Orlov headlines a thin NHL UFA defense market
More depth defenders available, which should make top D costly.
This year’s free agent class is not very inspiring, and that is definitely the case when it comes to the free agent defensemen. It is mostly a collection of players that will fit spots six through eight on an NHL depth chart.
There may be about 15 free agent defensemen that would rank higher on the depth chart, and some of those players come with their own question marks, so this does not look like a year in which teams should spend big money on the blueline.
Gostisbehere, Klingberg, Dumba, Gustafsson are viable power play options
Eight UFA defensemen averaged more than 20 minutes per game last season
Physical veteran blueliners like Gudas and Schenn should draw plenty of interest
Here is a look at the 2023 NHL unrestricted free agent class of defensemen (minimum 10 GP in 2022-2023):
Dmitry Orlov, Boston (7 G, 29 A, 22:33 ATOI, 53.1 CF%, 53.2 xGF%, 66 GP)
A well-rounded 31-year-old defenseman who can play the body and handle puck, Orlov has averaged more than 20 minutes of ice time per game in five of the past six seasons. He is the steadiest option available, but his age will make for an interesting decision when it comes to the length of the contract.
Shayne Gostisbehere, Carolina (13 G, 28 A, 20:49 ATOI, 51.4 CF%, 48.9 xGF%, 75 GP)
Freewheeling puck-moving blueliner has shown that he can still run a power play and what he can do when given freedom to attack. The 30-year-old ought to be one of the most appealing options in this class.
Brian Dumoulin, Pittsburgh (1 G, 24 A, 20:38 ATOI, 51.7 CF%, 51.4 xGF%, 82 GP)
The 31-year-old went through a tough season with Pittsburgh, though it was the sixth straight year in which he averaged more than 20 minutes of ice time per game. That dip in effectiveness will add a layer of difficulty when trying to determine the value, and term, of his next contract.
Scott Mayfield, N.Y. Islanders (6 G, 18 A, 21:02 ATOI, 49.0 CF%, 50.2 xGF%, 82 GP)
A physically imposing defender, the 30-year-old stands 6-foot-5 and can play a physical game. He averaged more than 20 minutes per game last season for the first time in his career.
Matt Dumba, Minnesota (4 G, 10 A, 21:17 ATOI, 49.1 CF%, 48.5 xGF%, 79 GP)
After being in trade rumors for years, Dumba finally finished his contract with the Wild and it looks like he will be headed elsewhere. Dumba turns 29 this summer and should have more offense to give in a new situation.
Ryan Graves, New Jersey (8 G, 18 A, 19:57 ATOI, 51.9 CF%, 53.6 xGF%, 78 GP)
The 6-foot-5 left-shot defender has found his level as a steady, stay-at-home, top-four defenseman. His age (28) should help make Graves a more appealing option in a relatively thin defense market.
Radko Gudas, Florida (2 G, 15 A, 17:22 ATOI, 55.8 CF%, 56.9 xGF%, 72 GP)
One of the most physical players in the league, Gudas hits a lot and likes to play on the edge. The 33-year-old has played more than 18 minutes per game once in the past six seasons (2021-2022, when he averaged 18:01 per game), so he is a role player of sorts, but his role is one that playoff teams love.
John Klingberg, Minnesota (10 G, 23 A, 20:37 ATOI, 43.2 CF%, 39.5 xGF%, 67 GP)
A few years ago, Klingberg was a very productive standout defenseman. He finished sixth in Norris Trophy voting in 2017-2018 and 2015-2016. His defensive decline has been precipitous, however, so he becomes a much more difficult investment as he turns 31 this summer. Klingberg has the upside to quarterback a top power play unit and play 22-24 minutes per game, but it will be shocking if he commands a big ticket as a free agent.
