Jalen Chatfield would make an incredible improvement on Detroit's blue-line
Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Jalen Chatfield went undrafted but he sure has turned out to be a star on the back end. He is everything a head coach wants and many teams will be after his services when free agency begins if he does not re-sign.
Chatfield brings a lot to the table and would instantly fix the Red Wings defense on the right side. He is a shutdown defenseman who plays a physical game, can start the offense with a good transition game, and is a steady penalty-killer.
Chatfield is a defenseman who can play 20:00 minutes a night and be effective every minute he is on the ice. While defense is his number one skill, he can contribute offensively. This season, he scored eight goals and 14 assists for 22 points and was a +15.
His contract is extremely affordable for the Red Wings and one that Yzerman should jump on. His last deal was a 2-year/ $1.525 million deal that certainly fits in the Detroit salary cap for next season.
He can play a second-pairing or third-pairing role and play a majority of the penalty kill. He is one guy that Detroit should bring in based on the help they need on the right side and the contract he has.