Payer was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Florida Panthers on 30 September 1997.\n', '

In 1999, Payer\'s career nearly came to an end when he was diagnosed with Guillain–Barré syndrome while playing junior hockey for the Kitchener Rangers. After a 10-month battle with the disease and subsequent bout with mononucleosis, he returned to the Rangers before eventually making his NHL debut on November 13, 2000, against the Atlanta Thrashers. He scored his first NHL goal in a game against the Ottawa Senators at the Corel Centre (now: Canadian Tire Centre) in front of family and friends. He has started a foundation to raise money for Guillain–Barré syndrome research and to promote public awareness of the disease. He holds a boat cruise once a year in Ottawa, in his name, with close friends, family and the public.\n', '

Payer signed as a free agent with the Minnesota Wild on August 20, 2007, but was not able to crack their NHL roster.\n', '

Return to Serge Payer Autograph Profile