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2025 Free Agency

Free Agent Profile: Victor Olofsson

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While Victor Olofsson struggled to stay healthy last season (a common theme for his career), the 29-year-old winger produced 15 goals and 29 points in 56 games for the Vegas Golden Knights. That put Olofsson on an 82-game pace for 22 goals and 42 points, which would have been his highest total since recording a career-best 49 points in the 2021-22 season. His plus-17 rating last season was also a career-high by a wide margin.

When healthy, Olofsson may be the most offensively gifted remaining free agent. He has produced three career 20-plus goal campaigns, including 28 with the Buffalo Sabres during the 2022-23 campaign. He could provide quality depth scoring and might even contribute in a top-six role. However, the Swedish winger has played 75 or more games just once in his NHL career and has averaged only 60 games per season over six full seasons.

As a three-time 20-goal scorer, Olofsson should appeal to a range of teams, whether it’s contenders looking to bolster their depth or rebuilding clubs eyeing a potential trade chip for next season’s deadline.

Stats

2024-25: 56 GP, 15 G, 14 A, 29 PTS, +17, 16 PIMS, 109 shots, 14:30 ATOI, 57 CF%
Career: 370 GP, 105 G, 106 A, 211 PTS, -46, 44 PIMS, 777 shots, 15:18 ATOI, 55.5 CF%

Potential Suitors

As mentioned above, Olofsson may be the best offensive threat still available on the open market, making his services attractive to several potential suitors. His ability to produce 20-goal seasons, combined with his anticipated affordability, should land him a deal in the not-too-distant future.

A reunion with the Golden Knights seemed like a logical fit at the start of free agency, but Vegas is now more than $7 million over the cap, according to PuckPedia. However, a reunion with the Sabres, with whom he spent his first six seasons, could be a fit. The Sabres have more than enough cap space to sign Olofsson and could benefit from a veteran presence within its top-nine. Another team to monitor could be the Minnesota Wild, who despite making the playoffs last season, finished 25th in the league in goals for with 225. Signing Olofsson at a bargain price could help strengthen Minnesota’s depth scoring. Prior to free agency, ProHockeyRumors identified the Seattle Kraken as a potential destination as well.

Projected Contract

Olofsson is coming off a one-year, $1.075 million deal with the Golden Knights. While last season was seen as a “prove-it” year, he ironically proved what’s been true all along: when healthy, he can produce, but injuries continued to limit his overall impact.

The 5’11”, 180-pound winger will likely have to settle for a similar deal this late into the process, although seven figures probably isn’t a guaranteed.

Metropolitan Notes: Clifton, Karlsson, Berard

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When the Pittsburgh Penguins acquired defenseman Connor Clifton and the 39th-overall pick in the 2025 NHL Draft from the Buffalo Sabres in exchange for defenders Conor Timmins and Isaac Belliveau ahead of the 2025 NHL Draft, the biggest asset coming back to Pittsburgh appeared to be the pick. However, Clifton is working hard to make a name for himself with his new team.

Speaking with reporters, including Seth Rorabaugh of Triblive.com, Clifton noted his desire to get back to the physical play that became his calling card early in his career. Though the 30-year-old defenseman stands at just 5’11” and 195 pounds, he’s never hesitated to throw big hits or drop the gloves when needed to shift momentum. As Rorabaugh notes, Clifton has led his team in hits each of the last three seasons.

“Working to get to the next level, it was always a big part of my game. I feel like I out-competed my way to the NHL with that sort of style, and that’s what’s going to keep me there,” he said.

Through seven NHL seasons, Clifton has recorded 1,014 hits to go along with 77 points and a plus-43 rating. While Clifton admitted that his two seasons in Buffalo “put my career at a standstill,” he expressed excitement about the opportunity to play in Pittsburgh.

“The change of scenery, I got that call that I’m going to be a Pittsburgh Penguin, I was really excited for the change. I want to get back to my old self and how I play and the impact that I have on the game,” he said.

