Jalen Chatfield is an undrafted, undaunted, late-blooming, true believer and first-pairing NHL defenceman. When the Carolina Hurricanes open the Stanley Cup final series Tuesday against the Vegas Golden Knights, he’ll be aligned with Jacob Slavin as a determined and physical denier of zone entries, who’s quick in transition and a key cog on a top-ranked penalty kill.
Chatfield is also a former Vancouver Canucks blueliner, who played just 18 NHL games over four seasons in the organization, and bet on himself as a Group 6 free agent in 2021 to grow his game with the Hurricanes. And, of course, it’s easy to wonder what would have occurred here if Chatfield was retained to provide back end stability.
He turned 30 on May 15 and has another year left on his contract extension at a modest US$3.08 million in annual average value. Imagine how he would have fit, and especially now, as a veteran presence in roster rebuild to provide influence for young blueliners?
Postseason Dominance
In the Eastern Conference series clincher Friday, Chatfield logged 21:26, including 5:12 on the potent penalty kill, threw three heavy hits and blocked four shots. It was a testament to what the Hurricanes seek in players to fit the way they play. And a remarkable 12-1 postseason run speaks to the buy-in that’s never a tough sell for highly-respected Carolina head coach Rod Brind’Amour.
“He plays every game like he’s fighting for a position on the team,” Brind’Amour said of Chatfield during a Spittin’ Chiclets podcast last week. “It looks a little different when he’s not in there, that’s for sure. Nothing bothers him.”
That’s why Chatfield fits as part of the puzzle and doesn’t stray from his lane to be a difference-maker. The Hurricanes preach a pack mentality to get the job done. And for Chatfield, all he ever wanted was a chance.
Early Career and Adversity
The 6-foot-1, 209-pound Ypsilanti, Mich., native was passed over in OHL and NHL drafts, won a Memorial Cup championship with the host Windsor Spitfires in 2017, before earning a three-year, entry level deal with the Canucks by showing plenty of pre-season mobility and moxie. He was the final camp cut in 2018 and re-assigned to the AHL affiliate Utica Comets. A foot injury sidelined him for 27 games, and although signed to a one-year, two-way extension in December of 2020, he didn’t make a regular-season NHL debut until January of 2021.
“It’s just part of life,” Chatfield once told this reporter. “Some get the easier path and some take the longer road, and I’ve always been taking the longer one. But it has made me who I am. I went through a lot of adversity in my hockey career and I’ve just stuck with my game plan.”
In 2020, he was down the Canucks’ peculiar right-side pecking order of Nate Schmidt and Tyler Myers, and then curious collection of Brogan Rafferty and Jordie Benn. Chatfield was still raw, but had a slowly emerging game that packed elements exhibited by departed free agents Chris Tanev and Troy Stecher. He could take away time and space with excellent mobility. He could get back and quickly transition the puck and made smart defensive decisions. And he was physical and got in your face.
Rise with Hurricanes
The Canucks might have hoped Chatfield became a free-agent play in 2024, but Hurricanes general manager Eric Tulsky saw potential and wisely locked him up for three years at $9.08 million. Chatfield had become a steady third-pairing defender, and in the previous two seasons, turned a modest contract extension into 36 points (14-22). He had a career-high eight goals in 2023-24 in aligning with veteran off-season acquisition Dmitry Orlov. They thrived in a shutdown role at even strength and dominated possession. Orlov was impressed by Chatfield’s anticipation because they didn’t play like a third pairing. On another club, they would have easily been a second-pairing fit.
“We both just love the game,” said Chatfield. “We played all year together and building that chemistry comes naturally. I just know how he’s going to play, what he likes to do, where he likes to try and get the puck, and just reading off of him.”
That only made the eventual union with Slavin seamless. “He’s known about all my struggles, because I was very open with him and talking to him about stuff,” Chatfield told the Raleigh News and Observer. “Whether it was my first year or second year, getting scratched or things like that, he’s always been there for me and he’s been my best friend.”
Around the League
OVERTIME — Minnesota Wild director of amateur scouting Judd Brackett, who served in the same capacity with the Canucks, has left the organization to reportedly seek a higher position as assistant general manager, possibly with the Toronto Maple Leafs. He will not oversee the Wild selection process at the 2026 NHL Draft.
