PHR’s 2025 Top 50 NHL Unrestricted Free Agents

The past two weeks have already seen the offseason enter a period of high activity. Still, many big-ticket names remain available with just four days left to go until July 1. There’s only been a handful of last-minute re-signings, and while there’s sure to be more before the market opens, most of the top names look to be available.

While the depth of this year’s class doesn’t sniff last year’s, it does feature perhaps the highest-caliber player to test free agency since Artemi Panarin six years ago. As a reminder, our rankings and predictions are voted on by the entirety of our writing team based on a combination of talent perception and expected demand.

All predictions are independent and have no bearing on each other, while each player is presumed to be signing a one-way contract. Due to this year’s compact offseason schedule, voting was done before the buyout window opened and the June 30 qualifying offer deadline.

1. RW Mitch Marner / Anaheim Ducks / 7 years, $14.25MM AAV

Josh Erickson: It would surprise no one to hear that Marner was the unanimous No. 1 UFA among our writers. He’s the only bona fide top-line forward available and one of the league’s premier playmakers – not to mention he’s coming off a career-high 75 assists and 102 points in 2024-25. Since beginning his NHL career in 2016, the lifelong Maple Leaf is eighth in the league with 741 points in 657 games. After failing to advance past the second round with Toronto again, it’s become a foregone conclusion that he’ll be testing the open market and landing a well-compensated package to take his elite talent to another team.

2. LW Nikolaj Ehlers / Carolina Hurricanes / 7 years, $8.5MM AAV

Josh: After Ehlers was limited to 0.74 points per game in 2023-24, his worst per-game showing in five years, there were questions about his long-term fit, and there was a legitimate chance of Winnipeg trading him before his walk year. The Jets stayed the course. While Ehlers lost a few games to injury, he rebounded with one of the better seasons of his career with 63 points in 69 games. A consistent top-six scoring threat who’s a slam dunk for 25 goals and 60 points, he’ll be among the most well-compensated players this summer, whether he stays in Winnipeg or not.

3. C Sam Bennett / Florida Panthers / 8 years, $8.25MM AAV

Josh: No one on this list has seen his stock rise more in the last few months than Bennett. The Flames selected him fourth overall in the 2014 draft, but it was a trade to Florida at the 2021 deadline that truly sparked his career. He’s got 196 points in 289 games since joining the Panthers and has served as their second-line center in back-to-back Stanley Cup wins, leveraging his hard-nosed and sometimes over-the-line style of play physically into a 15-goal, 22-point showing in this year’s playoffs that earned him a Conn Smythe Trophy. He’s a high-priority target for the Panthers to retain, and since they still haven’t worked out deals for their other pending UFAs, there’s little reason to believe this one won’t result in an extension.

4. C John Tavares / Toronto Maple Leafs / 4 years, $5MM AAV

Josh: While the veteran center is in no position to command the $11MM cap hit his expiring contract boasted, he’s still an extremely effective second-line center as he enters his mid-30s and would be a No. 1 option on weaker teams. He averaged 18:14 per game last season – his highest workload since COVID – and returned the favor with 38 goals and 74 points with a +10 rating in 75 games. While age-related decline is a valid fear in signing Tavares to any mid-to-long-term contract, he finished second in points among the players on his list and led them in goals by a significant margin. Whether he forgoes an extension with his hometown team and tests the market is the biggest question.

5. D Aaron Ekblad / Florida Panthers / 7 years, $7.75MM AAV

Josh: It’s beginning to look like Ekblad may test the open market and find a new home after spending the first 11 years of his career with the Panthers. The 2014 first overall pick had dealt with health issues and declining point totals the past few years. He at least overcame the latter in 2024-25, rebounding for 33 points in 56 games while receiving expanded power-play deployment. He stayed healthy for the most part, too – most of his absence was due to a PED-related suspension late in the year.

