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Free Agent Focus 2025

Free Agent Focus: Pittsburgh Penguins

June 15, 2025 at 7:52 pm CDT | by Brian La Rose Leave a Comment

Free agency is now barely two weeks away, and teams are looking ahead to when it opens. There will be several impact players set to hit the open market in July, while many teams also have key restricted free agents to re-sign. We continue our look around the NHL with an overview of the free agent situation for the Penguins.

Key Restricted Free Agents

F Connor Dewar – Acquired at the trade deadline from Toronto, the change of scenery worked out rather well for Dewar as he had seven points in 17 games down the stretch while seeing his playing time jump up by more than four minutes a game.  That’s the good news.  The bad news is that he finished the year with just 10 points in 48 outings.  The contract he was on was structured to allow for a lower qualifying offer ($819K) than his AAV ($1.18MM) but arbitration rights loom large as he has 238 career NHL appearances.  If the two sides can agree on a deal before the tender deadline that’s around what he made this season, that would be ideal but if it gets to the point of requiring the qualifying offer, it would be surprising to see it issued, which would allow Pittsburgh to avoid arbitration.

D Pierre-Olivier Joseph – Non-tendered by the Penguins to avoid the risk of an arbitration hearing last summer, Joseph made his way to St. Louis where he struggled, resulting in Pittsburgh bringing him back midseason for extra depth.  He got a few more minutes per game with the Pens but remained more of a depth piece than a full-time regular.  The same issue exists now as it did a summer ago.  He’s owed a $997.5K qualifying offer but with arbitration eligibility, he’s a non-tender candidate if something can’t be worked out before then.

D Conor Timmins – Also brought in from Toronto at the deadline, Timmins was more impactful down the stretch than he had been the rest of the year, also picking up seven points in 17 games while averaging a little under 19 minutes per night of ice time.  Like Dewar and Joseph, Timmins is arbitration-eligible as well but this was the only NHL season where he played in at least 35 games; the track record isn’t as much.  Accordingly, the risk of a qualifying offer isn’t as significant.  A one-year deal could earn him a raise closer to the $1.75MM mark but walk him right to UFA eligibility.  Accordingly, a two-year pact might be more desirable for GM Kyle Dubas in which case the offer could land closer to the $2MM range.

F Philip Tomasino – After playing time with Nashville was hard to come by, Pittsburgh acquired the 2019 first-round pick in late November and he largely played a regular role down the stretch.  While he wasn’t able to replicate his rookie-season numbers, he still managed 11 goals and 12 assists in 50 games in a little over 13 minutes a night with no power play time.  That’s worthy of a longer look.  The 23-year-old is owed a qualifying offer of just over $866K and, like everyone else on this list so far, is arbitration-eligible.  A one-year deal that allows both sides more time to evaluate could make sense here with a price tag landing around the $1.5MM mark, a two-year pact would push the AAV closer to the $2MM range.

Other RFAs: F Raivis Ansons, F Emil Bemstrom, G Taylor Gauthier, F Filip Lindberg (signed in Finland), F Vasiliy Ponomarev (signed in KHL)

Key Unrestricted Free Agents

D Matt Grzelcyk – The decision to take a one-year deal with Pittsburgh last summer in the hopes of rebuilding some value seems to have worked out quite well for Grzelcyk.  After a slow start, he found his footing and set new career-highs in assists (39) and points (40), making him the top point-getter among pending UFA blueliners.  Of course, it also needs to be noted that he’s one of the smaller defensemen in the NHL and that almost certainly will affect his market.  Nonetheless, after settling for $2.75MM last summer, he has a good chance of beating that while getting the multi-year deal that eluded him a year ago.  He had a cap hit of just under $3.7MM on his last deal with Boston and with the expectations of some higher prices on the open market this year, Grzelcyk should be able to set a new personal best on that front next month.

F Joona Koppanen – The term ‘key’ here might be a little misleading but Koppanen is just one of three of their pending UFAs to play at least 10 NHL games this season so that lands him a spot here.  He averaged a little under four hits per game in his limited action in 2024-25 and at 6’5, he has the size that some teams may covet for a depth spot in the lineup.  A one-way deal might be hard to come by but the 27-year-old should have several suitors for a two-way pact on the open market.

F Matthew Nieto – Once a valued bottom-six forward, injuries have really derailed Nieto over the past two seasons as he has played in just 54 games combined, managing just seven points.  A veteran of over 700 career appearances at the top level, he may be in tough to add to that by any significant amount next season.  At this point, he looks more like a training camp PTO candidate than someone likely to get a guaranteed deal over the next few months.