Elsewhere in the Metropolitan:

  • Clifton’s new team—for now—still includes Erik Karlsson, whose name has been a constant in trade rumors. While Karlsson has two years remaining on his contract, giving GM Kyle Dubas some flexibility, The Athletic’s Shayna Goldman notes that Karlsson’s age and the risk of a sudden decline could push the Penguins to move him sooner rather than later. As Goldman notes, the pool of quality defensemen available on the open market is drying up. At the same time, the number of teams with an urgent need for a top-pairing blueliner is also shrinking. The offensive-minded Karlsson put up 11 goals and 53 points for the Penguins last season, but also struggled with defensive breakdowns throughout the season.
  • New York Rangers winger Brett Berard played 35 games throughout his rookie campaign last season, but the majority of them were done so while playing through a significant injury. According to USA Today Sports reporter Vince Mercogliano, Berard suffered a torn labrum in his fourth game of the season on November 30 and played through it the rest of the season. The injury did not require surgery, and the offseason layoff has allowed Berard to return to full health ahead of training camp. In those 35 games, Berard produced six goals and 10 points.

Free Agent Profile: Luke Kunin

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After a few quality years with the Minnesota Wild and Nashville Predators, Luke Kunin joined the San Jose Sharks in the 2022-23 NHL offseason. Although he’s seen his market value drop over the last few years, Kunin could hold some value at the bottom of a team’s forward core.

Throughout his time in the Bay Area, largely in a bottom-six role, Kunin scored 27 goals and 49 points in 171 games with a -63 rating, averaging 15:30 of ice time per game. Despite the apparent shortcomings in his defensive and possession game, Kunin remained a physical center with the Sharks, averaging 2.29 hits per game.

Unfortunately, even though he was mostly used as a winger, he had a disappointing run with the Columbus Blue Jackets after being acquired at the 2024-25 trade deadline. Going scoreless in 12 contests, Kunin earned a -4 rating with 24 hits, averaging 11:46 of ice time.

Stats

2024-25: 75 GP, 11 G, 7 A, 18 PTS, -28, 55 PIMS, 112 shots, 14:41 ATOI, 41.3 CF%
Career: 434 GP, 73 G, 69 A, 142 PTS, -97, 387 PIMS, 712 shots, 14:53 ATOI, 43.7 CF%

Potential Suitors

With a career faceoff percentage of 44.9%, it’s unlikely that many teams will see Kunin as a viable option for a bottom-six center in the future. However, his physicality may still attract interest from several clubs, especially those aiming to enhance their lineup with a player of his style.

Disregarding available cap space, the Dallas Stars, Edmonton Oilers, Carolina Hurricanes, Tampa Bay Lightning, Utah Mammoth, Vegas Golden Knights, and Washington Capitals all finished in the bottom 22% of the league in hits last season. All seven of these teams outside of Utah should be considered legitimate Stanley Cup contenders entering next season (although the Mammoth should compete for a playoff spot), meaning increased physicality, especially toward the bottom of the lineup, would help in those efforts.

Projected Contract

Kunin is coming off a one-year contract worth $2.75 million with the Sharks, but unfortunately, he is likely to earn less in his next deal. Considering the remaining salary cap space available to teams like the Oilers, Stars, and Lightning, Kunin may end up signing a one-year contract for less than $1MM.

Unlike many of the free agents remaining on the market, his physicality may preclude him from having to settle on a one-year league-minimum offer, or even a professional tryout contract during training camp. Still, even though we are far removed from the opening of free agency, there’s plenty of time remaining in the summer for Kunin to find a new home.

Photo courtesy of Russell LaBounty-Imagn Images.

Free Agent Profile: Robby Fabbri

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It’s difficult to think of another active player that has had his career derailed by injuries more than Robby Fabbri. A former first-round selection of the St. Louis Blues back in the 2014 NHL Draft, Fabbri’s only season with 70 or more games played came back during his rookie campaign during the 2015-16 season.