6. RW Brock Boeser / Minnesota Wild / 6 years, $8.35MM AAV

Josh: Boeser will almost certainly move on from the Canucks this summer; they’re the only NHL organization he’s ever known since being drafted No. 23 overall in 2015. The 6’1″ winger seemingly delivered on his season a year ago, potting a career-high 40 goals and 73 points as the Canucks marched to a division title. Scoring woes plagued Vancouver this season, though, and his production dropped off to 25 goals and 50 points in 75 games. Injuries have been an issue for him over his entire career – he averages 64 points per 82 games but has only ever surpassed the 60-point mark once in actuality. While that would typically mean teams would be wary of giving him too large a contract this summer, his recent burst of production – and the fact he’s still just 28 – will be enough to make him one of the more well-compensated players on the open market this summer.

7. LW Brad Marchand / Toronto Maple Leafs / 2 years, $8MM AAV

Josh: While Marchand goes by many nicknames, Big Game Brad may be the most apt. After spending his entire career with the Bruins, the now-former Boston captain was shipped to the Panthers at the trade deadline. The 37-year-old had a somewhat underwhelming offensive showing in the regular season, which was presumably set to limit his market this summer. That all changed with a spectacular postseason showing, finishing as the runner-up to Bennett for the Conn Smythe after scoring 20 points in 23 games, including six goals in six Stanley Cup Final games. Age-related decline is a legitimate concern here, but teams may find him so desirable to give him more term than usual/expected to fend off other suitors.

8. D Vladislav Gavrikov / Detroit Red Wings / 7 years, $7.75MM AAV

Josh: Gavrikov enters the market as the top left-shot and top shutdown defenseman available after something of a breakout season in Los Angeles. The 29-year-old was given an extended run in top-pairing minutes for the first time to begin the season with Drew Doughty injured, and he delivered with his best NHL season out of his six. The 6’3″ Russian provided 30 points and a +26 rating while averaging north of 23 minutes per game. He also had spectacular possession impacts for his heavy defensive zone deployment. He’s shown he may not be the best fit on a weaker team in the past (his two-way numbers weren’t nearly as strong in his days with the Blue Jackets), but that likely won’t scare teams off, considering the strength of his platform year.

9. D Ivan Provorov / New York Rangers / 6 years, $7.25MM AAV

Josh: Provorov could be on the move to the third team of his career this summer. The Blue Jackets took a swing on retaining the pending UFA at the trade deadline – unfortunately, it didn’t materialize in a playoff berth and extension talks have reportedly been slow. He’s coming off a decent but not career year, posting 33 points and a +11 rating while logging heavy minutes in Columbus. One thing working in his favor despite historically average possession impacts and some visual defensive faults – he’s extremely durable, playing 696 out of 699 possible games since making his NHL debut in 2016-17.

10. RW Claude Giroux / Ottawa Senators / 2 years, $5.25MM AAV

Josh: While Giroux is squarely in his twilight years, the 37-year-old still projects as an effective middle-six piece for the next couple of seasons. He still managed 15 goals and 50 points in 81 games for the Senators this season. While he’d likely prefer to remain with his hometown team after their first playoff appearance in a while in 2024, he remains without an extension a few days from the market opening. He’s a better fit stylistically on the wing at this stage of his career, but could be a great fit for a team looking for a veteran piece to pair with a young center who struggles in the dot. Giroux still takes a huge amount of faceoffs, winning a career-high 61.5% of them in 2024-25.

11. C Mikael Granlund / Montreal Canadiens / 3 years, $5.5MM AAV

Brian La Rose: A couple of years ago, Granlund was basically salary ballast as part of the three-team Erik Karlsson trade.  But the opportunity to play a top-line role in San Jose gave the 33-year-old a chance to showcase that he can still be a solid offensive contributor with back-to-back seasons of at least 60 points while playing important penalty killing minutes as well.  That made him a key addition for Dallas at the trade deadline, and while he was a winger with them, he’ll be viewed as one of the better available centers in this market, putting him in a good position for another multi-year deal.