Other UFAs: D Nathan Clurman, D Mac Hollowell (signed in KHL), D Filip Kral (signed in Czechia), F Jimmy Huntington, F Marc Johnstone, F Mathias Laferriere, D Colton Poolman

Projected Cap Space

Pittsburgh has the type of salary cap flexibility that they simply haven’t had in quite some time with over $23MM in room heading into the summer.  That number shouldn’t be reduced by too much from re-signing their pending RFAs either.  Normally, this would seemingly position the Penguins to be active in free agency.  But Dubas has stated that he won’t be too active on that front while the hiring of Dan Muse as their head coach suggests they’re heading into more of a rebuild.  With that in mind, they might not be spending that money early this summer and it would be surprising to see them anywhere near the $95.5MM Upper Limit at the start of 2025-26.

Photos courtesy of Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images (both players).  Contract info courtesy of PuckPedia.

Free Agent Focus 2025| Pittsburgh Penguins| Pro Hockey Rumors Originals

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Free Agent Focus: Philadelphia Flyers

June 15, 2025 at 10:02 am CDT | by Josh Erickson 1 Comment

Free agency is now under a month away, and teams are looking ahead to when it opens. There will be several impact players set to hit the open market in July, while many teams also have key restricted free agents to re-sign. We continue our look around the NHL with an overview of the free agent situation for the Senators.

Key Restricted Free Agents

D Cameron York – Outside of Travis Sanheim and 2023 first-round pick Oliver Bonk, there’s a dearth of high-end defensemen in the Flyers’ system. The 24-year-old York, while flawed, plays a vital role in helping Philly out of the doldrums. The 2019 first-rounder is coming off a two-year, $3.2MM bridge deal and doesn’t have an intriguing platform year to hang his hat on in negotiations. He posted 17 points in 66 appearances after notching a career-high 30 in all 82 games last year. He also saw his average time on ice drop from 22:37 to 20:47. His possession impacts waned as well, but that’s to be expected when his offensive zone start percentage at even strength went from 53.0% in 2023-24 to just 44.5% in 2024-25. A reported verbal spat with head coach John Tortorella near the end of the season also played a role in the latter’s firing, and the former was benched for an entire game despite being dressed as a result. There’s still a long-term belief in York’s ceiling from the organization’s viewpoint, though, and they’ve examined a long-term deal in talks over the past few weeks. An established second-pairing puck mover at his worst will likely take well north of $5MM per season to accept a lengthier commitment.

F Jakob Pelletier – Philadelphia acquired Pelletier, a 2019 first-rounder alongside York, from the Flames in the deal that sent Joel Farabee and Morgan Frost to Calgary. While he’s been an exceptional minor-league producer since turning pro four years ago, he’s yet to sniff an offensive breakthrough in the NHL. That didn’t change after the trade. Pelletier, who had been on his best NHL scoring pace so far with 11 points in 24 games with Calgary at the time of the move, only logged a 3-5–8 scoring line in 25 games with the Flyers down the stretch in fourth-line minutes. Two of his three goals came in the season’s final five games. He’ll likely get the first crack at a top-nine spot if the Flyers don’t land an external free agent for that role, but it still looks like an uphill battle to earn effective NHL minutes for the 5’9″ winger with defensive acumen. While he’ll likely spurn his qualifying offer in hopes of a one-way deal, his cap hit on a one or two-year prove-it deal shouldn’t cost much more than the $840K NHL salary he’d receive on his QO.

Other RFAs: F Elliot Desnoyers, F Zayde Wisdom

Key Unrestricted Free Agents

F Olle Lycksell – The Flyers don’t have any expected NHL contributors set to hit the open market this summer. Lycksell would have the best chance of the bunch if he opts to continue pursuing playing time in North America, but the 25-year-old is a pending Group VI unrestricted free agent. It wouldn’t be surprising to see him return to his native Sweden or elsewhere in Europe after never landing extended NHL minutes in his three years stateside with the Flyers. A 2017 sixth-round pick, Lycksell has been an exceptional producer with AHL Lehigh Valley during that time, but has just one goal and 10 assists in 45 career NHL appearances, including a career-high 19 this past season. He’s cleared waivers multiple times but could still garner NHL offers on the back of consecutive AHL campaigns over a point per game.

