Matt Irwin
Matt Irwin is no longer a spring chicken as he turns 30 on November 29th. He’s a reasonably skilled defender who is perfectly fine in each zone. His health is a big question as he hasn’t played a full season in his career. He’ll likely have a bunch of partners including Alexandre Carrier, Samuel Girard, Anthony Bitetto, and Yannick Weber. Irwin will be able to hold his own and not be a liability, but he won’t impress too much either. He’s a prototypical third pairing defenseman who can eat non-stress minutes and penalty kill time. He won’t have to play like a hero, but his steady presence on the third pair will be critical. Expect a cool 20 points and a bunch of blocked shots from Irwin.