With the NHL common season off and operating, there are nonetheless quite a few veteran defensemen who hope the sport hasn’t fully handed them by.
Mark Giordano, John Klingberg, Justin Schultz and Kevin Shattenkirk are among the many free brokers at the moment with no contract who nonetheless hope to search out their manner again to an NHL roster in the course of the 2024-25 marketing campaign.
They account for 3,754 mixed video games performed on the NHL stage — plus a number of Stanley Cup championships, a Norris Trophy and quite a few different accolades.
There are not any restrictions on the place and once they can signal. They want solely discover somebody to supply a contract.
With that in thoughts, right here’s what we’re listening to about every participant’s scenario whereas they anticipate the telephone to ring.
Mark Giordano
The oldest participant within the NHL final season nonetheless has designs on squeezing in yet another 12 months at age 41.
Giordano spent the summer season skating with Toronto-based NHLers and has continued to coach since they dispersed for coaching camp. He’s pushed himself notably arduous in on-ice classes whereas attempting to fend off Father Time and work his manner again to a league the place 39-year-old Ryan Suter of the St. Louis Blues is at the moment slated to be the oldest skater.
Giordano has already loved a 1,148-game NHL profession however continues to chase an elusive Stanley Cup — making it a precedence for him to attempt to land a depth job with one of many groups in contender mode.
The Edmonton Oilers, Winnipeg Jets, Carolina Hurricanes and New York Rangers are amongst these seen as interesting prospects.
The 2019 Norris Trophy winner suited up for 46 video games with the Toronto Maple Leafs final season however was scratched for the whole lot of a seven-game playoff collection towards the Boston Bruins. Nonetheless, he’s remained dependable properly past an age the place most may even play within the NHL, and he’s posted a plus ranking at five-on-five in 5 of the previous six seasons.
On high of that, he’s been a valued locker-room voice who beforehand served as a captain for the Calgary Flames and Seattle Kraken.
John Klingberg
Now 9 months since Klingberg underwent a double hip resurfacing process, the 32-year-old is deep into the rehabilitation work he hopes will permit him to renew his NHL profession later this season.
Klingberg’s process was carried out by Dr. Edwin Su on the Hospital for Particular Surgical procedure in New York — the identical surgeon who operated on Patrick Kane’s proper hip in 2023. These two gamers have been involved throughout Klingberg’s restoration interval.
Of explicit word on the subject of the Swede’s file is that he beforehand got here again from a double hip surgical procedure in April 2015 — earlier than he established himself as one of many NHL’s higher puck-distributing power-play specialists. His previous two NHL seasons have been hampered by hip discomfort, with Klingberg restricted to simply 14 video games final season with the Toronto Maple Leafs earlier than he was pressured to close issues down and go for surgical procedure in January 2024.
The suitable-shot defenseman is skating within the Higher Toronto Space as a part of an in depth rehab program. Whereas there isn’t a agency timetable on when he’s anticipated to be prepared for NHL motion, there’s hope his well being will permit it in some unspecified time in the future within the new 12 months.
Klingberg is eligible to signal a efficiency bonus-laden one-year contract that reduces the chance being taken by an group as a result of he’s a veteran of greater than 400 NHL video games who spent greater than 100 days on injured reserve final season.
Justin Schultz
This can be a distinctive scenario as a result of the 34-year-old is coming off a season the place he held down a daily spot within the Seattle Kraken’s lineup and he’s already handed on different NHL alternatives over the summer season, in accordance with league sources.
Schultz nonetheless seems like he has one thing to offer. He’s simply ready for the suitable scenario and match.
The suitable-shot defenseman has quietly loved a profession that will make Forrest Gump jealous. What number of different gamers can say they’ve been teammates with Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl, Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and Alex Ovechkin?
Schultz additionally owns two Stanley Cup rings, has performed in a number of fascinating cities and has greater than 800 NHL video games on his resume over 12 years. It’s been an unbelievable run for a man who was as soon as a closely in-demand NCAA free agent when he left the College of Wisconsin in 2012.
Don’t rule out the likelihood Schultz finally ends up going to Europe for a special expertise if the suitable NHL alternative doesn’t emerge.
Kevin Shattenkirk
It’s been considerably stunning Shattenkirk hasn’t discovered the suitable match after serving as a reliable choice for the Bruins final season.
The 35-year-old unrestricted free agent, with 952 NHL video games below his belt, averaged almost 16 minutes per night time for Boston and dressed for six Bruins playoff video games within the spring.
His camp, led by agent Jordan Neumann, stays in fixed communication with a number of groups, having in-depth conversations about his consumer’s potential match. It’s believed the Edmonton Oilers are among the many groups which have talked to them.
Shattenkirk’s camp is patiently ready for the suitable match whereas the previous Group USA Olympian works out day by day in Connecticut with hockey coach Ben Prentiss.
He’s been often known as a high-character participant in each dressing room he’s referred to as residence and gained a Stanley Cup with the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2020.
(Picture of Mark Giordano: Bruce Bennett / Getty Photos)