Despite his multiple ACL surgeries, Fabbri has shown flashes of being a capable and even above-average tertiary scorer at the NHL level. Still, even though he’s only 29 years old, there’s little chance of Fabbri becoming a consistent top-six winger anymore.

Unfortunately for Fabbri’s earning power, he is coming off one of the worst seasons of his career. Again hampered by injuries, Fabbri finished the 2024-25 season with eight goals and 16 points in 44 games for the Anaheim Ducks. It was his lowest output since scoring an identical amount in 2022-23 with the Detroit Red Wings, in 21 fewer games.

Stats

2024-25: 44 GP, 8 G, 8 A, 16 PTS, -6, 20 PIMS, 65 shots, 16:12 ATOI, 42.8 CF%
Career: 442 GP, 106 G, 110 A, 216 PTS, -95, 203 PIMS, 737 shots, 15:05 ATOI, 46.4 CF%

Potential Suitors

He’s not much of a defensive asset as evidenced by his -95 career rating and 90.1 on-ice save percentage. Given that, any team signing Fabbri this offseason will assuredly view him as an option to increase the team’s overall scoring on the fringes.

This means that any team with an open roster spot, is looking to add some scoring, and has a readily available insurance option, should injuries shorten his season again, could offer Fabbri a contract this summer. Teams like the San Jose Sharks, Nashville Predators, Anaheim Ducks, Calgary Flames, Boston Bruins, New York Islanders, and Chicago Blackhawks all make sense in some manner or another.

Projected Contract

Unfortunately, Fabbri’s most recent string of injuries has cost him most of, if not all, of his bargaining power. After earning a $4MM salary from the Red Wings and Ducks the past two seasons, Fabbri is destined for a league-minimum prove-it offer.

Given that most teams have addressed their scoring needs this off-season, or are expecting younger prospects to make bigger steps next season, Fabbri may have to wait until training camp in September for a professional tryout, or have the unfortunate reality of waiting for another player to get injured.

Photo courtesy of Brian Bradshaw Sevald-Imagn Images

Hurricanes Sign Ryan Suzuki, Ronan Seeley To Two-Way Deals

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The Carolina Hurricanes announced today that they have signed forward Ryan Suzuki and defenseman Ronan Seeley to one-year, two-way contracts. Suzuki will earn $775K at the NHL level and $130K in the AHL, while Seeley will be paid $813,750 in the NHL or $80,000 in the AHL.

Suzuki, 24, made his NHL debut last season, appearing in two games for the Canes and recording a plus-one rating while averaging 6:36 of ice time per night. The team’s first-round pick in the 2019 draft (28th overall), Suzuki had a slow start to his pro career but found his scoring touch last season, recording 59 points in 69 games for the AHL’s Chicago Wolves. That marked a 27-point jump from his previous career high. In 230 career AHL games, he has totaled 145 points.

Before turning pro, the 6’2″, 195-pound center appeared in 173 games for the OHL’s Barrie Colts (three seasons) and Saginaw Spirit (one season), where he put up 57 goals and 177 points. While Suzuki is likely to start next season in the AHL, he provides the organization with a quality depth piece if called upon.

Seeley, 22, was drafted by the Canes in the seventh round of the 2020 draft (208th overall). The 6’1″, 192-pound left-handed defender spent four seasons with the WHL’s Everett Silvertips, where he produced 102 points in 190 games. He then got off to a solid start in his pro career, posting four goals and 25 points in 70 games for the Wolves during the 2022–23 season. However, he hasn’t been able to replicate that level of production over the past two seasons, totaling just 24 points in 127 games during that span.

Free Agent Profile: Matt Grzelcyk

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After spending eight seasons with the Boston Bruins, defenseman Matt Grzelcyk signed a one-year prove-it deal with the Pittsburgh Penguins last offseason. While he got off to a slow start in Pittsburgh, Grzelcyk eventually found his stride, posting several career highs along the way, including points (40), blocked shots (101), and games played (82). He also averaged a career-high 20:37 of ice time per game.

