Every offseason, talented unrestricted free agents hit the market in NHL Free Agency. The current crop of pending defensemen is loaded.
Each NHL team has different needs to fill out their roster. In the offseason, general managers analyze the unrestricted free agent options to see who would fit with their team based on needs and what the organization can afford.
During the final season of a contract, players are aware that they're under a microscope. How they played during the regular season and the playoffs if their team made the Stanley Cup Playoffs is pertinent when GMs are combing through the free agency market. Players can hurt their chances of a good deal by having a poor season or help their chances of a good deal with a strong season.
Some players hope to return to their current teams but end up as casualties of the salary cap. Sometimes notable players are taken off the board before free agency officially begins when they sign contract extensions with their current teams.
Free agency will begin on July 1st. This year's list of UFA defensemen is on the thin side, but there are still some solid options for GMs to consider if their team is in need of defense.
Here are the top 10 NHL pending unrestricted free agent defensemen in 2023.
Top NHL UFA defenseman options: Honorable mentions
Kevin Shattenkirk (Age: 34), Nick Holden (Age: 36), Brian Dumoulin (Age: 31), Radko Gudas (Age: 33 on June 5th), Travis Hamonic (Age: 32)
Top NHL UFA defenseman options: 10. Connor Clifton
Age: 28
2022-23 team: Boston Bruins
Connor Clifton is a smart and mobile defenseman. He was drafted by the Arizona Coyotes (then the Phoenix Coyotes) but went unsigned. After playing four seasons of NCAA hockey with Quinnipiac University, Clifton signed with the Boston Bruins. He spent two seasons in the AHL and has played four seasons in the NHL. Clifton signed a three-year extension worth $3 million with the Bruins in 2019. He becomes a free agent this summer.
Certainly, Clifton had a longer road to get to the NHL than other players on this list. He may not be the most talented UFA defenseman, but Clifton is a scrappy, sharp-witted player. He's likely one of the more affordable UFA defensemen available this summer, and the team he ends up playing for will gain Clifton's gritty, aggressive style of play.
Clifton had a breakout year in 2022-23, making a big impact during the Bruins' record-breaking 65-win season. He made 208 hits, blocked 120 shots, and had a +/- of 20. Although he hasn't reached the offensive stats that a quality two-way defenseman puts up, his offensive production has improved as his play has matured. He had 23 points in the regular season.
During his exit interview in early May, Clifton made it clear that he wants to remain a Bruin. He loves playing with the Bruins and although contract talks hadn't happened yet at that point, he expected the talks to start within the next few weeks. There's a chance Clifton returns to the Bruins, but a poor playoff performance is the last image of him in the front office's minds. That shouldn't be a nail in the coffin, so we'll see if Clifton stays in Boston or goes elsewhere.
Top NHL UFA defenseman options: 9. Scott Mayfield
Age: 30
2022-23 team: New York Islanders
It might be surprising that Scott Mayfield made this list over other UFA defensemen who have higher salary caps, but Mayfield is a solid blueliner who accepted a team-friendly $7.25 million five-year deal in 2018 to stay with the organization that drafted him. Mayfield was drafted in the second round by the New York Islanders in 2011. When he was expected to hit free agency in 2018, he signed a contract extension before that could happen. This time around, inking a new deal with the Isles is trickier. Mayfield could be a casualty of the salary cap.
Mayfield is perhaps an underrated defenseman. He's a defense-first player who keeps the puck out of his defensive zone and is impactful on the penalty kill. What he lacks in mobility, he makes up for in physicality. During the 2022-23 season, Mayfield blocked a career-high 168 shots and made 107 hits. He also logged a career-high average ice time with just over 21 minutes during his age 30 season. Mayfield needs to work on staying out of the penalty box next season; he took a career high 83 penalty minutes in 2022-23.
Although Mayfield doesn't score a lot of goals, he does contribute to the offense through assists. He had 18 assists during the regular season. Mayfield made a big effort to take more shots on goal, with 119 shots also being a career-high number.
Earlier this year, Mayfield was vocal about his desire to remain an Islander. "I love the guys in the room," Mayfield said. "I love the ownership, I love the front office, coaching staff, they coach the way I like. It's an ideal situation." It isn't the first time he's spoken about wanting to be an Islander. He's part of a close group, and a lot of the players have been around awhile.
Will Mayfield remain an Islander or go for a better deal elsewhere? He'll provide defensive depth for a team he plays for. If Mayfield's willing to take less than he might want, it's going to come down to if the Islanders are able to fit him under their cap. We'll see where Scott Mayfield lands.
