NHL free agency: Ranking the best defenseman options

Top UFA defenseman options: 3. Damon Severson

Age: 28
2022-23 team: New Jersey Devils

Damon Severson is a solid blueliner who skates well. A second-round pick by the New Jersey Devils, Severson has played in nine NHL seasons with the club. In 2017, he signed a six-year deal with the Devils worth $25.2 million. Severson is the longest-tenured Devil, and he finally got a second taste of the Stanley Cup Playoffs with the Devils in 2023 five years after his first appearance in the playoffs. Severson is now set to hit the free-agent market this summer.

Severson has developed into a strong two-way player. In the 2022-23 season, he blocked 115 shots. He had a +/- of 9. A downside for Severson is giving up too many chances. Severson has shown strong offensive output in the past two seasons, although he was down this past season from his previous season’s numbers. He racked up 46 points in 2021-22 and 33 points in 2022-23. He did move down on the Devils’ depth chart, though, with other defensemen seeing bigger roles.

At 28 years old, it’s likely Severson could ink another six-year deal. He could get a big payday from a team looking for a reliable veteran defenseman. Similar to where Ryan Graves is at, staying in New Jersey isn’t looking likely for Severson. The Devils have a crowded blueline already, and with rookies Luke Hughes and Simon Nemec expected to factor in, Graves and Severson are looking in from the outside.

Severson is one of the best third-line defensemen in the NHL right now, and it’s possible another team could use him as a top-six defenseman. He expressed interest in staying with the Devils, the only team he’s ever known, but it’s unclear how he’d fit into the picture. It’s also unlikely the Devils can afford a big contract for him when they’re expected to give Timo Meier and Jesper Bratt large contracts. Severson is sure to be a sought-after free agent this summer, and he’s likely to come away with a fair long-term contract.