12. D Brent Burns / Carolina Hurricanes / 1 year, $5MM AAV

Josh: A Hall-of-Fame career is expected to continue for Burns in 2025-26 as he gears up for his 22nd NHL season. While he was still a top-pair threat heading into his age-39 season, Father Time began to catch up to him in 2024-25. He’ll enter the season at age 40 and coming off a highly underwhelming 29 points in 82 games while seeing a sharp reduction in minutes. He did finish as high as 10th in Norris Trophy voting as recently as two years ago and can still be a good top-four presence – something there aren’t many of on the open market this summer – but he likely won’t receive any multi-year offers.

13. D Dmitry Orlov / Los Angeles Kings / 3 years, $5.5MM AAV

Josh: Orlov was No. 1 on this list in 2023 amid an exceptionally weak class. He was coming off a career season then, not so much now. There’s no denying Orlov, 34 next month, can still be an effective top-four piece, but he never lived up to the $7.75MM cap hit he signed for on his two-year deal with Carolina. That was mostly due to his deployment; he averaged only 18:36 per game for the Canes after seeing over 20 minutes per night for most of his career. The undersized but physical lefty posted 28 points and a +16 rating in 76 games this year but saw his stock fall due to a tough postseason in which his declining foot speed was exposed.

14. C Pius Suter / Minnesota Wild / 3 years, $5MM AAV

Brian: Two years ago, Suter didn’t have a particularly strong market, eventually needing to wait nearly six weeks before signing a low-cost two-year deal with Vancouver.  That shouldn’t be the case this time around.  Suter is coming off a career year with the Canucks, one that saw him score 25 goals, putting him in a tie for third-most among pending UFAs.  He was tied with Bennett and Boeser and behind Tavares and Marner.  Pretty good company to be in.  However, his shooting percentage jumped over 18%, a rate that’s usually viewed as unsustainable while he has only surpassed the 30-point mark once.  That means there’s some risk with the signing if he reverts more toward his career numbers but as a versatile two-way player, he can be an effective addition even if the offense takes a step back.

15. LW Jonathan Drouin / Washington Capitals / 3 years, $4.5MM AAV

Josh: Reuniting with former junior teammate Nathan MacKinnon in Colorado has re-ignited Drouin’s career. The 2013 third-overall pick is still by no means a standalone top-line threat but has had two of the three best offensive seasons of his career with the Avalanche since first arriving in Denver as a free agent in 2023. While injuries, a common theme in Drouin’s career, limited him to 43 appearances this season, he still managed 11 goals and 37 points for the highest point-per-game output of his 11 NHL seasons. His value will be limited on the open market based on his career numbers outside of Colorado; in Tampa Bay and Montreal, Drouin averaged only 13 goals and 48 points per 82 games.

16. D Dante Fabbro / Columbus Blue Jackets / 6 years, $4.5MM AAV

Josh: Fabbro landed on waivers at the beginning of the season after he fell out of the regular lineup in Nashville. It was a blessing in disguise for the 2016 first-rounder, who was picked up by the Blue Jackets and emerged as a top-pairing threat alongside Zach Werenski. The 27-year-old had his birthday just last week and is one of the youngest options as a result. He had 26 points and a +20 rating in 68 games between Nashville and Columbus, averaging 20:54 per game with the best possession impacts of his career. He’s the second-best right-shot option on the market behind Ekblad and will get a nice bit of security if he doesn’t extend with the Jackets.

17. RW Patrick Kane / Detroit Red Wings / 1 year, $5MM AAV

Josh: Kane has successfully rebounded from his major hip surgery two years ago. While not the perennial All-Star he was a decade ago, he’s still an effective top-six producer and future Hall-of-Famer. He’s scored 106 points in 122 games over the last two years with Detroit. His extreme defensive deficiencies at this stage of his career take away from his on-ice value, but the 36-year-old remains an effective point producer and a fine second-line option. Whether he’ll continue serving that role in Hockeytown remains to be seen, but it wouldn’t surprise anyone to see him extend what’s been a mutually beneficial fit so far.