Top NHL UFA defenseman options: 8. Carson Soucy
Age: 28
2022-23 team: Seattle Kraken
Carson Soucy is a tough, reliable defenseman. Soucy was drafted by the Minnesota Wild in 2013. He played four seasons of college hockey with the University of Minnesota Duluth before signing a two-year entry-level contract with the Wild, followed by a one-year deal. He signed a three-year 8.25 million extension in 2020. He was selected in the 2021 Expansion Draft by the Seattle Kraken. He played two seasons for the Kraken and will become an unrestricted free agent this summer.
Like Connor Clifton, it took Soucy longer to get to the NHL than other players on this list, but he's developed into a solid NHL defenseman. Soucy is a gritty player who limits opponents' chances and gets the puck out of the defensive zone. His team can rely on him to be on the ice for more goals for than against. Soucy's +/- during the 2022-23 regular season was 18. He had 143 hits and made 96 blocks. Soucy doesn't score a lot of goals, but he contributes to the offense via assists. In 2022-23, he had 13 assists. He's also useful on the penalty kill. Soucy should be more careful with committing penalties.
Will Soucy stay with the Kraken? They had an incredible turnaround from the 2021-22 season to the 2022-23 season. In the franchise's first season, the Kraken won 27 games and were last in the Pacific Division. In year two, they won 46 games and came in 4th in their division, leading to a Stanley Cup Playoffs berth. There's a good chance the Kraken would want Soucy around to continue building on the franchise's early growth, but they may not need him, especially since they traded for Jaycob Megna ahead of the 2023 trade deadline.
Considering he's younger than many of the pending free-agent defensemen, Soucy could be sought after by other teams looking for a player under 30. He might not be the biggest name on this list, but his reliability is unmatched. Soucy's next team will gain a dependable player with many years of hockey still ahead of him.
Top NHL UFA defenseman options: 7. Ryan Graves
Age: 28
2022-23 team: New Jersey Devils
The youngest pending UFA on this list, Ryan Graves, is a shutdown defenseman who has exceeded expectations for a fourth-round draft pick. Drafted by the New York Rangers, Graves has played three seasons in the NHL with the Colorado Avalanche and two seasons with the New Jersey Devils. Graves signed a three-year $9.5 million contract with the Avalanche in 2020 before being traded to the Devils in 2021 for the remaining two years of his contract.
A well-rounded top-six defenseman, Graves is skilled with puck possession, showing an ability to transition the puck from one side of the ice to the other. He blocked 152 shots during the 2022-23 regular season. Graves and his usual linemate, John Marino, were often on the ice for the Devils' toughest minutes against opponents' top offensive lines. Graves gets a lot of minutes on the penalty kill. He sometimes struggles to get back on the play, which is something Marino excels at, part of what makes them a strong pairing. Graves makes a lot of heads-up plays and gets the puck away from his team's goal.
Over five NHL seasons, Graves has shown he can be useful on both sides of the ice. While he's certainly not going to break records for goals by a defenseman, he's not afraid to take a shot. Graves took 141 shots in the 2022-23 regular season and scored 8 goals. He had 28 points in 2021-22 and 26 points in 2022-23. Graves can be successful when paired with an offensive defenseman or a defense-first defenseman.
There's an outside chance that Graves stays in New Jersey, but it's unlikely given that standout defenseman Luke Hughes is NHL-ready and would pair nicely with defense-first Marino. The Devils also expect prospect Simon Nemec to be NHL-ready. However, Graves has chemistry with his teammates, and the Devils are coming off of a huge year with a 49-point improvement over the previous season, the largest turnaround in NHL history.
Losing Graves would leave a hole in the penalty kill, one the Devils would struggle to fill with their remaining defensemen and two rookies. Don't rule out a return to Jersey. Graves might find a bigger contract elsewhere, though.
Top NHL UFA defenseman options: 6. Erik Johnson
Age: 35
2022-23 team: Colorado Avalanche
Erik Johnson is a big, physical defenseman who skates well. Johnson was a first-overall draft pick by the St. Louis Blues back in 2006. He was traded to the Colorado Avalanche in 2011, where he has played ever since. Johnson signed a massive seven-year $42 million extension with the Avalanche in 2015 for the 2016-17 season through the 2022-23 season. Johnson won the Stanley Cup with the Avalanche in 2022 and is the longest-tenured member of the team.
Johnson is a big presence on the ice who finishes checks. He has a high hockey IQ that gives him the ability to read a play. Johnson is a player who stays out of the penalty box. A downside for Johnson is that he has struggled to stay healthy throughout his career. He missed part of the 2022-23 regular season with a broken ankle. He returned in time for the end of the season and the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Johnson's veteran presence on the team has been important over the past few years.
