Jason John Maxwell Garrison (born November 13, 1984) is a Canadian professional ice hockey defenseman currently an unrestricted free agent.
Following his third NCAA year, he signed with the Florida Panthers of the National Hockey League (NHL) as an undrafted free agent in 2008.
With a –2 plus-minus rating while playing on the worst team in the Eastern Conference, Garrison was ranked by James Mirtle of The Globe and Mail as the NHL's second-best defensive defenceman.
Garrison recorded a goal and two assists in four playoff games before sustaining a pair of lower-body injuries that sidelined him for the remainder of the series.
[12] Becoming an unrestricted free agent in the off-season, Garrison signed a six-year, $27.6 million contract with the Vancouver Canucks on July 1, 2012.
Upon the commencement of NHL play, his struggles to adjust with his new team were well-publicized, as he was taken off the powerplay unit and separated from his intended defensive partner, Alexander Edler, within the first month.
[23] The following day, Garrison was placed on waivers by the Blackhawks and upon clearing was assigned to join their AHL affiliate, the Rockford IceHogs, on January 1, 2019.
[24] After failing to report to the IceHogs, Garrison was placed on unconditional waivers by the Blackhawks in order to mutually terminate his contract on January 2, 2019.
Garrison and Djurgården went on to a successful SHL playoff and eventually reached the finals against Frölunda HC, where the team lost 2–4 in games.
[27] Opting to continue his career, Garrison returned to the Tampa Bay Lightning organization in attending training camp on a tryout basis for the 2021–22 season.
Cut from his tryout, Garrison made 9 appearances with affiliate, the Syracuse Crunch in the AHL, before opting to end his tenure with the team.
Garrison was born and raised in White Rock, British Columbia, where he attended Chantrell Creek Elementary and Elgin Park Secondary School.
During his NHL career with the Florida Panthers, he lived in Fort Lauderdale while returning to a home in Downtown Vancouver in the off-seasons.