18. G Jake Allen / Philadelphia Flyers / 2 years, $3.5MM AAV

Brian: Allen hasn’t been a full-fledged starter for several years but is still considered the top goalie available on the open market this summer.  He’s coming off a solid showing in New Jersey as the backup to Jacob Markstrom and has played in at least 30 games in four straight seasons.  While there won’t be teams necessarily looking at him to be a number one option, he’s someone who can come in and stabilize the backup position and play starter minutes in the short term when injuries arise.  In a market bereft of proven and reliable options, Allen stands out as the one goaltender who can be counted on to be a steady performer, which will give him plenty of suitors.

19. LW Andrei Kuzmenko / Los Angeles Kings / 3 years, $4.5MM AAV

Josh: Kuzmenko’s inconsistency has caused him to suit up for four different teams in his three-year NHL career, including two trades in 2024-25. It’s his high-end flashes and good timing that should lead to significant interest this summer, though. While he had just 11 goals in 66 games on the year after starting his NHL career with seasons of 39 and 22 tallies, respectively, he still put up a strong 5-12–17 scoring line in 22 games for the Kings after they picked him up from the Flyers at the deadline. He also had six points in six playoff games. While by no means a play-driver on his own, he’s proven time and again he can be a good fit as the third-best player on a line and a spectacular complementary scorer if deployed correctly.

20. C Jack Roslovic / Philadelphia Flyers / 3 years, $3.5MM AAV

Brian: Roslovic has had his ups and downs and recent years and has been with three different organizations over the last 16 months.  However, while he’s prone to streakiness, he’s also one of the more consistent secondary scorers in terms of point production in this free agent class as he has surpassed the 30-point mark for the past five years.  Roslovic is coming off a 22-goal season and has shifted between center and the wing routinely over the years, a versatility that should be particularly appealing in a market that has lost some of its better options at center recently.

21. D Ryan Lindgren / Columbus Blue Jackets / 4 years, $4.75MM AAV

Josh: A few years ago, it looked as though Lindgren would be a long-term piece in Manhattan as the Rangers’ first-pairing lefty alongside Adam Fox. Injuries have derailed his effectiveness in recent seasons, though, and he was traded to the Avalanche as part of the Blueshirts’ in-season retooling of their blue line. He’s still managed 102 points and a strong +99 rating over 405 career NHL games, but his two-way play at 5-on-5 has been middling enough in the past two years to make it difficult to justify top-pairing deployment. He needs something of a fresh start this summer, and there should be a fair amount of interest with teams looking to bet on the 27-year-old’s upside and previous performance as a strong top-four piece.

22. D Matt Grzelcyk / San Jose Sharks / 3 years, $3.67MM AAV

Josh: Grzelcyk was down at No. 50 on our board last year and signed a one-year prove-it deal with the Penguins. That paid dividends, as he got expanded power-play minutes on an underwhelming Pittsburgh defense corps and enjoyed the best offensive season of his career as a result. The 5’10” lefty had 40 points in 82 games, leading all UFA defensemen. He also averaged a career-high 20:37 per game. He still had underwhelming possession impacts, though, and his point totals were likely boosted somewhat due to playing alongside Erik Karlsson. Nonetheless, he likely repaired his stock enough for a multi-year deal.

23. LW Andrew Mangiapane / Winnipeg Jets / 2 years, $3.75MM AAV

Josh: A 35-goal man with the Flames a few years ago, those days are in the rearview for Mangiapane. He’s put up goal totals of 17, 14, and 14 in the three seasons since – still fine, but not top-six caliber. He’s indicative of a drop-off in the forward market after the Kane/Kuzmenko/Roslovic tier, particularly considering his down year overall in the point department with Washington in 2024-25. While he still managed a couple of 40-point seasons with the Flames in recent years, he was traded to the Capitals last summer and only had 28 points in 81 games for them in 2024-25. His lengthier track record as a solid tertiary scorer will help out his market value this summer, but he hits UFA status at one of the lower points of his career.