In 63 regular season games in 2022-23, Johnson blocked 102 shots and made 121 hits. Once known for being a two-way player, Johnson's offensive output has dropped off in recent years. He didn't score any goals during the regular season and had just 8 assists. He did score a big goal in Round 1 of the playoffs, although his team was eliminated.
As the oldest player on this list, 35-year-old Johnson is least likely to get a long-term contract. He's nearing the end of his career, but Johnson is still looking to help out a team next season. It's unclear if the Avalanche are interested in bringing him back at this stage of his career, but if they do, he would likely have a smaller role than he's used to. If he can prove he's still an asset, Johnson should be able to stick around in the NHL for a few more years.
Top UFA defenseman options: 5. John Klingberg
Age: 30
2022-23 team: Minnesota Wild
John Klingberg is an offensive defenseman with a lot of hockey sense. He was drafted by the Dallas Stars in 2010 and remained with the organization until he became a free agent in 2022. He signed a one-year $7 million contract last offseason with the Anaheim Ducks and was traded to the Minnesota Wild at the 2023 trade deadline. Klingberg is hitting free agency again, looking for a longer contract.
Klingberg is best paired with a defense-first blueliner, as he'll take care of the offensive side of things. He played forward as a kid, but because of his lack of speed, he switched over to the role of defenseman as a teenager. When he was drafted, there were concerns about his smaller size, but the Dallas Stars took a chance on him, and it paid off. Klingberg has a feel for the game that not all players have.
In the 2022-23 regular season, Klingberg was not at his best. He scored 10 goals and made 23 assists, totaling 33 points. In 2021-22, he reached 47 points. One concern is that the defenseman struggles in his own zone, and he's historically been on the ice for more goals against than for. His +/- this past season was -25. He still has plenty of upsides, as he's useful on the power play and stays out of the penalty box. Klingberg blocked 84 shots during the regular season, his most blocks since 2017-18.
Like some other players on this list, it could be Klingberg's last chance at a long-term contract. He will be 31 years old next season. The Minnesota Wild might want to keep Klingberg, but because of the Ryan Suter and Zach Parise buyouts from last offseason, they may not be able to.
Klingberg might not get as lucrative of a contract as he's hoping for. With many teams eyeing the salary cap, signing an older player who has already shown signs of declining to a long, expensive deal can be risky. Klingberg could end up with a shorter, less expensive deal, but it should be longer than the one-year deal he received last offseason.
Top NHL UFA defenseman options: 4. Shayne Gostisbehere
Age: 30
2022-23 team: Arizona Coyotes/Carolina Hurricanes
Shayne Gostisbehere is an offensive defenseman who eats a lot of minutes. Gostisbehere was drafted by the Philadelphia Flyers in 2012 and signed with them in 2014. He signed a six-year $27 million contract extension in 2017. Gotisbehere was traded to the Arizona Coyotes in 2021 and then traded to the Carolina Hurricanes in 2023 at the trade deadline.
Gostisbehere skates well and moves the puck. He takes away his opponents' space, but due to his smaller size, he sometimes struggles when defending against bigger opponents. His team can rely on him to transition the puck from the defensive zone to the offensive zone. Gostisbehere is a smart multi-dimensional player who moves well on both sides of the ice. He is known to stay out of the penalty box. Gostisbehere is impactful on the power play.
During the 2022-23 regular season, Gostisbehere blocked 89 shots. He scored 14 goals in 2021-22 and 13 goals in 2022-23. He had 15 power-play points during the season. Gostisbehere's +/- is usually a negative number, as it was this year at -5. It's hard to change teams mid-season, so Gostisbehere had a tall order coming into his time with the Canes. Gostisbehere and the Canes went deep into the playoffs but were eliminated by the red-hot Florida Panthers.
While he was only in Carolina for a short time, Gostisbehere recently shared that he became close with his teammates quickly. Still, he was a rental for the Canes, and he didn't really shine during his short time with the team, so there isn't necessarily a huge pull to re-sign him. He's someone who could benefit from the thin defenseman free agent market, as he's near the top of the class. Gostisbehere should get a desirable contract, although it remains to be seen where he will play.
Top UFA defenseman options: 3. Damon Severson
Age: 28
2022-23 team: New Jersey Devils
Damon Severson is a solid blueliner who skates well. A second-round pick by the New Jersey Devils, Severson has played in nine NHL seasons with the club. In 2017, he signed a six-year deal with the Devils worth $25.2 million. Severson is the longest-tenured Devil, and he finally got a second taste of the Stanley Cup Playoffs with the Devils in 2023 five years after his first appearance in the playoffs. Severson is now set to hit the free-agent market this summer.