G Calvin Petersen – Petersen was a cap-dump pickup by the Flyers in the three-team trade with the Blue Jackets and Kings that sent defenseman Ivan Provorov to Columbus in 2023. Once posited as a potential goalie of the future in Los Angeles, he’s made just 15 NHL appearances with a garish .866 SV%, 3.80 GAA, and -14.6 GSAA since his three-year, $15MM extension went into effect in the 2022-23 season. He only made five NHL appearances for Philly, all in 2023-24. The 30-year-old hasn’t been impressive in minor-league action, either, particularly this past season. He made 31 appearances for Lehigh Valley and logged a 3.14 GAA, .885 SV%, and a 13-15-3 record. Not only is a return to the Flyers overwhelmingly unlikely, it doesn’t look like he’ll be getting an NHL contract anywhere this summer. The most notable aspect of his pending free agency is the $3.85MM cap hit Petersen carried while buried in the minors coming off the Flyers’ books.

F Givani Smith – While the 27-year-old enforcer has 168 games of NHL experience, none of them have been in a Flyers uniform. He was acquired in a deadline swap with the Avalanche for defenseman Erik Johnson. He was on an AHL assignment at the time and remained there for the rest of 2024-25 after the trade, scoring two points with nine penalty minutes in 10 games for Lehigh Valley. The Flyers were the fifth team to have Smith under contract over the last three seasons, joining the Red Wings, Panthers, Sharks, and Avs. He’s never logged more than seven points or 46 games in an NHL season, and he’s unlikely to eclipse those numbers again. He could be back with Philly on a two-way deal to serve as a veteran presence for the AHL squad but likely won’t get more of a role than that elsewhere.

Other UFAs: F Rhett Gardner, D Louis Belpedio, D Ben Gleason, G Eetu Mäkiniemi

Projected Cap Space

As evidenced by the lack of truly notable names in this article, the Flyers got most of their offseason business out of the way early with extensions for pending RFAs Noah Cates and Tyson Foerster. As a result, they have plenty of spending flexibility this summer with $18.99MM in cap space and only four roster spots to fill. A long-term extension for York still leaves them with around $13MM to spend on three players in an absolute worst-case scenario. They’ll be able to retain who they please while pursuing another impact defenseman, some forward depth, and even a goaltending upgrade if they can swing one without having to worry about financial constraints too much.

Images courtesy of Eric Hartline-Imagn Images (York) and Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images (Lycksell). Contract info courtesy of PuckPedia.

Free Agent Focus 2025| Philadelphia Flyers| Pro Hockey Rumors Originals

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Free Agent Focus: Ottawa Senators

June 14, 2025 at 7:19 pm CDT | by Paul Griser 5 Comments

Free agency is now under a month away, and teams are looking ahead to when it opens. There will be several impact players set to hit the open market in July, while many teams also have key restricted free agents to re-sign. We continue our look around the NHL with an overview of the free agent situation for the Senators.

Key Restricted Free Agents

F Fabian Zetterlund – The 25-year-old Swedish winger is coming off his second consecutive season with over 40 points, but managed just five points in 20 games with the Senators after being acquired from the Sharks. He added zero points in the team’s first-round matchup against the Maple Leafs. Zetterlund, however, does provide more than just an offensive element, and established career highs in hits (154) and blocked shots (81) during the 2024-25 season. Originally a third-round pick by the New Jersey Devils in the 2017 draft, Zetterlund has 20-goal potential that could draw interest from other teams. That, coupled with his offensive struggles with the Senators, might push him down Ottawa’s list of priorities this offseason.

D Donovan Sebrango – Sebrango made his NHL debut last season but appeared in just two games. The 23-year-old, who was selected in the third round (63rd overall) by the Detroit Red Wings in the 2020 NHL draft, has shown flashes of offensive upside at the AHL level, recording 20 points in 50 games last season with the Belleville Senators. At 6’2, 220, he also possesses the physical traits that can make him a solid two-way player. Although the Senators have seven defensemen under contract for next season, bringing Sebrango back to provide organizational depth could be a sensible move.

G Leevi Merilainen – At just 22 years old, Merilainen may have done enough last season to earn a shot at the team’s backup role. While Linus Ullmark has a firm hold on the starting job for the foreseeable future, Merilainen made a strong impression during his first taste of NHL action, signaling a potential breakthrough. The team’s third-round selection in 2020, Merilainen posted an 8-3-1 record for the Senators this past season, with a .925 save percentage and 1.99 GAA. He added three shutouts, meaning he stopped every shot he faced in 25 percent of his starts. With Anton Forsberg set to hit free agency, the door is open for a Merilainen-Ullmark tandem in goal. The question now is what kind of raise Merilainen will command on his next deal.