24. D Cody Ceci / Buffalo Sabres / 2 years, $3.5MM AAV

Brian: Some of Ceci’s underlying numbers aren’t necessarily the prettiest, but he has a well-established track record of being someone who can play a top-four role and see time on both special teams when needed.  While the 31-year-old had some injury issues in the past, he has averaged more than 80 games over the last four seasons.  He’s also a right-hand shot, the side that’s always in high demand or short supply.  Ceci would be a good fit for a contending team looking to add top-four help, while a rebuilding team could use him as a short-term stabilizer to allow a youngster more time to develop in the minors.  He won’t be a flashy addition, but history suggests that he’ll be a useful one.

25. D Nate Schmidt / Florida Panthers / 1 year, $2MM AAV

Josh: An up-and-down few seasons for Schmidt ended on a high note in Florida with his first Stanley Cup. The 33-year-old found a bit more confidence in his game in Sunrise after being bought out by the Jets last summer. He only averaged 16:32 per game, so his point totals were still pretty conservative at a 5-14–19 scoring line in 80 regular season games, but he did operate at a much higher pace in the postseason with a 3-9–12 line in 23 appearances. That boosts his value heading into July 1, so much so that he may not be back in Florida with much bigger pending UFA fish to fry.

26. D Henri Jokiharju / Vancouver Canucks / 3 years, $3.67MM AAV

Josh: A deadline deal to a selling Bruins team meant more opportunity down the stretch for Jokiharju, who was back to seeing over 21 minutes per game in Boston after falling out of favor in the Sabres organization over the past couple of years. He looked good doing so, posting four assists and a plus-seven rating in 18 games with some spectacular possession impacts. He’s also one year removed from a career-high 20 points and +14 rating in Buffalo. He gained plenty of experience in top-four deployment there alongside Owen Power and occasionally Rasmus Dahlin. He’s not overly physical for his 6’0″, 200-lb frame, but is the youngest player on this list at age 26 and still has some untapped two-way upside.

27. LW Victor Olofsson / Seattle Kraken / 2 years, $3.33MM AAV

Josh: Things worked out well for Olofsson in 2024-25 after heading to Vegas on a cheap one-year deal. The longtime Sabre was in and out of the lineup due to injuries and a rotating cast of depth scorers the Knights tried in top-six minutes, but he managed a 15-14–29 scoring line in 56 games after posting just 15 points in 51 games the year before. The 29-year-old is a pure offensive specialist with three 20-goal seasons under his belt, but proved this season he won’t be a drag on a team’s defensive/possession play if deployed in a well-insulated system. He had a career-high +17 rating and 53.6 CF% at even strength with Vegas.

28. RW Mason Appleton / Buffalo Sabres / 3 years, $3.25MM AAV

Josh: Appleton has spent almost all of his career with the Jets since being drafted in the sixth round in 2015. He’s been a good third-line presence for them since emerging as a full-timer in 2019-20. He even scored a career-high 14 goals and 36 points a year ago while averaging over 16 minutes per game, but he saw his point totals and usage come back down to earth in 2024-25. Whatever team he ends up with will be getting a checking winger with good two-way play but a limited offensive skillset himself, averaging 12 goals and 28 points per 82 games over his seven-year career.

29. D Brian Dumoulin / Detroit Red Wings / 2 years, $3MM AAV

Josh: The two-time Stanley Cup champion with Pittsburgh is still an effective defensive presence, even if he’s better suited as a No. 2/3 option on the left side than a No. 1 as he enters his mid-30s. He hits free agency after a post-deadline stint with the Devils that saw him provide high-end defensive play as an injury stopgap for Jonas Siegenthaler, posting a 54.5 CF% in 19 games down the stretch while averaging 18:45 per game. A good penalty killer as well, he’ll be a welcome addition for a team looking to stabilize their blue line.

