It’s the eve of 2023 NHL free agency. Do you know where your team’s blue line stands?
Like this summer’s class of forwards, the selection of defenders hitting the market isn’t exactly a star-studded group — but that doesn’t mean there aren’t plenty of impactful players available in free agency.
Whether your team is looking for top-end skill, a little sandpaper, a big body on the blue line or a puck-moving rearguard, here’s a look at some of the bigger names on the UFA defenceman market this summer.
Dmitry Orlov
Age: 31
2022-23 cap hit: $5.1M (Capitals, Bruins)
The Bruins gave up a lot to get Orlov at this year’s trade deadline. The season’s most coveted defensive trade target cost Boston veteran forward Craig Smith and a trio of picks, including their 2023 first-rounder, in the three-team deal that saw the Bruins also land Garnet Hathaway and a prospect from Minnesota.
Four months and one devastating first-round upset later, the rental rearguard is once again a hot commodity — not only the prized d-man of this year’s UFA class, but the biggest fish in the UFA pond overall by most measures. And this time, his prospective price tag is likely out of the Bruins’ budget.
As reported earlier this week by Bruins reporter Fluto Shinzawa, general manager Don Sweeney told reporters Orlov is unlikely to be re-signed. That’s welcome news for teams in need of a veteran top-pairing guy who’s unafraid to flex his offensive muscle, but at a time when the majority of clubs appear to be in or nearing a cap crunch, what might Orlov earn in his first foray in free agency?
According to earlier reporting from Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman, Orlov had been seeking a long-term extension with Washington before talks broke down and the Capitals ultimately shipped him off to Boston. With 11 years worth of history in Washington, does he return? Considering Florida’s urgent need at defence thanks to injuries, could we see a surprise signing with the club that ousted the Bruins? Or maybe he serves as a veteran presence on a young blue line in Buffalo or joins the chorus of defenders Columbus has been accruing.
He’ll be 32 once the 2023-24 season opens, which could have teams hesitant to offer big term.
Matt Dumba
Age: 28
2022-23 cap hit: $6M (Wild)
Welcome to salary cap hell, Minnesota. With buyout penalties for Ryan Suter and Zach Parise totalling $14.7 million this year and next and Matt Boldy’s $7-million AAV kicking in, July 1 opens a tough chapter for the Wild — and likely closes another because of it. Matt Dumba has spent all 10 of his NHL seasons in the State Of Hockey, his tenure not without its share of trade rumours.
On the ice, he’s been a physical force who can drive play from the blue line and eat major minutes — he averaged 21:07 a night this past season — and the fact he’s a right shot in a class of lefties makes him all the more enticing. Off it, he’s propelled the game forward both in the Minneapolis community and the hockey world overall thanks to his leadership in diversity initiatives and pushing for social change.
Despite a desire from both sides to keep this partnership going, the most likely scenario that unfolds on Saturday is Dumba signing elsewhere if he’s to capitalize on his biggest opportunity for his biggest raise.
Shayne Gostisbehere
Age: 30
2022-23 cap hit: $4.5M (Coyotes, Hurricanes)
From his electric rookie season in 2015-16 and his Norris vote-earning campaign two years later to his fall in Philadelphia, waiver stints and the trade to Arizona that ended his time with the Flyers for pretty much zero return, Gostisbehere’s career really has been a roller-coaster ride. His bounce-back season with the Coyotes in 2021-22 ushered in more of the offensive success we’d come to expect from him early in his career. And, between his 10 goals and 31 points in 52 games with Arizona this season and the 10 points he added in 23 games with Carolina after being traded to the Hurricanes, he appears to have regained his stride.
So, what does that mean for his free agency outlook? The left-shot rearguard with a flare for the offensive will be an interesting name to watch — and perhaps a candidate for a short-term show-me deal on a team looking to boost its blue line.
John Klingberg
Age: 30
2022-23 cap hit: $7M (Ducks, Wild)
Like Gostibehere, Klingberg presents an interesting case as a free agent. Neither he nor the Dallas Stars were able to capitalize on what was a very fascinating contract year in 2021-22, and his gamble with the Anaheim Ducks last summer, which saw him sign a one-year deal worth $7 million, didn’t really pan out, either. He ended the season in Minnesota after being dealt to the Wild at the deadline and is now greeted by his second straight off-season as a UFA.
Working in his favour this year are a few things: The UFA market is shallow overall, and teams are always looking for defencemen that can drive the play from the blue line. We know what he can do offensively — we saw plenty of that in Dallas, particularly during the Stars’ run to the Cup Final in the bubble — but questions about whether he can regain his defensive form remain.
Ryan Graves
Age: 28
2022-23 cap hit: $3.167M (Devils)
After stepping into some big moments with Colorado as they arrived at their Stanley Cup contending window, Ryan Graves rightly earned more time in the spotlight with the New Jersey Devils. The defensive defenceman proved he can eat big minutes on a budding young blue line, but with New Jersey ready to bring in another wave of youth from its deep prospect pool, it’s likely Graves will be out the door — much like his former teammate, Damon Severson.
