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.
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 2015âÂÂ16 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 2016âÂÂ17 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 5âÂÂ0 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 6âÂÂ3 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 2024âÂÂ25 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 2025âÂÂ26 season with Rögle BK, on June 16, 2025.
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.