30. RW Anthony Beauvillier / Washington Capitals / 2 years, $2.33MM AAV

Brian: Viewed as a top-six winger only a couple of years ago, Beauvillier’s stock has taken a bit of a tumble since then to the point where he had to take a low-cost, one-year deal last summer.  With 15 goals this season, he helped his cause from a value standpoint while also chipping in with six points in ten postseason games, ending his year on a strong note.  Notably, he started to play more of a physical game this season as he spent most of the year in the bottom six and acquitted himself relatively well in that role.  Beauvillier isn’t going to land a contract similar to the $4.15MM per year he was making just a couple of years ago. Still, a multi-year commitment around double what he made this season ($1.25MM) would be a reasonable expectation.

31. LW Brandon Tanev / Toronto Maple Leafs / 2 years, $2.25MM AAV

Brian: Last time he reached free agency, Tanev surprised many when he landed a six-year contract.  That won’t be the case this time around at the age of 33 but not a lot has changed over these past six seasons.  When healthy, he has been an energetic and gritty winger who has chipped in with some depth scoring having reached the double-digit goal mark in two of the last three years.  He’s a pure bottom-six player at this stage of his career but at a time when the league is starting to shift back toward adding some physicality, that should help Tanev’s market and it’s likely he’ll be one of the more sought-after depth players.

32. RW Evgenii Dadonov / Florida Panthers / 1 year, $2.75MM AAV

Josh: Dadonov signed a two-year contract in Dallas in 2023, and his career looked like it was on its last legs when he became a semi-frequent healthy scratch and was limited to 23 points in 51 games in the first year of the deal. He rebounded for a 20-goal campaign in 80 games in 2024-25, his fifth time hitting the mark, while finishing eighth on the Stars in scoring with 40 points. He almost certainly won’t be back in Texas with a cap crunch forcing him out, but he’ll definitely have some legitimate interest in free agency for a team looking to beef up their scoring depth with a veteran presence.

33. D John Klingberg / Ottawa Senators / 1 year, $2.25MM AAV

Brian: Klingberg returned to the NHL midseason after missing more than a year following hip resurfacing surgery, joining Edmonton.  He didn’t play much during the regular season, but he could still be at least a secondary offensive contributor from the back end.  In the playoffs, he got a chance to play a bigger role, logging over 17 minutes a night in 19 games.  That said, it’s hard to see a team making a multi-year commitment to him until he can get a full season under his belt that’s injury-free.  That will have Klingberg looking to balance maximizing his earnings with maximizing his opportunity for playing time for next season.

34. RW Connor Brown / Edmonton Oilers / 2 years, $2MM AAV

Josh: Brown had an extremely trying 2023-24 campaign in Edmonton, coming off ACL surgery, but reestablished himself as a legitimate top-nine two-way winger this season. He was back to sniffing his career-average production in 2024-25, posting 13 goals and 30 points in all 82 games for the Oil. He’s also been a good playoff performer for Edmonton over the last two years with 15 points in 39 games. He’s an adept penalty killer, too, and should have multiple suitors if he doesn’t return to Edmonton.

35. D Nicklaus Perbix / Colorado Avalanche / 3 years, $2.67MM AAV

Brian: Perbix is one of the more intriguing depth options available this summer.  He has only been an NHL regular for three years and was largely deployed in a sheltered role with Tampa Bay.  However, he was often quite effective in his limited minutes.  Just 27, he’s one of the youngest players on this list. There will likely be teams who think he can play a bigger role, while being right-handed will also help his value. Assuming enough teams feel that he has another level to get to, that higher expectation could drive his market price higher than expected and what his early-career performance would warrant.