For teams looking to add offense this late in free agency, Grzelcyk’s 40 points last season actually leads all remaining unsigned players. However, teams will truly be targeting a reliable third-pairing defenseman who can slide up the lineup and log big minutes when needed.

After a few disappointing seasons to end his stint with the Bruins, the Boston-native signed a one-year, $2.75 MM contract with Pittsburgh in hopes of rejuvenating his career. While he may not have done enough to earn a lucrative multi-year deal, Grzelcyk showed well despite Pittsburgh’s difficult situation and should still warrant a role with an NHL team in need of a left-handed depth option on the blue line.

As the top remaining free agent defenseman, Grzelcyk should find a new home soon. Grzelcyk, 31, is the only defenseman left on the board among ProHockeyRumors’ top 50.

Stats

2024-25: 81 GP, 1 G, 39 A, 40 PTS, -4, 16 PIMS, 101 blocked shots, 43 hits, 20:37 ATOI
Career: 527 GP, 26 G, 149 A, 175 PTS, +131, 253 PIMS, 542 blocked shots, 353 hits, 18:27 ATOI

Potential Suitors

While a reunion with the Penguins once seemed possible, the team’s recent addition of fellow veteran Matt Dumba may have officially closed the door on that option. While Pittsburgh has the cap flexibility to add Grzelcyk, the team currently has eight defensemen signed to one-way deals, with prospects Owen Pickering and Harrison Brunicke waiting in the wings. A hometown reunion with the Bruins also seems out of play, as Boston is limited in both cap space (approximately $2MM per PuckPedia) and need for a left-handed defender. With that said, plenty of other suitors should be in play, as contending teams like the Maple Leafs and younger teams looking to add veteran presence and leadership, such as the Blackhawks, could all benefit from Grzelcyk’s services. The Sharks appeared to be a potential fit for Grzelcyk at the start of free agency but have made blue line deals elsewhere this offseason.

Projected Contract

Before free agency, ProHockeyRumors ranked Grzelcyk as the 22nd-best free agent on the market, and predicted a three-year, $3.67MM AAV deal. He was ranked just ahead of Cody Ceci and Brian Dumoulin, who would both go on to sign multi-year deals with the Kings. However, this late in the process, Grzelcyk is probably more likely to land another one-year deal with a low salary. In fact, Grzelcyk may be looking at an identical contract to the one he signed in Pittsburgh last season, just south of $3MM.

Free Agent Profile: Jack Roslovic

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After a disappointing end to his brief tenure with the New York Rangers, Jack Roslovic had to settle for a one-year prove-it deal with the Carolina Hurricanes last summer. Despite a solid rebound campaign, Roslovic is in a similar position to the one he was in last summer.

Even though plenty of teams are seeking additional center depth, Roslovic’s sporadic career may be why no team has prioritized him this offseason. After serving in a bottom-six role with the Winnipeg Jets to start his career, Roslovic became a key secondary contributor after joining his hometown Columbus Blue Jackets ahead of the 2020-21 NHL season.

Before his trade to the Rangers, Roslovic scored 51 goals and 146 points in 246 games as a Blue Jacket, averaging 15:50 of ice time per game. After the Rangers acquired Roslovic at the 2023-24 trade deadline, he concluded the season with three goals and eight points in 19 games, along with another two goals and eight points in 16 playoff matches.

The Hurricanes signed Roslovic to a one-year, $2.8MM deal for the 2024-25 season, and he rewarded them well. He finished the campaign with 22 goals and 39 points in 81 games, averaging 13:49 of ice time and being a flexible option. Carolina is the first team where Roslovic averaged over a 50.0% faceoff rate, although he primarily played on the wing.