Other RFAs: F Vitaly Abramov, F Alex Formenton, F Jan Jenik, F Jamieson Rees, F Tristen Robins, F Philippe Daoust, F Xavier Bourgault, D Lassi Thomson, D Maxence Guenette

Key Unrestricted Free Agents

F Claude Giroux – At 37 years old, Giroux is still getting it done. While his production has dipped over the last few seasons, Giroux still put up 50 points in 2024-25 and added five points in six playoff contests. His veteran experience and steady production are clearly valued by the Senators, as the two sides have reportedly been in contract negotiations for several weeks. Giroux recently completed a three-year, $19.5MM contract he signed with the Senators in which he has scored 71 goals and 193 points in 245 games. After spending 15 years with the Flyers, Giroux has found a new home in Ottawa, and it appears that partnership is poised to continue. The remaining questions are how long the new deal will be and what the annual cap hit will look like.

F Adam Gaudette – In his second stint with Ottawa, Gaudette enjoyed a breakout campaign, posting a career-high 19 goals over 81 games. Despite averaging just 10:25 of ice time per night, he came close to hitting the 20-goal mark and chipped in with a goal and two assists during the playoffs. While his career-best season will undoubtedly earn him a raise on the open market — even if it was boosted by an unsustainably high 21 percent shooting percentage — Gaudette may prefer to remain in Ottawa, where head coach Travis Green’s system clearly suits his style of play.

D Travis Hamonic – A veteran of 900 NHL games, Hamonic is coming off of a disappointing season where he posted just seven points and a minus-16 rating in 59 games. Hamonic battled a lower-body injury that kept him out of the lineup for multiple weeks, and he also struggled in the playoffs, recording zero points and a minus-4 rating in five games. In his prime, Hamonic routinely skated 20-plus minutes a night and provided stout two-way play. Now, he’s coming off two injury-shortened seasons and has struggled to make an impact when in the lineup, posting a minus-26 rating over that span. A change of scenery will probably serve both parties well.

G Anton Forsberg – In his fifth season with Ottawa, Forsberg posted solid numbers and reestablished himself as a reliable backup after a disappointing 2023-24 campaign. In 30 appearances on the year, Forsberg posted a 11-12-3 record to go along with a .901 save percentage and 2.72 GAA. His production was in line with his career averages, and his three shutouts marked a new personal best. However, the organization may have to put Forsberg’s potential return to Ottawa in question, as Merilainen’s youth and upside will likely take precedence. If Forsberg hits the open market, he’ll likely have no trouble finding a new home, as many teams would welcome a reliable veteran presence between the pipes.

Other UFAs: F Nick Cousins, F Matthew Highmore, F Hayden Hodgson, D Dennis Gilbert, F Angus Crookshank (Group6), F Cole Reinhardt (Group6), F Wyatt Bongiovanni (Group6), D Jeremy Davies, D Filip Roos (Group6)

Projected Cap Space

The Senators will enter free agency with just north of $15MM with a projected cap space, per PuckPedia. It’s a solid amount to work with on the surface, but if deals with Giroux and the team’s restricted free agents come together, they will take up a significant portion of that cap space, which could limit Ottawa’s ability to pursue some of the bigger names on the open market.

Free Agent Focus 2025| Ottawa Senators| Pro Hockey Rumors Originals

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Free Agent Focus: New York Rangers

June 12, 2025 at 6:29 pm CDT | by Gabriel Foley 7 Comments

Free agency is now under a month away, and teams are looking ahead to when it opens. There will be several impact players set to hit the open market in July, while many teams also have key restricted free agents to re-sign. We continue our look around the NHL with an overview of the free agent situation for the Rangers.

Key Restricted Free Agents

D K’Andre Miller – No pending free agent played a bigger role in New York’s lineup than K’Andre Miller last season. He played upwards of 24 minutes a night over the course of the year, and averaged out to 22 minutes across 74 appearances. He has now averaged top-pair minutes in all five of his seasons in the NHL, and managed to score or pace for 20 points and a positive plus-minus in every year. Skepticism around Miller’s impact has grown as he’s struggled to return to the 43-point career-high he set in the 2022-23 campaign — this year scoring just 27 points. The Rangers also posted a plus-12 goal differential with Miller off the ice, versus a minus-four when he was on the ice. But even despite that stat, his down year seems more the result of struggles team-wide. At 25 years old and with five years of top-end experience under his belt, Miller will be a player worth spending for this summer. Then again, a lofty asking price could make him a candidate for offer sheet rumors.

F William Cuylle – Closely behind Miller in impact is forward Will Cuylle, who grew into a routine second-line role after beginning the season in the bottom-six. He foreshadowed a strong year from the very start – netting six points in New York’s first six games of the year – and followed up on it with a career-high 45 points in 82 games. He’s now appeared in all but one of New York’s games over the last two seasons, making him one of only four Rangers with so much action. The persistent role led to a breakout performance – and a 24-point increase in scoring – this year. For a Rangers club facing plenty of questions and change this off-season, Cuylle’s lineup role seems like a certainty. The club will likely look to lock the promising 23-year-old up as soon as they can. His early breakout will make him a candidate for a short-term or long-term offer – with the determining factor likely to end up being the Rangers’ budget.