36. G Daniel Vladař / New Jersey Devils / 2 years, $2.25MM AAV

Josh: Vladař turns 28 in August and is one of the higher-upside goalie targets on the open market, but he’s yet to put together a truly above-average season in the NHL. Last year marked something of a rebound after a horrid 2023-24 showing, posting a 12-11-6 record with a .898 SV% in a career-high 30 appearances. That was good enough for 0.9 goals saved above expected behind Calgary’s defense, per MoneyPuck. At 6’5″ and 209 lbs, he’ll have more than a few calls for teams looking for a backup or even a 1B option this summer.

37. RW Joel Armia / New Jersey Devils / 2 years, $2.5MM AAV

Josh: The 32-year-old has spent the last seven years in Montreal, ending up in the press box (and even on waivers) at times. He’s coming off one of his better seasons, though. He plays a similar style to the aforementioned Brown with slightly less offensive upside but still managed 11 goals and 29 points in 81 games for the Habs while forming one of the better checking lines in the league this year with Jake Evans and Emil Heineman. He’s still a great bottom-six option who can feature on a top penalty-killing unit.

38. RW Gustav Nyquist / Tampa Bay Lightning / 1 year, $2.5MM AAV

Josh: After an improbable career-high 75 points with Nashville last season, Nyquist came crashing down in 2024-25. He had just 28 points and a -24 rating in 79 games on the year, including seven points in 22 games after a deadline trade to the Wild. He’s in line for a reduced paycheck and reduced role next season as a result and is likely primed for a one-year deal to add cheap veteran scoring depth for a contender.

39. LW Brandon Saad / Vegas Golden Knights / 1 year, $1.5MM AAV

Josh: Saad ended up pursuing a rare mid-season mutual contract termination with the Blues and quickly ended up with the Golden Knights, where he’s expected but not confirmed to remain. He finished the year with 14 points in 29 games, a fine 39-point pace over a full season. The 32-year-old isn’t really a top-six piece anymore but is settling in nicely as a fine veteran piece on a scoring-oriented third line.

Re-signed with Golden Knights, 1 year, $2MM AAV

40. C Nick Bjugstad / Columbus Blue Jackets / 2 years, $2.33MM AAV

Josh: A largely up-and-down career for Bjugstad continued this season. He logged 22 goals and 45 points with the Coyotes one year ago but saw his ice time slashed as the franchise shifted its operations to Utah, producing an 8-11–19 scoring line in 66 games in a checking role. Now 32 years old, he may be looking for more opportunity elsewhere but could also settle in as a bottom-six anchor down the middle for another young team.

41. C Christian Dvorak / St. Louis Blues / 2 years, $2MM AAV

Brian: Dvorak was a high-end point producer at the junior level, but he hasn’t been able to come close to that level of success in the NHL, either with Arizona or Montreal, as he has yet to reach the 40-point mark in a single season.  However, he has settled in as a useful bottom-six center in recent years, one who can win faceoffs at an above-average clip while being an effective penalty killer.  While that’s not necessarily the most exciting profile, it’s one that will appeal to several teams looking to shore up their depth down the middle.  That should give him a fairly strong market even if he’s not one of the early players off the board.

42. G Ilya Samsonov / San Jose Sharks / 1 year, $2MM AAV

Brennan McClain: Although it wasn’t great by any stretch of the imagination, Samsonov had what could be considered a bounce-back year in 2024-25. Having his responsibility dramatically reduced in Vegas, Samsonov secured a 16-9-4 record in 29 games with a .891 SV% and 2.82 GAA. Still, there wasn’t much movement in his expanded metrics, making for back-to-back disappointing years on two competitive teams. Even in a thin goaltending market, Samsonov could be headed for a third-string role, but could see increased playing time on a poorer-performing team.

43. C Adam Gaudette / Tampa Bay Lightning / 1 year, $1.25MM AAV

Brennan: What a difference a season can make. After spending the last two years as an impressive scorer at the AHL level, Gaudette got another full-time opportunity at the NHL level with the Senators this past season. He rewarded them well by scoring 19 goals and 26 points in 81 games, setting a new career-high for himself. However, due to the lack of consistency throughout his career, Gaudette shouldn’t expect to be paid as a typical 20-goal scorer this summer. For any team looking for an effective scoring option in their bottom-six on the cheap, Gaudette would be an ideal candidate.