Stats

2024-25: 81 GP, 22 G, 17 A, 39 PTS, -10, 10 PIMS, 139 shots, 13:49 ATOI, 57.9 CF%
Career: 526 GP, 102 G, 158 A, 260 PTS, -37, 80 PIMS, 825 shots, 14:12 ATOI, 59.0 CF%

Potential Suitors

Assuming that most teams view Roslovic as a reliable scoring winger rather than a center at this point in his career, he should have quite a few options to pick from. The Boston Bruins, Colorado Avalanche, Blue Jackets, Seattle Kraken, Toronto Maple Leafs, Vancouver Canucks, and Washington Capitals could all use additional depth on the right side of their forward core.

The Bruins and Maple Leafs don’t have a high amount of salary cap space left to work with. Still, it should be plenty to sign Roslovic at this point in the summer. Roslovic may have a desire to stay on the East Coast to remain close to Ohio, so the Avalanche and Kraken may be out of the question for the nine-year veteran.

Projected Contract

Before the start of free agency, ProHockeyRumors had Roslovic as the 20th-best option on the free agent market, with a projected three-year, $10.5MM contract ($3.5MM AAV). Unfortunately for our projections and more importantly, Roslovic’s earning power, he’s unlikely to receive a contract of that value this offseason.

Still, he’s not at a point where he has no leverage. As a recent 20-goal scorer, Roslovic is in a solid position to land a one-year deal in the $2MM to $3MM range. Assuming a one-year deal, he’ll enter next summer as a 29-year-old unrestricted free agent.

Photo courtesy of Perry Nelson-Imagn Images.

Bowen Byram Sees Upside In Staying With Buffalo

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The Buffalo Sabres recently reached a deal with restricted free agent Bowen Byram ahead of arbitration, putting an end to months of trade speculation and talks of a potential split. With the dust now settled following his two-year contract worth $6.25 million per season, Byram admits that re-signing with the Sabres made sense on several levels, including the opportunity it offers for a bigger role, per NHL.com’s Justin Alpert.

“Personally, I’ve been pretty happy with my time in Buffalo,” he said. “I think I’ve mentioned it before that I’ve got an opportunity to play a bigger role and play more minutes, whether it’s the offensive side, power play, penalty kill. So, I’m happy with that.”

To that point, Byram averaged a career-high 22:42 of ice time last season, largely playing alongside all-star Rasmus Dahlin. Byram, selected fourth overall in the 2019 draft, is also coming off his best statistical season (38 points), and perhaps most importantly, the often-injured defenseman appeared in all 82 games. And at just 24 years old, it’s reasonable to anticipate continued growth.

Speaking about the opportunity to play with Dahlin, Byram said it supports his development, specifically defensively, calling Dahlin, “one of the best defensemen in the world.”

“When I’m playing with him, I just try to take care of the defensive side of the puck, make sure that I’m hanging back and giving him the freedom to get up ice and join the play and do his thing,” he said.

As Alpert points out, Byram and Dahlin tied for the league lead with a plus-20 goal differential at five-on-five, matching the mark set by what many consider the NHL’s top defensive pairing — Colorado’s Cale Makar and Devon Toews, former teammates of Byram. Byram acknowledged that Dahlin would be the Makar of their duo, but believes his abilities can mirror what Toews is capable of.

“Looking back now, I think I got to learn a lot from just watching those two,” Byram said. “You have a guy like Cale Makar, very similar to Rasmus, and I hope to try to be a player of Toews’ caliber. Whether it’s now or down the road, that’s what I look to continue to build towards,” he said.

Defenseman Ty Smith Signs With KHL

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Former first-round defenseman Ty Smith is heading overseas after signing a one-year deal with the KHL’s Dinamo Minsk, per Trib Live reporter Seth Rorabaugh. As Rorabaugh notes, the team announced the deal via Telegram, a popular social media platform in Europe. While Dinamo Minsk competes in the Russian league, the team is based in Belarus.

