Top NHL free agent defensemen: Orlov, Graves, Klingberg likely available

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):

Mathew Dumba, Minnesota Wild

The 28-year-old had 14 points (four goals, 10 assists) while averaging 21:17 of ice time in 79 regular-season games for the Wild this season, and two assists in six Stanley Cup Playoff games. He has 236 points (79 goals, 157 assists) in 598 regular-season games and 15 points (five goals, 10 assists) in 49 playoff games.

Brian Dumoulin, Pittsburgh Penguins

The 31-year-old is a two-time Stanley Cup champion with the Penguins (2016, 2017). He had an NHL career-high 25 points (one goal, 24 assists) and averaged 20:38 of ice time in 82 games this season. He has 139 points (19 goals, 120 assists) in 546 regular-season games and 25 points (four goals, 21 assists) in 81 playoff games.

Oliver Ekman-Larsson, Vancouver Canucks

The 31-year-old will become an unrestricted free agent after he had the final four seasons of his eight-year contract bought out by the Canucks on June 16. Ekman-Larsson had 22 points (two goals, 20 assists) and averaged 20:11 of ice time in 54 games this season. He has 439 points (135 goals, 304 assists) in 902 regular-season games for the Canucks and Arizona Coyotes, and eight points (two goals, six assists) in 25 playoff games.

Shayne Gostisbehere, Carolina Hurricanes

The 30-year-old had 41 points (13 goals, 28 assists) and averaged 20:49 of ice time in 75 regular-season games for the Hurricanes and Coyotes this season, including 10 points (three goals, seven assists) in 23 games after he was acquired in a trade with Arizona on March 1. Gostisbehere had three assists in 15 playoff games. He has 311 points (87 goals, 224 assists) in 538 regular-season games for the Hurricanes, Coyotes and Philadelphia Flyers, and eight points (two goals, six assists) in 32 playoff games.

Ryan Graves, New Jersey Devils

The 28-year-old had 26 points (eight goals, 18 assists) while averaging 19:57 of ice time in 78 regular-season games for the Devils this season and led them in blocked shots (152). He had one assist in 10 postseason games. Graves has 100 points (28 goals, 72 assists) in 302 regular-season games for the Devils and Colorado Avalanche, and 10 points (two goals, eight assists) in 35 playoff games.

Radko Gudas, Florida Panthers

Gudas ranked second in the NHL in hits (312) and had 124 blocked shots in 72 regular-season games for the Panthers this season. The 33-year-old had 17 points (two goals, 15 assists) while averaging 17:22 of ice time per game and had three assists in 21 playoff games to help Florida advance to the Cup Final. He has 164 points (33 goals, 131 assists) in 682 regular-season games for the Panthers, Washington Capitals, Flyers and Tampa Bay Lightning, and 10 points (one goal, nine assists) in 57 playoff games.

Erik Gustafsson, Toronto Maple Leafs

The 31-year-old had 42 points (seven goals, 35 assists) and averaged 19:46 of ice time in 70 regular-season games for the Maple Leafs and Capitals this season, including four assists in nine games after he was acquired in a trade with Washington on Feb. 28. Gustafsson had one goal in two playoff games. He has 191 points (39 goals, 152 assists) in 379 regular-season games for the Maple Leafs, Capitals, Chicago Blackhawks, Montreal Canadiens, Flyers and Calgary Flames, and nine points (two goals, seven assists) in 33 playoff games.

John Klingberg, Minnesota Wild

For the second offseason in a row, Klingberg will be one of the top defensemen available to start free agency. The 30-year-old had 33 points (10 goals, 23 assists) while averaging 20:37 of ice time in 67 games for the Wild and Anaheim Ducks this season, including nine points (two goals, seven assists) in 17 games after he was acquired in a trade March 3. He is a power-play threat, with 158 of his 407 regular-season points (81 goals, 326 assists) coming with the man-advantage. Klingberg had four points (one goal, three assists) in four playoff games this season and has 39 points (eight goals, 31 assists) in 63 postseason games.

Scott Mayfield, New York Islanders

The 30-year-old was 10th in the NHL in blocked shots (168) and set NHL career highs in goals (six), assists (18) and points (24) in 82 regular-season games while averaging 21:02 of ice time per game. He had three points (one goal, two assists) in six playoff games. Mayfield has 111 points (25 goals, 86 assists) in 428 regular-season games and 16 points (four goals, 12 assists) in 57 playoff games.

Dmitry Orlov, Boston Bruins

The 31-year-old had 36 points (seven goals, 29 assists) while averaging 22:33 of ice time in 66 regular-season games for the Bruins and Capitals this season, including 17 points (four goals, 13 assists) in 23 games after he was acquired in a trade Feb. 23. Orlov, who won the Stanley Cup with the Capitals in 2018, has 273 points (64 goals, 209 assists) in 709 regular-season games for Boston and Washington, and 31 points (two goals, 29 assists) in 81 playoff games.

Luke Schenn, Toronto Maple Leafs

The 33-year-old led the NHL in hits (318) during the regular season and had 22 points (four goals, 18 assists) in 70 games, averaging 16:21 of ice time per game for the Maple Leafs and Vancouver Canucks this season. He had one goal in 15 games after he was acquired in a trade with the Canucks on Feb. 28 and had one assist in 11 playoff games. A two-time Stanley Cup winner with the Lightning (2020, 2021), Schenn has 191 points (42 goals, 149 assists) in 933 regular-season games for the Maple Leafs, Canucks, Lightning, Ducks, Coyotes, Flyers and Los Angeles Kings, and seven points (three goals, four assists) in 42 playoff games.

Kevin Shattenkirk, Anaheim Ducks

The 34-year-old had 27 points (four goals, 23 assists) and averaged 19:18 of ice time in 75 games for the Ducks this season. A Stanley Cup winner with the Lightning in 2020, he has 460 points (97 goals, 363 assists) in 891 regular-season games for the Ducks, Lightning, New York Rangers, Capitals, Avalanche and St. Louis Blues, and 47 points (eight goals, 39 assists) in 85 postseason games. Shattenkirk could also provide veteran leadership and be a mentor for younger players.