Oliver Ekman-Larsson, Vancouver (2 G, 20 A, 20:11 ATOI, 47.4 CF%, 45.2 xGF%, 54 GP)
Bought out by the Canucks, Ekman-Larsson turns 32 this summer and his decline has been more gradual but is still undeniable. He has received Norris Trophy votes five times in his career, and as recently as 2018-2019, but he is not that guy anymore. He has averaged more than 20 minutes per game for 12 straight seasons and, in the right situation, at the right money, maybe he can provide a steady veteran presence.
Justin Holl, Toronto (2 G, 16 A, 20:14 ATOI, 50.1 CF%, 53.0 xGF%, 80 GP)
Despite his gaffes, the 31-year-old is still effective enough in a defensive role. He has played more than 20 minutes per game for three straight seasons and the Maple Leafs have outscored opponents in four straight seasons with Holl on the ice during five-on-five play.
Connor Clifton, Boston (5 G, 18 A, 1751 ATOI, 48.5 CF, 49.7 xGF%, 78 GP)
A 28-year-old right shot defenseman who is not afraid to get physical should have plenty of appeal in the marketplace, though it will be interesting to see if any teams view Clifton as more than a third-pair option.
Carson Soucy, Seattle (3 G, 13 A, 16:18 ATOI, 51.7 CF%, 51.4 xGF%, 78 GP)
Soucy turns 29 this summer and has established that he is a reliable third-pair defenseman. The question for the 6-foot-5 blueliner, when it comes to assessing his value, is whether there are teams willing to play him higher on the depth chart.
Ian Cole, Tampa Bay (3 G, 14 A, 19:23 ATOI, 51.6 CF%, 53.6 xGF%, 78 GP)
The 34-year-old logged 19:23 of ice time per game last season, the third-highest average time on ice of his career. He will not contribute much offensively but will lay his body on the line and his teams tend to fare better when he is on the ice.
Dmitry Kulikov, Pittsburgh (3 G, 13 A, 19:28 ATOI, 42.7 CF%, 38.9 xGF%, 67 GP)
Although the 32-year-old has moved around quite a bit in recent seasons, he had been quite effective prior to last season, when he struggled with Anaheim and then briefly with Pittsburgh.
Erik Gustafsson, Toronto (7 G, 35 A, 19:46 ATOI, 54.0 CF%, 53.0 xGF%, 70 GP)
A very productive power play quarterback, Gustafsson can put up points when given the chance. He can also end up in the press box if the coach does not trust him to take a regular turn on the blueline.
Niko Mikkola, N.Y. Rangers (1 G, 5 A, 17:26 ATOI, 43.1 CF%, 45.7 xGF%, 81 GP)
Even though Mikkola is a 27-year-old, who stands 6-foot-4, and likes to battle, his team routinely gets outshot, out-chanced, and outscored with him on the ice. That will get overlooked by some team, but expectations ought to be modest.
Travis Hamonic, Ottawa (6 G, 15 A, 18:34 ATOI, 50.6 CF%, 49.5 xGF%, 75 GP)
Years of physical play have caught up to Hamonic, who is no longer a shutdown guy, and his ice time has been steadily decreasing. Still, in a depth role, he can be fine.
Kevin Shattenkirk, Anaheim (4 G, 23 A, 19:18 ATOI, 44.1 CF%, 42.2 xGF%, 75 GP)
A premier puck mover at his peak, Shattenkirk is 34 now, and is coming off three seasons with the Ducks. His experience, including a Stanley Cup with Tampa Bay in 2019-2020, may still hold some appeal.
Luke Schenn, Toronto (4 G, 18 A, 16:21 ATOI, 44.9 CF%, 45.3 xGF%, 70 GP)
The 33-year-old does not play much and tied a career-high with 22 points last season. His toughness and experience give him greater appeal than his on-ice results would suggest, but he will have multiple teams interested in his services.
Marc Staal, Florida (3 G, 12 A, 18:12 ATOI, 50.7 CF%, 52.2 xGF%, 82 GP)
At 36-years-old there are no secrets to Staal’s game, and he had a bit of a renaissance with the Panthers. He has good size, will use it, and can handle third pair and penalty killing roles. On a short-term, low-money deal, that works.