Smith was selected 17th overall by the New Jersey Devils in the 2018 draft. He demonstrated strong offensive upside during his time with the WHL’s Spokane Chiefs, recording 235 points in 240 games from the blue line. That success helped him bypass the AHL altogether, and he made his debut with the Devils to start the 2020-21 season, posting a respectable 23 points in 48 games as a rookie. For his success, Smith was named to the 2020-21 All-Rookie Team, alongside future stars like Kirill Kaprizov and Jason Robertson.

However, he was unable to replicate that success again. In 66 games the following season, Smith put up just 20 points and struggled in the defensive zone, posting a -26 rating. The following offseason, the Devils shipped Smith and a third-round pick to the rival Pittsburgh Penguins for defenseman John Marino. While in Pittsburgh’s organization, Smith showcased strong stats with the AHL’s Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, posting 67 points in 102 games across two seasons. However, he was only able to suit up in nine NHL games with Pittsburgh, posting a goal and three assists.

The Penguins then traded Smith to the Carolina Hurricanes as part of the Jake Guentzel deal at the 2024 trade deadline. However, a similar pattern followed in Carolina, where he produced well in the AHL but struggled to earn consistent NHL minutes. In 36 games for the AHL’s Chicago Wolves during the 2024-25 season, Smith posted five goals and 28 points. But he only suited up in eight games for the Hurricanes, posting two points while averaging 13:40 of ice time per game.

In 131 NHL games, the Alberta native recorded nine goals and 49 points. Still just 24 years old, Smith has time to rejuvenate his career, and a strong showing overseas could be a meaningful first step.

 

AHL Notes: Meehan, Stalletti, Cossa

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The Philadelphia Flyers have signed former Los Angeles Kings’ fifth-round selection Ben Meehan to an AHL contract for 2025-26, per Tony Androckitis of Inside AHL Hockey.

A left-handed defenseman, Meehan was selected by the Kings with the 140th overall pick in the 2020 NHL Draft. Meehan would then go on to play five seasons in the NCAA at UMass-Lowell, where he served as team captain each of the past two seasons. In 145 games with the River Hawks, Meehan produced 13 goals, 55 assists, and 68 points.

Following his collegiate career, Meehan signed an amateur tryout contract (ATO) with the AHL’s Iowa Wild in March, but only appeared in two games with the organization, recording zero points and a minus-one rating. The 6’0″, 187-pound Boston native will provide the Flyers and their AHL affiliate, the Lehigh Valley Phantoms, with a young depth option on the blue line.

Elsewhere in the AHL:

  • The AHL’s Coachella Valley Firebirds have hired Vince Stalletti as their goaltending coach, per a team release. Stalletti spent the last five seasons in the NCAA as the goaltending coach at the University of Connecticut. Under his tutelage last season, goaltender Callum Tung (now in the New York Rangers system) posted a school-record .933 save percentage and helped lead the program to its first-ever NCAA Tournament. Stalletti replaces Colin Zulianello, who was promoted to be the Seattle Kraken’s goaltending coach under new head coach Lane Lambert.
  • While Detroit Red Wings’ goaltender Sebastian Cossa, 22, may be ready for a spot on the opening night roster, he might be best served starting the season in the AHL, where he can get consistent playing time, suggests The Athletic’s Max Bultman. Selected 15th overall in the 2021 NHL Draft, Cossa has performed well over two full seasons with the AHL’s Grand Rapids Griffins. He’s compiled a 43-24-14 record, recorded a save percentage at or north of .910 in both years, and registered three shutouts. Cossa also appeared in his first NHL game last season, recording the win while stopping 12 of 14 shots. And while Cossa has the pedigree and AHL experience to warrant a full-time opportunity in Detroit, the Red Wings traded for presumable starter John Gibson and have veteran Cam Talbot signed for one more year. As Bultman notes, the plan may be for Talbot to back up Gibson this upcoming season, with Cossa stepping into that role in 2026–27, just as Gibson’s contract is set to expire as well.

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