As mentioned in our recent article examining right-handed defenseman, the New Jersey Devils have more of a need for a defenseman that plays the right-side. So, what the point of examining the left-hand defensive free agent market? Well, some of them can play the right side. Also, maybe the Devils are not entirely sold on the plethora of young left-handed defensemen they have in-house.

Left-Handed	Right-Handed
Ryan Graves	Dougie Hamilton
Jonas Siegenthaler	Damon Severson
Ty Smith	TBD

With that being said, let’s take a look at how the left-handed defensive market looks. With a focus on those that can play either side.

Note, this below list is in order of preference.

The Targets

Brett Kulak

The six-foot-two, 190-pound defenseman was traded midseason from Montreal to Edmonton. He has eight years of NHL experience under this belt. Prior to this year, he did not play more than 58 games in a season, besides in 2017-18. During a full season, Kulak is good for 100-plus hits and over 55 blocked shots. He prototypes as a true defensive-defenseman.

This claim is further evident by his 94th percentile defensive rating over the past three seasons by Evolving Hockey. As the above depicts, Kulak’s defensive on-ice impact is just terrific. Interestingly enough, he is not exactly a black-hole offensively either, this despite a career-high of only 21 points (2021-22).

Evolving Hockey is only projecting Kulak to sign a three-year, $2,900,000 per season contract. At this price, someone would be getting a steal for a defenseman who should be getting top-four minutes. Although he played on the left-side to end the season, CapFriendly lists Kulak as having left-pair abilities as well.

Also, signing Kulak longer term can ensue replacement in the top-four in case Ryan Graves walks after next season. And, the contract can be structured to expire by the time Luke Hughes is ready for the top-four.

Ian Cole

The 33-year-old veteran has played 670 regular season games with six different teams. He also has two Stanley Cup rings and 110 career playoff games under his belt. Like several on this list, Cole is very strong defensively. As evident by his tendency to total 100-plus hits and 150-plus blocked shots a season.

Over the past three seasons, Cole ranks above the league’s 50th percentile in offensive and defensive on-ice metrics. As the above indicates, Cole is an extremely strong five-on-five asset who also has excelled on the penalty kill. One of the few knocks on the Michigan-born defenseman is he takes a ton of penalties.

The veteran defenseman played mainly the right-side for Carolina last season. This despite being left-handed. He would be a terrific compliment to whatever young defenseman the Devils decide to roll with on the left side in the bottom pair.

Evolving Hockey is only projecting Cole to receive a two-year, $2,600,000 contract. Couple the extremely strong historically on-ice impact, with his playoff experience, and Cole would bring extreme value at that price. He should be near the top of the Devils’ list.

Nikita Zadorov

Nikita Zadorov is a hard-hitting monster of a defenseman. He is listed at six-foot-six and 235 pounds. The nine-year NHL veteran has played for four different teams. You can count on close to 200 hits and 75 blocked shots a season from the rugged defenseman.

Zadorov is seemingly most Devils’ fans dream. He is touted as a shut-down defenseman and that is what his five-on-five on-ice defensive impacts show. As per the above Regularized Adjusted Plus-Minus (RAPM) chart. Worth noting, Zadorov’s penalty kill impact hasn’t been great for his skill set. But, at five-on-five he is as advertised.

The 27-year-old is projected to receive a five-year, $4,300,000 per season contract by Evolving Hockey. For what he does, that projection is pretty rich. And, if that is the actual price, New Jersey should probably steer clear.

Given CapFriendly lists that Zadorov has the capability to play the right side as well, he would fit nicely on that bottom-pair on the right side. That’s if he is willing to be paid as such.

Calvin de Haan

The six-foot-one Canadien spent the past three seasons with the Chicago Blackhawks. His 10-year NHL career has spanned three different teams. In most seasons, de Haan is good for both 100-plus hits and blocked shots. Anther telling sign of a strong defensive-defenseman.

de Haan’s on-ice defensive metrics demonstrate that he is well-above average in his own end. The 31-year-old does have negative impacts offensively, but for the type of defenseman he is, he does what he is suppose to do well.

De Haan’s contract is expiring at a price tag of $5,400,000. He will surely be receiving a pay decrease. How much is the real question. Enough to warrant a bottom-pair role for a guy that can play either the left or right side? If so, the Devils should certainly be inquiring about the former top draft pick.

Olli Maatta

The 27-year-old has bounced around between Pittsburgh, Chicago, and Los Angeles the past four seasons. He is usually good for around 100 blocks and hits a season. Overall, he has established himself as a pretty solid bottom-four, defensive-first defenseman.

Over the past three seasons, per Evolving Hockey, Maatta ranks in the league’s 69th percentile defensively. He also has strong impacts on special teams when he was given the opportunity in those situations. Overall, an above-average player.

Evolving Hockey is projecting Maatta at a lofty four-years, $3,100,000 annually. If New Jersey decides the current internal young defensive options won’t do, then singing Maatta would be wise. Especially since Maatta has really only played the left side throughout his career.

However, the above projection may be a bit rich for what they are looking for. Though if they can get him for less it would be a nice addition.

Other Options

The left-handed market features a lot more quantity than the right-handed marketplace. Ben Chiarot is probably the biggest name, however, his on-ice impacts are woeful. The Devils should certainly stay away.

Veterans such as Nick Leddy, Keith Yandle, Alexander Elder, Brad Hunt, Marc Staal, Zdeno Chara, Danny DeKeyser, Andy Greene, Jack Johnson, Jordie Benn, Brendan Smith, Andrej Sekera, and Matt Irwin are also available but all have been regressing and have posted poor on-ice impacts in recent years.

Players in their early-30s or younger such as Erik Gustafsson, Sebastian Aho, Robert Hagg, and Will Butcher each have performed pretty underwhelming with poor on-ice impacts the last couple years. Also, despite a history of decent numbers, former Devil Ryan Murray‘s on-ice impact fell off the past couple seasons. And, of course, the Devils have already been there.

Both William Lagesson and Kris Russell have a history of pretty strong defensive impacts. However, New Jersey probably views their internal young defensive options at around the same level as the 26 year old Lagesson. Meanwhile, Russell is 35 years old and likely not going to be an option.