F Adam Edstrom – New York’s remaining RFAs are headlined by bottom-liners and lineup hopefuls. Edstrom served as the team’s diligent fourth-line center for much of the year, until a lower-body injury sustained on February 1st ended his season early. Before then, Edstrom was sporting a bleak nine points in 51 games played, while adding 27 penalty minutes and a minus-five. He was the composed centerpiece on what often ended up a bruising Rangers’ fourth-line. That steadiness, and a glimmer of upside following an early end to his first full NHL season, will make Edstrom an option worth re-signing — but his minimal ice time will keep his cost low.

F Matt Rempe – Counter to Edstrom is fan-favorite Rempe. There’s no arguing what Rempe brings to the game at this point. He’s a modern-day enforcer, tasked with throwing huge hits and haymaker punches every chance he can. That may be a proper role with Rempe’s 6-foot-9, 255-pound frame – but his eight points in 42 games casts some doubt on the positives of icing him. Rempe did post a plus-seven – tied for seventh-highest on the team – even despite also recording a team-high 67 penalty minutes. That’s an interesting balance, and sticks New York with the question of whether a towering fighter is part of their vision for the 2025-26 roster. If it is, Rempe’s new deal should come at minimal cost.

D Zachary Jones – Jones took another step towards an everyday lineup role this season. He appeared in 46 games on the year – more than his 31 appearances last year – but was a routine healthy scratch and managed just one goal and 11 points. Jones voiced frustrations about the minimal playing time to Remy Mastey of Yahoo! Sports partway through the year, on the heels of recording seven of his points in 12 games in December. But the public comments didn’t sway his role by much. At 24-years-old, Jones seems reasonably ready to take on a handful more games next year, but with minimal impact his minutes will likely continued to be confined to the third-pairing. He’ll be a low-cost, low-upside, depth option for New York this summer.

F Brendan Brisson – New York acquired prospect Brendan Brisson and a 2025 third-round pick when they sent winger Reilly Smith back to the Vegas Golden Knights at the Trade Deadline. It was a timely move for Brisson, who struggled to break into Vegas’ lineup and had recorded 19 points and a minus-24 in 45 games with the Henderson Silver Knights up to that point. He boosted those numbers ever so slightly with the Hartford Wolf Pack – with six points and a minus-nine in 16 games – though questions about Brisson’s upside still remain. He was a first-round pick in the 2020 NHL Draft and is still just 23-years-old. But a breakout will need to come sooner rather than later if he wants to find routine NHL minutes. A contract with a few years of term could do Brisson well, but his eight points in 24 NHL games could confine him to a one-year, two-way, prove-it deal.

F Arthur Kaliyev – Also needing to ’prove it’ is 23-year-old winger Arthur Kaliyev, who joined the Rangers partway through the year via waivers from the Los Angeles Kings. Fans were excited for the move at the time – hopeful that a move across the league could reignite the spark of upside he showed in his draft year. But Kaliyev wound up a healthy scratch with the Rangers after posting just four points in 14 games. He remains a high-upside, but low-floor player; propped up by his size and wrist shot, but hurt by his motor and positioning. At this point, the once fringe-first round pick will likely need to earn his keep on a dirt-cheap contract before New York commits to him long-term.

Other RFAs: F Jake Leschyshyn, F Lauri Pajuniemi, F Karl Henriksson, F Lucas Edmonds, D Matthew Robertson, G Dylan Garand, G Talyn Boyko

Key Unrestricted Free Agents

F Nicholas Aube-Kubel – Aube-Kubel suffered a lower-body injury in the Buffalo Sabres’ season opener on October 4th. He recovered by the end of the month, but continued to face injuries and minimal ice time throughout the rest of the year’s first half. With routine absences at the forefront of his season, Buffalo opted to waive Aube-Kubel, allowing New York to step up as the hopeful beneficiary. After netting two points in 19 games with Buffalo, the 29-year-old Aube-Kubel tacked on three scoreless games with the Rangers and one goal in three games with the Wolf Pack. It was a year to forget, but New York will hold the right to priority negotiations for a player who was once an impactful fourth-liner on the 2022 Stanley Cup-winning Colorado Avalanche. Aube-Kubel has 80 points in 304 NHL games across his career.

