and another two-goal game versus the New York Islanders, making him the third defenceman in franchise history to accomplish that feat against that opponent. He finished with a career-high 11 goals and tied his career high with 28 assists in 2018–19, becoming one of only two Devils to play all 82 games that year and the fourth Devils defenceman to record 100 assists before his 350th career game.
Columbus Blue Jackets Era (2023–Present)
On June 9, 2023, after signing an eight-year extension with New Jersey, Severson was traded to the Columbus Blue Jackets in a sign-and-trade deal in exchange for a 2023 third-round pick. The move gave Columbus a veteran right-handed defenceman to anchor its blue line and provided Severson with a long-term home following a decade in New Jersey.
Since arriving in Columbus, Severson has been relied upon for top-four minutes and special-teams responsibility. His experience of playing through a broken toe during the second half of 2020–21, the COVID-19 protocol stint in February 2021, and his 500th career NHL game on November 18, 2021, against the Florida Panthers all shaped his preparation for the leadership role he now holds with the Blue Jackets.
Driving Style and Strengths
Severson is known for his mobility, smooth skating, and confidence with the puck, traits that drew early praise from partner Andy Greene, who once said the young defenceman could "skate like the wind." He plays a balanced two-way game, contributes on the power play, and has shown a willingness to block shots and take hits to make plays. His poise under pressure and ability to log 24-plus minutes on a nightly basis have made him a trusted top-four presence.
Notable Events and Milestones
Signature moments include his first NHL goal against the Florida Panthers in 2014, his game-winning goal versus Tampa Bay in 2016, his 200th NHL game in 2017, and his 500th NHL game in 2021. On the international stage, he scored a dramatic game-tying goal with 0.4 seconds left in regulation against Switzerland at the 2019 IIHF World Championship, helping Canada reach the final.
Damon Severson Career Wins
Over more than a decade in professional hockey, Damon Severson has compiled a resume that spans a WHL Most Improved Player award, multiple Top Defenceman honours, a 2012 IIHF World U18 bronze medal, and a 2019 IIHF World Championship silver medal with Team Canada. In the NHL, his win totals have grown alongside his role, peaking during his years as a top-minute defenceman for the New Jersey Devils.
NHL Highlights
Since debuting in October 2014, Severson has recorded his first NHL goal, first NHL assist, and first game-winning goal across stints with the New Jersey Devils and Columbus Blue Jackets. He has appeared in more than 600 regular-season NHL games and reached the 500-game milestone on November 18, 2021, against the Florida Panthers. He helped New Jersey qualify for the 2018 Stanley Cup playoffs, where the Devils fell to the Tampa Bay Lightning in five games.
Other Wins & Performances
At the junior level, Severson posted a career-best 52 points in 71 games with the Kelowna Rockets in 2012–13, earning the team’s Top Defenceman Award. Internationally, he helped Canada win a bronze medal at the 2012 IIHF World U18 Championships, a silver medal at the 2019 IIHF World Championship, and another silver medal at the 2022 IIHF World Championship. He rejoined Team Canada for the 2024 IIHF World Championship, continuing his senior-team career.
Damon Severson Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Damon Severson was born to Doug Severson and Donna Dixon, both of whom supported his early athletic development in Melville, Saskatchewan. His parents enrolled him in hockey at the age of four, and his multi-sport upbringing in football, baseball, basketball, and badminton helped build the athleticism that has defined his professional career.
Personal Life
Publicly verified details about Damon Severson’s personal life are limited. He has kept his family and relationships largely private throughout his time in the NHL, focusing public attention on his professional career with the New Jersey Devils and Columbus Blue Jackets.
2025 Season Performance
Entering 2025, Damon Severson remains under the eight-year contract he signed with the New Jersey Devils before his June 2023 sign-and-trade to the Columbus Blue Jackets. He is expected to continue in a top-four role, contributing on the power play and penalty kill while mentoring younger defencemen on the Columbus blue line. His experience of more than 600 NHL games and three senior World Championship appearances provides a stabilizing presence for a Blue Jackets roster in the midst of a rebuild.
Throughout the 2025 season, Severson’s combination of mobility, poise, and two-way reliability should keep him among Columbus’s most trusted minute-munchers. His track record of logging heavy ice time, including a season-best 24:18 in 2018–19 and stretches above 28 minutes per game in 2016–17, suggests he can handle a workload that few defencemen in the league are asked to carry.
Looking ahead, Severson’s long-term deal positions him as a cornerstone of the Blue Jackets’ defence for years to come. If Columbus continues its development curve, his veteran leadership and steady play could be central to the team’s push back into playoff contention, while his international résumé keeps the door open for future appearances with Team Canada.