44. RW Taylor Raddysh / Vegas Golden Knights / 2 years, $1.75MM AAV

Brennan: Raddysh has become a difficult player to project after scoring 20 goals with the Blackhawks in 2022-23. Since then, typically in a third-line role, Raddysh has scored 12 goals and 41 points in 153 games between the Blackhawks and Capitals. Without much in the way of possession or defensive quality, Raddysh strikes as a cheaper minute-eating winger. His career-high in assists from the 2024-25 campaign was largely due to improved teammates around him, and he could benefit from landing with a team that already has an established bottom-six with quality talent.

45. G Alex Lyon / Columbus Blue Jackets / 2 years, $1.75MM AAV

Brennan: After nearly backstopping the Red Wings to the Stanley Cup Playoffs in 2023-24, Lyon’s slipped in 2024-25. He finished the season with a quality record of 14-9-1 in 30 games, but his SV% dropped to .896 while his goals saved above average fell to -2.5. He’s likely destined for his third-straight strip as a team’s higher-end third-string option, and should see a significant raise on his $900K salary in Detroit.

46. LW Jeff Skinner / Toronto Maple Leafs / 1 year, $2MM AAV

Brennan: Skinner is coming off a tumultuous season with the Oilers, to say the least. The former Calder Trophy winner ended his 15-year postseason drought this year, but was moved up and down the lineup through the regular season, leading to the second-worst point-per-game average of his career. Despite making the playoffs for the first time in his career, he was typically scratched by Edmonton, scoring one goal and two points in five games, averaging 12:13 of ice time per night. If he’s given a consistent role on a new team, there’s reason to believe Skinner can remain a quality tertiary scorer.

47. G Anton Forsberg / Calgary Flames / 2 years, $1.75MM AAV

Brennan: There is some indication that Forsberg could become a shrewd option for any team looking to add a backup netminder. He’s accrued a 62-56-10 record in 142 games over the last five years in Ottawa with a .905 SV% and 3.9 goals saved above average. His output doesn’t necessarily jump off the page, but it appears better when considering the Senators have been in the bottom half of the league in GA/G in four of those five years.

48. G Alexandar Georgiev / New York Islanders / 1 year, $1.25MM AAV

Brennan: Coming off the worst season of his NHL career, Georgiev will have limited options this summer. The Ruse, Bulgaria native managed a 15-26-4 record in 49 games between the Avalanche and the Sharks, with a .875 SV% and a dismal -33.1 goals saved above average. Any team that signs Georgiev will likely view him as a strong third-string goaltender if not a palatable backup option. If he wishes to continue his NHL career beyond the 2025-26 campaign, he’ll have to correct a lot of the issues that plagued him this past season.

49. C Lars Eller / Buffalo Sabres / 1 year, $1.5MM AAV

Brennan: Spending the last several years as one of the better third-line centers in the league, Eller should be expected to land in a fourth-line role on his next contract. He achieved a solid 52.2% faceoff success rate in 751 draws between the Penguins and Capitals, maintaining his consistently positive defensive metrics. Unfortunately, his scoring dropped off in his second stint with the Capitals, scoring six goals and 15 points in 63 games after the trade.

50. D Tony DeAngelo / New York Islanders / 1 year, $1.5MM AAV

Brennan: Continuing his tour of the NHL’s Metropolitan Division, DeAngelo is entering the summer as an unrestricted free agent on the heels of a $775K agreement with the Islanders. As expected, he displayed quality offensive output with four goals and 19 points in 35 games, which benefited a team like the Islanders, who desperately needed more offense. Still, and this was dramatized due to his 23:21 ATOI, DeAngelo showed little effort in the defensive zone, earning an 87.9% on-ice save percentage at even strength.