D Calvin de Haan – Defender Calvin de Haan was also limited in minutes this year, starting his year out on the Colorado Avalanche’s bottom-pairing before being moved to the Rangers ahead of the Trade Deadline. He appeared in just three games with New York, and managed one point and a plus-four. De Haan spoke publicly multiple times about his frustrations with not receiving ice time, even as the Rangers sustained multiple losses in a row – but his season nonetheless ended with minimal action. Of all of their pending free agents, de Haan seems like the likeliest to part with the Rangers this summer.

Other UFAs: F Riley Nash, F Alex Belzile, F Bo Groulx, D Chad Ruhwedel, D Ben Harpur, G Louis Domingue

Projected Cap Space

New York will enter the off-season with a projected $14.92MM in cap space. That should be more than enough to sign Miller and Cuylle to hardy deals that ensure their place in the next generation of the Rangers, while still leaving some space to bring back fourth-line fixtures Edstrom and Rempe. But those additions could quickly price the Rangers out of any notable moves on the open market, even after the team traded Chris Kreider’s full salary cap to the Anaheim Ducks for a no-cost return. That lack of flexibility could push the team to make some more cap-clearing moves before July 1st.

Contract information courtesy of PuckPedia. Photo courtesy of Danny Wild-Imagn Images.

Free Agent Focus 2025| New York Rangers| Pro Hockey Rumors Originals

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Free Agent Focus: New York Islanders

June 10, 2025 at 8:49 pm CDT | by Brennan McClain 2 Comments

Free agency is now under a month away, and teams are looking ahead to when it opens. There will be several impact players set to hit the open market in July, while many teams also have key restricted free agents to re-sign. We continue our look around the NHL with an overview of the free agent situation for the Islanders.

Key Restricted Free Agents

D Noah Dobson – Dobson’s second trip through restricted free agency should be interesting. After scoring 10 goals and 70 points in 79 games during the 2023-24 season, Dobson could only muster 10 goals and 39 points in 71 games this past season, being severely limited by injuries. Dobson’s name had popped up in a few trade rumors during the regular season, and those were exacerbated when he changed his representation in mid-February. Given the new regime change in the Islanders’ front office, it’s hard to speculate if they’ll give Dobson a short-term deal, lock him up long-term as the team’s top defenseman, or gauge his value on the trade market.

F Simon Holmström – Holmström continues to grow as a quality scorer for the Islanders. He increased his pace this past season, going from 15 goals and 25 points in 2023-24 to 20 goals and 45 points in 2024-25. Those numbers were good for fourth on the team in scoring, and the Islanders hope that Holmström can continue his upward trajectory and get into the 25 to 30-goal range in 2025-26. Depending on the new front office’s aggression this offseason, Holmström could be a sneaky winger to retain on a long-term contract for a lower price point than many of his peers on Long Island.

D Alexander Romanov – Assuming the Islanders re-sign Dobson for next season, they’ll already have six defensemen on the active roster without Romanov. Like Dobson, Romanov’s 2024-25 campaign was limited by injuries, managing fewer than 70 games for the first time since his rookie campaign. He maintained a quality scoring pace, but his defensive metrics declined significantly this past season, which could make Romanov a trade piece this summer. The Islanders shouldn’t expect to get a top-15 selection in return (like they gave up to acquire him), but it could provide them an avenue to re-stock the prospect cupboard.

Other RFAs: F Maxim Tsyplakov, F Marc Gatcomb, D Scott Perunovich, F Liam Foudy, F Ruslan Iskhakov, F Adam Beckman, D Samuel Bolduc, D Travis Mitchell, D Aidan Fulp

Key Unrestricted Free Agents

D Tony DeAngelo – Unlike the situation regarding their restricted free agents, the Islanders don’t have much to worry about regarding their pending unrestricted free agents. DeAngelo is the only one of note after he was brought in mid-season to help the Islanders defensive core recover from a slew of injuries. The offensive-minded defenseman stayed true to form for the Islanders, posting four goals and 19 points in 35 games, eating more than 23 minutes of ice time per game, and posting some of the worst defensive metrics on the team. Given his apparent shortcomings in the defensive zone, it’s unlikely the Islanders pursue an extended relationship with DeAngelo.

Other UFAs: F Hudson Fasching, F Matt Martin, D Mike Reilly, F Julien Gauthier, F Fredrik Karlström, F Tyce Thompson, D Grant Hutton, G Jakub Skarek

Projected Cap Space

Unfortunately, the Islanders will only have approximately $21MM to spend this offseason, which should get used to retain their crop of restricted free agents. It would behoove Mathieu Darche and his new administration to trade Jean-Gabriel Pageau and his $5MM salary this summer, opening up more financial flexibility for other additions. The Islanders have the benefit of making the first-overall pick of the 2025 NHL Draft, so they’ll get a top player regardless, but this team has more holes to fill than one player can fix.