While Graves’ skillset doesn’t boast the offensive tempo of some of the other d-men who could be on the move this summer via signings or trades, he’s the type of defender teams lean on through the toughest parts of the season. Graves’ size — he’s six-foot-five and 220 pounds — and reliability as a top-four guy (his plus-34 rating is the best among UFA d-men) should have plenty of teams interested.
Oliver Ekman-Larsson
Age: 31
2022-23 cap hit: $8.25M (Canucks)
The most recent addition to this year’s free agent class, Oliver Ekman-Larsson hit surprise UFA status when the Vancouver Canucks bought out the final four years of his contract in mid-June. The buyout came just four years after he signed his big-money, max-term deal in Arizona and just two seasons after landing in Vancouver via a trade that felt equally ill-fated from the start.
Ever since his $8.25-million cap hit kicked in in 2019-20, Ekman-Larsson’s offensive game — the very thing that had made him one of the elite blue liners in the league — has struggled. The player once known for hitting consistent double-digit goal tallies and breaking 40 points has put up just 19 goals and 86 points in the last four seasons combined. Adding to the troubles is the state of his defensive game, which hasn’t inspired much confidence he’ll rebound.
And yet… we know what Ekman-Larsson has been historically capable of, when placed in the right situation, making him a really fascinating case on the free-agency front. For a team willing to take a chance on a short-term prove-it deal and put in the work to reclaim his game, this could be the start of a better chapter for the Swedish rearguard who’s surely got plenty of good hockey ahead.
Radko Gudas
Age: 33
2022-23 cap hit: $2.5M (Panthers)
He’s the kind of defender you might not hear a lot about in the regular season, but come playoff time when meanness (and beards) can make all the difference, he’s exactly what every contender needs.
Following their Cinderella-like run to the Stanley Cup Final, the Panthers could be in for a painful off-season — as in, injuries to their top players requiring extended rehab time. No position will feel that more than defence, with stars like Aaron Ekblad and Brandon Montour undergoing major procedures that could see them sidelined to start next season.
Bringing back some stability in the form of Gudas would be key, but at 33 years old and reportedly looking for term, this is Gudas’ last best shot at getting paid.
Scott Mayfield
Age: 30
2022-23 cap hit: $1.45M (Islanders)
Islanders GM Lou Lamoriello has a busy off-season ahead and he’s already shown he’s prepared to make some tough cuts to this core with the trading away of veteran forward Josh Bailey. He made it clear earlier in June that he wants to bring Mayfield back, but has the defender priced himself out of Long Island?
Mayfield has spent the last five seasons on an affordable $7.25-million deal carrying an AAV of $1.45M and has earned the right to land himself a decent raise in his first foray into unrestricted free agency.
He’s coming off one of his strongest seasons to date, reaching offensive highs across the board with six goals and 18 assists and 24 points while providing a big, steady presence on a club known for its defensive style of play.
Carson Soucy
Age: 28
2022-23 cap hit: $2.75M (Kraken)
After flying mostly under the radar in his first three NHL seasons, Carson Soucy is about to get a little well-earned time in the shine of the UFA spotlight. While he’s not the biggest name on the market, he is one of the biggest defenders on the market — literally. At six-foot-five and 208 pounds, he ups the size of any blue line. The versatile defender proved he could play an important role in Seattle’s top four and step up his game in the playoffs.
According to NHL insider Frank Seravalli, the rearguard will hit the open market and could already have his next home lined up just a few hours north as the Canucks are reportedly very interested in signing Soucy:
Though his offensive numbers aren’t what he’s known for, he did reach personal highs in goals (10) and points (21) just two seasons ago upon first landing in Seattle.
Erik Gustafsson
Age: 31
2022-23 cap hit: $800,000 (Capitals, Maple Leafs)
Of all the defencemen on this list, Erik Gustafsson put up the best offensive numbers while earning the lowest salary. His 42 points this past season (38 in 61 games with Washington, where he stepped in for the injured John Carlson, and four in nine with Toronto) was his best total since hitting 60 in Chicago in 2018-19. And yet, upon landing with the Maple Leafs in the deal that saw a first-round pick join Gustafsson in Toronto in exchange for Rasmus Sandin, we barely saw Gustafsson suit up in blue and white. He played just 20 minutes of post-season hockey, appearing in only two games through two rounds.
Fit will be key here. We know he can put up decent offensive numbers and fill the role of a puck-mover, but questions about his defensive game makes him a wild card. Gustafsson has played each of the past two seasons on one-year pacts worth $800,000, and we'll find out if his offensive output in 2022-23 might earn him a salary boost, or a little more term, or if he’ll fall into the “steal” category.
More defencemen to watch: Luke Schenn, Justin Holl, Erik Johnson, Brian Dumoulin, Kevin Shattenkirk, Ian Cole, John Moore, Connor Clifton, Travis Hamonic
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