Part one of this series evaluated the forward group and what areas need to be addressed for next season. In this article, we assess the defensive group and what changes need to be made for the 2025-26 season.
The top defense pair has been good because of Zach Werenski. However, his partner (Dante Fabbro) may be better suited for a second pairing role. Ideally, the team would find a right-shot defensemen to play on that top pairing with Werenski.
But, those players are difficult to find and often need to be drafted and developed. That being said, the team will likely roll out a top pair of Werenski and Fabbro for next season. Fabbro has been a solid addition to the team, and I expect that he will be re-signed this summer.
The second pair will need some help. The expectation is that Ivan Provorov will be traded at the trade deadline or will walk in free agency. Rookie Denton Mateychuk has looked good in his limited action with the team and based on that, I wouldn’t be surprised if he is penciled in on the left side of that second pairing.
The right side is where help is needed. Many thought Damon Severson would be that player, but he has struggled this season. An addition to the second pairing, especially someone who can play on the right side, would be nice.
The third pairing has options. At the moment, Severson and Jake Christiansen would be the betting favorites to play on the third pair. But Erik Gudbranson and Jordan Harris will make a push to get into the lineup. In an ideal world, the team would bring in another player to improve their depth. However, with so many players still under contract, that will be difficult to do.
The team has four NHL defensemen signed for next season. When healthy, that includes Werenski, Mateychuk, Severson, and Gudbranson. They will have to make decisions on Fabbro (UFA), Provorov (UFA), Jack Johnson (UFA), Christiansen (RFA), and Harris (RFA). If the team wishes to make additions to the defense, then they may have to let some of these players walk. It will be difficult to trade Gudbranson or Severson due to their contracts.
Change could come at the deadline...
The 2025 trade deadline will be interesting. While the team could elect to not trade away pending free agents and make a playoff push, it is wholly expected that the team will trade away multiple pending UFAs. That would include Jack Johnson and Ivan Provorov.
Should the team stay in the playoff hunt, I wouldn’t be surprised if Don Waddell holds on to those players and allows them to walk in free agency. I don’t see Waddell acquiring a defenseman at the trade deadline due to the number of defensemen that team has now and the high prices to acquire them.
Regardless what happens at the trade deadline, the defense needs some help and will need to be re-tooled during the 2025 offseason. I expect Waddell to make an addition or two all while making multiple subtractions prior to the start of the 2025-26 campaign.