Contract information courtesy of PuckPedia.

Photo courtesy of Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images.

Free Agent Focus 2025| New York Islanders| Pro Hockey Rumors Originals

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Free Agent Focus: Nashville Predators

June 9, 2025 at 6:15 pm CDT | by Gabriel Foley 5 Comments

Free agency is now under a month away, and teams are looking ahead to when it opens. There will be several impact players set to hit the open market in July, while many teams also have key restricted free agents to re-sign. We continue our look around the NHL with an overview of the free agent situation for the Predators.

Key Restricted Free Agents

F Luke Evangelista – The Predators have just one restricted free agent on their NHL roster. It’s forward Luke Evangelista, who appeared in 68 of Nashville’s games this season while working around a lower-body injury suffered midseason. Despite the missed games, the 23-year-old Evangelista was able to continue his hot performances in the NHL lineup. He posted 10 goals and 32 points on the year, putting him on pace to match his 39 points in 80 games last season, had he appeared in all 82 games. That’s stout consistency down Nashville’s roster, bolstered by Evangelista’s growing confidence in being the physical forward on his line. His growth marks one of the team’s few true positives from a down year. A short-term deal could carry Evangelista into the golden years of his career – and hopefully his first 40-point season – at a minimal price.

F Jesse Ylonen – Nashville acquired Ylonen ahead of the 2025 Trade Deadline in a minor-league swap for Anthony Angello. Both players were impactful in their new landing spots – each netting 10 points in 19 games through the remaining regular season. But Ylonen seemed to really cement a top-six role in the AHL with four points in nine playoff games. He finished the season with 29 points in 75 games – bleak scoring, but enough of a footing to provide a solid ramp into next season. Ylonen has managed 12 goals and 29 points in 111 career games in the NHL, all coming with the Montreal Canadiens. A league-minimum deal could offer him his first chance to break out of the AHL with a new club – and could land Nashville a bottom-line winger with the ability to hit and push play.

Other RFAs: F Jordan Frasca, F Ondrej Pavel, D Luke Prokop

Key Unrestricted Free Agents

F Jakub Vrana – Vrana was another midseason addition in Nashville, joining the team via waivers from the Capitals in early March. He played the rest of the year in the NHL, appearing in 13 games in Nashville’s bottom-six. He posted a bleak three points and minus-10 in those appearances, again appearing to struggle with NHL responsibility. That was despite netting 11 points in 26 games with the Capitals earlier in the year. Vrana has run through the last few seasons unable to land a solid role at the NHL level, but he scored 36 points in 42 games of his most recent AHL stint (2023-24). That’s strong scoring, and could convince Nashville to bring him back as a focal piece of the Milwaukee Admirals lineup.

D Marc Del Gaizo – Of all of their pending free agents, Del Gaizo is absolutely Nashville’s most important. He played through his formal rookie season this year, appearing in 46 games and netting nine points. Those appearances were intercut with 30 games and 12 points in the AHL – then five points in 10 AHL playoff games. The stats may not jump off the page, but the former UMass standout looked more and more comfortable handling an NHL role. He’ll come at a low cost this summer, but could find his way into a near-permanent NHL role as soon as next season.

F Kieffer Bellows – Bellows was one of many productive veterans on the Admirals this year. He ranked sixth on the team in scoring with 15 goals and 31 points in 44 games – then posted a fantastic nine points in 10 playoff games. He also added four points in 19 NHL games. Those appearances held Bellows close to a pro role throughout the entire season, and maintained his momentum after netting 49 points in 52 games with the Toronto Marlies last year. He’s a minor-league fixture, but a certainly productive one that Nashville may struggle to replace one-for-one on the open market.

Other UFAs: F Grigori Denisenko, D Mark Friedman, D Jake Livingstone

Projected Cap Space

The Predators have little to worry about with the off-season approaching. Even after a dismal season, the team’s NHL lineup and top prospects are all signed through next season. That means that the team will be able to dedicate the vast majority of their $17.31MM in projected cap space to bringing in new additions from the open market. They’ve been one of the team’s most active teams on the transaction wire since general manager Barry Trotz took over. That should continue as Trotz handles plenty of firepower this summer.

Contract information courtesy of PuckPedia. Photo courtesy of Tim Fuller-USA TODAY Sports.

Free Agent Focus 2025| Nashville Predators| Pro Hockey Rumors Originals

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Free Agent Focus: Montreal Canadiens

June 7, 2025 at 8:55 pm CDT | by Brennan McClain Leave a Comment

Free agency is now under a month away, and teams are looking ahead to when it opens. There will be several impact players set to hit the open market in July, while many teams also have key restricted free agents to re-sign. We continue our look around the NHL with an overview of the free agent situation for the Canadiens.

