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.

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. 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. He made his NHL debut with the Kings in a 5–0 shutout defeat to the Tampa Bay Lightning on February 7, 2017. 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.

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

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. 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.

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

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 RefNAHL All-Rookie Second Team 2011 USHL First All-Star Team 2013 College NCHC All-Rookie Team 2014