Erik Johnson, Colorado (0 G, 8 A, 17:15 ATOI, 48.5 CF%, 47.3 xGF%, 63 GP)
The first overall pick in the 2006 Draft, Johnson is now 35 and has played a supporting role with the Avalanche in recent seasons. His experience alone should give Johnson a chance to play somewhere else if that is what he wants.
Calvin de Haan, Carolina (2 G, 10 A, 13:32 ATOI, 60.2 CF%, 60.0 xGF%, 53 GP)
While the 32-year-old was effectively a spare part for the Hurricanes but is still reasonably effective in a depth role and might be able to handle more with a team that is not as strong as Carolina.
Troy Stecher, Calgary (3 G, 11 A, 16:22 ATOI, 45.7 CF%, 43.9 xGF%, 82 GP)
An undersized guy who battles hard and has some puck skills, Stecher has moved around quite a bit in recent seasons. Nevertheless, the 29-year-old should have an opportunity to compete for a top-six role somewhere next season.
Kyle Burroughs, Vancouver (2 G, 3 A, 17:22 ATOI, 47.5 CF%, 49.3 xGF%, 48 GP)
Still trying to get a solid footing in the league, the 27-year-old right-shot defenseman brings a physical element and has been solid enough in 95 career games to warrant a good opportunity.
Jack Johnson, Colorado (2 G, 6 A, 19:09 ATOI, 42.1 CF%, 40.7 xGF%, 83 GP)
Wildly overrated for much of his career, the 36-year-old has played more than 1,100 games and won a Stanley Cup with the Avalanche in 2021-2022. He continues to have the ice tilted against him, but he has been resilient, so Johnson still might find a team willing to give him third-pair minutes next season.
Alexander Edler, Los Angeles (2 G, 9 A, 14:46 ATOI, 50.9 CF%, 50.4 xGF%, 64 GP)
The 37-year-old saw his role reduced with the Kings last season and that might be an indication that the end is near, but he surpassed 1,000 career games and was steady enough that he could still play.
Nick Holden, Ottawa (2 G, 14 A, 16:42 ATOI, 51.9 CF%, 52.1 xGF%, 65 GP)
A late bloomer who didn’t stick in the league until he was 26, Holden is now 36 and is serviceable enough to fill a depth role.
Robert Hagg, Detroit (2 G, 5 A, 15:31 ATOI, 43.7 CF%, 47.0 xGF%, 38 GP)
A part-time player for the pats couple of seasons, Hagg’s career is at a crossroads. The 28-year-old might warrant a look as a seventh defenseman, but he is going to be in a battle against younger prospects that will be pushing for that spot, too.
Michael Stone, Calgary (6 G, 5 A, 13:19 ATOI, 57.8 CF%, 51.8 xGF%, 48 GP)
A fringe player for the past five seasons in Calgary, Stone has a booming shot from the point and was effective in his limited role last season.
Scott Harrington, Anaheim (4 G, 7 A, 16:26 ATOI, 44.0 CF%, 47.0 xGF%, 45 GP)
Filling a depth role on the blueline, the 30-year-old split last season between San Jose and Anaheim. He has carved out a 255-game NHL career, but none of it has come easily as he is always on the fringe of the lineup.
Joel Hanley, Dallas (0 G, 2 A, 11:38 ATOI, 51.9 CF%, 53.2 xGF%, 26 GP)
At 32-years-old, Hanley has found his niche as a No. 8 defenseman. He has played 151 career NHL games, 105 of them in the past three seasons with the Stars, and he has delivered solid enough results in that limited role.
Connor Mackey, Arizona (3 G, 4 A, 14:03 ATOI, 48.5 CF%, 43.9 xGF%, 30 GP)
Played okay in a 20-game sample with the Coyotes, but the 26-year-old is still trying to establish that he is a full-time NHLer. He will get a contract, but his objective will be for it to be somewhere that he has a chance to stick.
