Paul LaDue

Paul LaDue (born September 6, 1992) is an American professional ice hockey defenseman for Rögle BK of the Swedish Hockey League (SHL). He was drafted by the Los Angeles Kings in the sixth round, 181st overall, in the 2012 NHL Entry Draft.

Paul LaDue
LaDue with the Los Angeles Kings in 2012
Born	(1992-09-06) September 6, 1992 (age 33) Grand Forks, North Dakota, U.S.
Height	6 ft 2 in (188 cm)
Weight	196 lb (89 kg; 14 st 0 lb)
Position	Defense
Shoots	Right
SHL team Former teams	Rögle BK Los Angeles Kings New York Islanders MoDo Hockey
NHL draft	181st overall, 2012 Los Angeles Kings
Playing career	2016–present

Playing career

LaDue played junior hockey with the Alexandria Blizzard of the North American Hockey League and the Lincoln Stars in the United States Hockey League before he was drafted by the Kings. Committing to a collegiate career, LaDue returned home to North Dakota to play with the University of North Dakota in the National Collegiate Hockey Conference.

Upon the conclusion of a successful junior year in 2015–16 season, helping the Fighting Hawks claim the National Championship, LaDue embarked on his professional career in agreeing to a one-year, entry-level contract with the Los Angeles Kings on April 30, 2016.^[1] He made his professional debut in joining AHL affiliate, the Ontario Reign, on an amateur try-out and appeared in 3 post-season games.

After attending his first training camp with the Kings and turning heads in the pre-season, LaDue began his rookie campaign re-assigned to the Reign to begin the 2016–17 season. While placing second amongst blueliners in scoring, LaDue received his first recall to the NHL on February 1, 2017.^[2] He made his NHL debut with the Kings in a 5–0 shutout defeat to the Tampa Bay Lightning on February 7, 2017.^[3] He recorded his first point, an assist on a goal to Dwight King, in his second contest, a 6–3 victory over the Florida Panthers on February 9, 2017.^[4]

On October 10, 2020, LaDue was signed as a free agent to a one-year, two-way contract with the Washington Capitals.^[5] On September 20, 2021, LaDue was signed to a one-year contract by the New York Islanders.^[6][7]

Following three seasons within the Islanders organization, LaDue left the club as a free agent and opted to sign his first contract abroad in agreeing to terms on a one-year contract with Swedish club, MoDo Hockey of the Swedish Hockey League (SHL), on July 16, 2024.^[8] In the 2024–25 season, LaDue made 50 appearances from the blueline with MoDo, registering 5 goals and 17 points. He was unable to help MoDo starve off relegation to the Allsvenskan, going scoreless through 6 play-out games.

As a free agent, LaDue continued his career in the SHL signing a one-year contract for the 2025–26 season with Rögle BK, on June 16, 2025.^[9]

Personal life

LaDue comes from a hockey playing family; his uncles and cousin also played collegiate hockey for the University of North Dakota.^[10] His cousin Luke Johnson played in the NHL,^[11] and currently plays professionally for Metallurg Magnitogorsk of the KHL.^[12]

Career statistics

				Regular season						Playoffs
Season	Team	League		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
2009–10	Great Plains	USHS		19	2	4	6	6		—	—	—	—	—
2009–10	Grand Forks Central High	USHS		27	10	25	35	18		—	—	—	—	—
2010–11	Alexandria Blizzard	NAHL		56	3	19	22	58		3	0	2	2	2
2011–12	Lincoln Stars	USHL		56	9	25	34	27		8	1	2	3	2
2012–13	Lincoln Stars	USHL		62	12	37	49	20		5	1	1	2	0
2013–14	U. of North Dakota	NCHC		41	6	15	21	23		—	—	—	—	—
2014–15	U. of North Dakota	NCHC		41	5	17	22	31		—	—	—	—	—
2015–16	U. of North Dakota	NCHC		41	5	14	19	14		—	—	—	—	—
2015–16	Ontario Reign	AHL		—	—	—	—	—		3	0	0	0	2
2016–17	Ontario Reign	AHL		38	6	12	18	28		3	1	0	1	2
2016–17	Los Angeles Kings	NHL		22	0	8	8	4		—	—	—	—	—
2017–18	Ontario Reign	AHL		36	8	10	18	22		4	0	0	0	6
2017–18	Los Angeles Kings	NHL		12	3	1	4	6		2	1	0	1	0
2018–19	Los Angeles Kings	NHL		33	2	3	5	12		—	—	—	—	—
2019–20	Ontario Reign	AHL		48	9	18	27	30		—	—	—	—	—
2019–20	Los Angeles Kings	NHL		2	0	1	1	0		—	—	—	—	—
2020–21	Hershey Bears	AHL		18	3	5	8	18		—	—	—	—	—
2021–22	Bridgeport Islanders	AHL		60	4	8	12	26		6	0	1	1	6
2021–22	New York Islanders	NHL		1	0	0	0	0		—	—	—	—	—
2022–23	Bridgeport Islanders	AHL		49	0	8	8	33		—	—	—	—	—
2023–24	Bridgeport Islanders	AHL		44	0	8	8	33		—	—	—	—	—
2024–25	MoDo Hockey	SHL		50	5	12	17	24		—	—	—	—	—
NHL totals				70	5	13	18	22		2	1	0	1	0

Awards and honours

Award	Year	Ref
NAHL
All-Rookie Second Team	2011
USHL
First All-Star Team	2013
College
NCHC All-Rookie Team	2014