Top NHL free agent defensemen: Montour among best

With the NHL free agent signing period beginning July 1, there are several teams in the market for a defenseman who can play top-four minutes or provide leadership in a third-pair role.

NHL.com takes a closer look at the top unrestricted free agent defensemen (listed in alphabetical order):

TJ Brodie, Toronto Maple Leafs

The 34-year-old had 26 points (one goal, 25 assists) in 78 regular-season games for the Maple Leafs this season and did not have a point in one Stanley Cup Playoff game. Selected by the Calgary Flames in the fourth round (No. 114) of the 2008 NHL Draft, Brodie has 348 points (56 goals, 292 assists) in 908 regular-season games for the Maple Leafs and Flames, and 22 points (five goals, 17 assists) in 56 playoff games.

Oliver Ekman-Larsson, Florida Panthers

The 32-year-old had 32 points (nine goals, 23 assists) in 80 regular-season games for the Panthers this season and six points (two goals, four assists) in 24 playoff games to help Florida win the Stanley Cup. Selected by the Phoenix Coyotes in the first round (No. 6) of the 2009 NHL Draft, Ekman-Larsson has 471 points (144 goals, 327 assists) in 982 regular-season games for the Panthers, Vancouver Canucks and Phoenix/Arizona Coyotes, and 14 points (four goals, 10 assists) in 49 playoff games.

Shayne Gostisbehere, Detroit Red Wings

The 31-year-old had 56 points (10 goals, 46 assists) in 81 games for the Red Wings this season. Selected by the Philadelphia Flyers in the third round (No. 78) of the 2012 NHL Draft, Gostisbehere has 367 points (97 goals, 270 assists) in 619 regular-season games for the Red Wings, Carolina Hurricanes, Arizona Coyotes and Flyers, and eight points (two goals, six assists) in 32 playoff games.

Erik Gustafsson, New York Rangers

The 32-year-old had 31 points (six goals, 25 assists) in 76 regular-season games for the Rangers this season and three assists in 16 playoff games. Selected by the Edmonton Oilers in the fourth round (No. 93) of the 2012 NHL Draft, Gustafsson has 222 points (45 goals, 177 assists) in 455 regular-season games for the Rangers, Toronto Maple Leafs, Washington Capitals, Chicago Blackhawks, Montreal Canadiens, Philadelphia Flyers and Calgary Flames, and 12 points (two goals, 10 assists) in 49 playoff games.

John Klingberg, Toronto Maple Leafs

The 31-year-old had five assists in 14 games for the Maple Leafs this season before having season-ending hip surgery in December. Selected by the Dallas Stars in the fifth round (No. 131) of the 2010 NHL Draft, Klingberg has 412 points (81 goals, 331 assists) in 633 regular-season games for the Maple Leafs, Minnesota Wild, Anaheim Ducks and Stars, and 39 points (eight goals, 31 assists) in 63 playoff games.

Alec Martinez, Vegas Golden Knights

The 36-year-old had 17 points (four goals, 13 assists) in 55 regular-season games for the Golden Knights this season and no points in six playoff games. Selected by the Los Angeles Kings in the fourth round (No. 95) of the 2007 NHL Draft, Martinez has 277 points (83 goals, 194 assists) in 818 regular-season games for the Golden Knights and Kings, and 37 points (14 goals, 23 assists) in 131 playoff games. Martinez has won the Stanley Cup three times: twice with Los Angeles (2012, 2014) and once with Vegas (2023).

Brandon Montour, Florida Panthers

The 30-year-old had 33 points (eight goals, 25 assists) in 66 regular-season games for the Panthers this season and 11 points (three goals, eight assists) in 24 playoff games to help Florida win the Stanley Cup. Selected by the Anaheim Ducks in the second round (No. 55) of the 2014 NHL Draft, Montour has 252 points (66 goals, 186 assists) in 520 regular-season games for the Panthers, Buffalo Sabres and Ducks, and 35 points (11 goals, 24 assists) in 82 playoff games.

Justin Schultz, Seattle Kraken

The 33-year-old had 26 points (seven goals, 19 assists) in 70 games for the Kraken this season. Selected by the Anaheim Ducks in the second round (No. 43) of the 2008 NHL Draft, Schultz has 324 points (71 goals, 253 assists) in 745 regular-season games for the Kraken, Washington Capitals, Pittsburgh Penguins and Edmonton Oilers, and 42 points (10 goals, 32 assists) in 81 playoff games. Schultz won the Stanley Cup with the Penguins in 2016 and 2017.

Brady Skjei, Carolina Hurricanes

The 30-year-old had an NHL career-high 47 points (13 goals, 34 assists) in 80 regular-season games for the Hurricanes this season and nine points (one goal, eight assists) in 11 playoff games. Selected by the New York Rangers in the first round (No. 28) of the 2012 NHL Draft, Skjei has 247 points (68 goals, 179 assists) in 609 regular-season games for the Hurricanes and Rangers, and 25 points (seven goals, 18 assists) in 76 playoff games.

Ryan Suter, Dallas Stars

The 39-year-old had the final year of his three-year, $14.6 million contract bought out on Friday. He had 17 points (two goals, 15 assists) in 82 regular-season games this season and four points (one goal three assists) in 19 playoff games. Selected by Nashville in the first round (No. 7) of the 2003 NHL Draft, Suter has 681 points (105 goals, 576 assists) in 1,444 regular-season games with the Stars, Wild and Predators and 44 points (seven goals, 37 assists) in 133 playoff games.

Sean Walker, Colorado Avalanche

The 29-year-old had 29 points (10 goals, 19 assists) in 81 regular-season games for the Colorado Avalanche and Philadelphia Flyers this season, including seven points (four goals, three goals) in 18 games with the Avalanche after he was acquired in a trade March 6. He had no points in 11 playoff games. Signed by the Los Angeles Kings as an undrafted free agent on July 2, 2018, Walker has 96 points (26 goals, 70 assists) in 313 regular-season games for the Avalanche, Flyers and Kings, and no points in 13 playoff games.