Casey Fitzgerald, Florida (0 G, 3 A, 11:55 ATOI, 49.2 CF%, 42.3 xGF%, 27 GP)
A 26-year-old right-shot defender who has been trying to earn a regular role in the NHL, Fitzgerald has played 63 games with the Sabres and Panthers over the past two seasons. He’s among those defensemen still looking for the right fit.
Noah Juulsen, Vancouver (0 G, 0 A, 14:58 ATOI, 51.4 CF%, 52.5 xGF%, 12 GP)
Injuries have hindered the 26-year-old Juulsen, who has appeared in 68 NHL games, and he was solid in a dozen games for the Canucks in 2022-2023.
Patrik Nemeth, Arizona (0 G, 5 A, 17:46 ATOI, 41.4 CF%, 40.7 xGF%, 75 GP)
A 31-year-old shot-blocking defenseman whose effectiveness has waned in the past couple of seasons, to the point that he was bought out by the Coyotes.
Parker Wotherspoon, N.Y. Islanders (0 G, 1 A, 13:20 ATOI, 52.5 CF%, 55.4 xGF%, 12 GP)
After playing the first dozen games of his NHL career last season, the 25-year-old is looking at free agency for the first time. He held his own, but it was such a small sample that Wotherspoon is still going to be in a fight for a roster spot.
Lawrence Pilut, Buffalo (1 G, 2 A, 12:48 ATOI, 52.7 CF%, 46.1 xGF%, 17 GP)
A capable puck-moving defenseman who excels in the AHL and has played 63 NHL games. Like many, the 27-year-old will seek an opportunity that gives him a chance to see more NHL action.
Jordan Oesterle, Detroit (2 G, 9 A, 15:39 ATOI, 45.4 CF%, 45.0 xGF%, 52 GP)
Mostly a depth defender for the past few seasons, the 31-year-old is likely seeking that kind of job once again and, at his age, will be in for a tough fight against younger prospects.
Gavin Bayreuther, Columbus (2 G, 12 A, 15:57 ATOI, 45.6 CF%, 44.6 xGF%, 51 GP)
Played a career-high 51 games for the Blue Jackets last season, which is probably a reflection of the injuries in Columbus more than the emergence of a now 29-year-old Bayreuther.
Andreas Englund, Chicago (0 G, 4 A, 12:07 ATOI, 49.5 CF%, 48.4 xGF%, 47 GP)
Out of the league for a couple of years, Englund returned to action and played a career-high 47 games last season. He is a no-frills defender and may not be anything more than organizational depth for most teams.
Matt Irwin, Washington (2 G, 3 A, 13:02 ATOI, 48.0 CF%, 46.0 xGF%, 61 GP)
The 35-year-old journeyman defenseman has carved out a long career. Last season’s 61 games played was his most since 2016-2017 but is going to be in a battle to secure a regular spot.
Jordie Benn, Toronto (1 G, 1 A, 15:48 ATOI, 47.0 CF%, 49.6 xGF%, 12 GP)
Benn turns 36 this summer and spent more time in the AHL than the NHL last season. Still, he has had a very successful career with more than 600 NHL games.
Ryan Murray, Edmonton (0 G, 3 A, 13:07 ATOI, 48.2 CF%, 46.4 xGF%, 13 GP)
The career of the 29-year-old has been marked by injuries and he was limited to just 13 games for the Oilers. He’s fine when healthy, that just hasn’t been the case very often.
Nathan Beaulieu, Anaheim (0 G, 4 A, 15:14 ATOI, 39.5 CF%, 38.8 xGF%, 52 GP)
The veteran blueliner has not necessarily lived up to his draft slot (17th overall in 2011) but has offered toughness in a depth role. The problem is that his team has been buried when he has been on the ice in the past couple of seasons.
I feel like Matt Dumba is the best investment of this D class. I expect him to get a 5 year deal at 4.5 - 5 million per year. Is that possible?