NHL free agency: Ranking the best defenseman options
By Marci Rubin
Top NHL UFA defenseman options: 9. Scott Mayfield
Age: 30
2022-23 team: New York Islanders
It might be surprising that Scott Mayfield made this list over other UFA defensemen who have higher salary caps, but Mayfield is a solid blueliner who accepted a team-friendly $7.25 million five-year deal in 2018 to stay with the organization that drafted him. Mayfield was drafted in the second round by the New York Islanders in 2011. When he was expected to hit free agency in 2018, he signed a contract extension before that could happen. This time around, inking a new deal with the Isles is trickier. Mayfield could be a casualty of the salary cap.
Mayfield is perhaps an underrated defenseman. He’s a defense-first player who keeps the puck out of his defensive zone and is impactful on the penalty kill. What he lacks in mobility, he makes up for in physicality. During the 2022-23 season, Mayfield blocked a career-high 168 shots and made 107 hits. He also logged a career-high average ice time with just over 21 minutes during his age 30 season. Mayfield needs to work on staying out of the penalty box next season; he took a career high 83 penalty minutes in 2022-23.
Although Mayfield doesn’t score a lot of goals, he does contribute to the offense through assists. He had 18 assists during the regular season. Mayfield made a big effort to take more shots on goal, with 119 shots also being a career-high number.
Earlier this year, Mayfield was vocal about his desire to remain an Islander. “I love the guys in the room,” Mayfield said. “I love the ownership, I love the front office, coaching staff, they coach the way I like. It’s an ideal situation.” It isn’t the first time he’s spoken about wanting to be an Islander. He’s part of a close group, and a lot of the players have been around awhile.
Will Mayfield remain an Islander or go for a better deal elsewhere? He’ll provide defensive depth for a team he plays for. If Mayfield’s willing to take less than he might want, it’s going to come down to if the Islanders are able to fit him under their cap. We’ll see where Scott Mayfield lands.