Severson has developed into a strong two-way player. In the 2022-23 season, he blocked 115 shots. He had a +/- of 9. A downside for Severson is giving up too many chances. Severson has shown strong offensive output in the past two seasons, although he was down this past season from his previous season's numbers. He racked up 46 points in 2021-22 and 33 points in 2022-23. He did move down on the Devils' depth chart, though, with other defensemen seeing bigger roles.
At 28 years old, it's likely Severson could ink another six-year deal. He could get a big payday from a team looking for a reliable veteran defenseman. Similar to where Ryan Graves is at, staying in New Jersey isn't looking likely for Severson. The Devils have a crowded blueline already, and with rookies Luke Hughes and Simon Nemec expected to factor in, Graves and Severson are looking in from the outside.
Severson is one of the best third-line defensemen in the NHL right now, and it's possible another team could use him as a top-six defenseman. He expressed interest in staying with the Devils, the only team he's ever known, but it's unclear how he'd fit into the picture. It's also unlikely the Devils can afford a big contract for him when they're expected to give Timo Meier and Jesper Bratt large contracts. Severson is sure to be a sought-after free agent this summer, and he's likely to come away with a fair long-term contract.
Top NHL UFA defenseman options: 2. Matt Dumba
Age: 28
2022-23 team: Minnesota Wild
Matt Dumba is a physical defenseman and an elite skater. He was a seventh overall pick by the Minnesota Wild. Dumba signed a five-year $30 million contract with the Wild in 2018. He has played nine seasons in the NHL, all with the Wild. Dumba becomes an unrestricted free agent this summer.
While Dumba is an aggressive defenseman who is known for physicality, he also typically contributes significantly to the offense, as well. This is an unusual combination for a defenseman, one that serves his team well. Dumba gets a lot of ice time and is usually out there for big minutes. He doesn't hesitate to make a hit, and he's also willing to take them, too.
Dumba didn't have a great season in 2022-23, but he did contribute to his team. His physicality and mobility continued to be advantages for the Wild. Dumba blocked 116 shots and made 104 hits. On the downside, Dumba had just 14 points, half of what he produced the previous season. He only scored 4 goals with a 4% shooting percentage. Dumba struggled to move the puck. He had a +/- of -8, the worst of his career. Dumba took nearly twice as many penalty minutes than he did in 2021-22 with 81 minutes in the regular season. Dumba's quieter year shouldn't negatively impact his next contract too much. He's still expected to be a valuable pick-up.
Although Dumba means a lot to Minnesota, he's unlikely to be re-signed. The Wild are dealing with the aforementioned financial issues stemming from buyouts. "My heart is definitely here in Minny," Dumba said during his exit interview. "I want to win. I want to win here." Despite his desire to continue his career with the Wild, the business side of things aren't in his favor. He would probably need to take a significantly smaller deal than he's capable of getting elsewhere. It's likely Dumba will be in a different NHL uniform come next fall.
Top NHL UFA defenseman options: 1. Dmitry Orlov
Age: 31
2022-23 teams: Washington Capitals/Boston Bruins
The best defenseman in the 2023 free-agent market is Dmitry Orlov. He played part of the season with the Boston Bruins after being traded by his longtime team, the Washington Capitals, ahead of the 2023 trade deadline. It seemed like a surprising move because Orlov had been with the Capitals for over a decade, but the move made sense because the Capitals gained draft picks that will help them restock their prospect pool. Orlov's previous contract was a six-year deal worth $30.6 million. He won the Stanley Cup with Washington in 2018.
Orlov is a strong two-way defenseman who proves his worth on both sides of the ice. He is useful on the penalty kill and the power play, and he doesn't commit a lot of penalties. Orlov made 137 hits during the 2022-23 regular season. His +/- for the season was 12. Orlov has plenty of offensive upside. He has a wicked slapshot and can execute a one-timer. Orlov had 35 points in 2021-22 with the Capitals and 36 points in 2022-23 between the Capitals and the Bruins.
At 31 years old, this is likely Orlov's last chance for a long-term contract with a sizable salary. One of the downsides of signing him is that because he's the best UFA defenseman available, he's going to come at a high price. Teams who want him will need to be able to pay him what he deserves. He's expected to get a five-year deal. Orlov's current team, the Bruins, are unlikely to have the ability to bring him back based on their cap situation.
It's possible Orlov will reunite with his longtime team if the Capitals can make a deal work. As his former long-term home, the Capitals are probably the only team who have a shot at getting Orlov for a little bit less money. Orlov's new contract is expected to be one of the biggest splashes in free agency during this offseason.
These ten players are the best defensemen available through free agency this NHL offseason. We'll find out where each of these notable soon-to-be free agents will land this summer.