Key Restricted Free Agents

G Jakub Dobes – Dobes’ NHL career couldn’t have gotten off to a better start. He won his first NHL start against the eventual Eastern Conference champion Florida Panthers, stopping 34 of 34 shots. He finished the season with a 7-4-3 record in 15 starts with a .909 SV% and 2.74 GAA. If he were allowed to remove three difficult starts against the Rangers, Kings, and Kraken, Dobes would have finished the year with an impressive .924 SV%. Unfortunately for Dobes, with Sam Montembeault signed through the 2026-27 season and prospect Jacob Fowler rising through the ranks, he likely doesn’t have a long-term future with Montreal.

F Emil Heineman – Heineman came exactly as advertised to the Canadiens this season. Despite missing a chunk of games due to injury, the Leksand, Sweden native scored 10 goals and 18 points in 62 games, while averaging 11:24 of ice time per night. He was one of the most physical forwards on the team and managed solid possession metrics. Like many younger players, he has a few things to clean up in the defensive zone, which he’ll want to prioritize during offseason training if Martin St. Louis continues to utilize him in a defensive role next season.

D Jayden Struble – Struble serves as one of the more obvious non-tender candidates on the Canadiens’ roster. Montreal already has six defensemen signed through next season, and that’s without taking into account David Reinbacher competing for a spot on the roster during next year’s training camp. Still, Struble is an effective depth option, scoring two goals and 13 points in 56 games this past season while averaging nearly 15 minutes of ice time, with 124 hits.

Other RFAs: F Rafaël Harvey-Pinard, F Sean Farrell, F Xavier Simoneau, D Gustav Lindström, D Noel Hoefenmayer, D William Trudeau, G Cayden Primeau

Key Unrestricted Free Agents

F Christian Dvorak – Before the 2024-25 campaign, the Canadiens had been looking to offload Dvorak and his $4.45MM salary. Dvorak rewarded Montreal for keeping him, scoring 12 goals and 33 points in 82 games, while leading the team with a 55.6% faceoff percentage by a healthy margin. He’s becoming a better defensive player as he ages, and the Canadiens could use Dvorak’s skill set as a veteran player as they become more competitive, albeit at a far lower price point.

F Joel Armia – Similarly to Dvorak, Armia has been the subject of trade rumors for the last few years. Montreal went as far as to pass Armia through waivers at the beginning of the 2023-24 campaign in an attempt to rid themselves of his $3.4MM salary. In almost identical fashion, Armia rewarded the Canadiens for keeping him, scoring 11 goals and 29 points in 81 games, with many of those points coming at even strength. Still, Armia has significantly poorer possession metrics compared to his peers, and Montreal may look elsewhere for secondary scoring this offseason.

Other UFAs: F Michael Pezzetta, F Brandon Gignac, F Alex Barré-Boulet, G Connor Hughes

Projected Cap Space

The situation in Montreal becomes more convoluted when looking at their salary cap availability. The team only has around $6MM to spend, with much of their core intact. According to PuckPedia, the Canadiens already have 13 forwards, six defensemen, and two netminders penciled on next year’s roster. Still, if the Canadiens are looking to capitalize on their surprise return to the postseason this season, they could look to trade Carey Price’s contract with it’s $10.5MM (with a sweetener, of course) to a team like the San Jose Sharks, giving Montreal the capability to pursue nearly any player they’re interested in this summer.

Contract info courtesy of PuckPedia.

Photo courtesy of John Jones-Imagn Images

Free Agent Focus 2025| Montreal Canadiens| Pro Hockey Rumors Originals

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Free Agent Focus: Minnesota Wild

June 7, 2025 at 6:41 pm CDT | by Brennan McClain Leave a Comment

Free agency is now under a month away, and teams are looking ahead to when it opens. There will be several impact players set to hit the open market in July, while many teams also have key restricted free agents to re-sign. We continue our look around the NHL with an overview of the free agent situation for the Wild.

Key Restricted Free Agents

F Marco Rossi – Much has already been made of Rossi’s trip through restricted free agency this summer. The former ninth overall pick of the 2020 NHL Draft is reportedly looking for a seven-year, $49MM contract with the Wild this summer, and the team has countered with a five-year, $25MM deal. It doesn’t seem like a bridgeable gap at this point, though much can change over the summer months. Despite having his name in the rumor mill for a few years, the trade rumors surrounding Rossi are reaching a peak, meaning it’s more than likely he’s moved this summer.

F Declan Chisholm – Minnesota acquired Chisholm on waivers from the Winnipeg Jets last season, and he quietly had a productive season for the Wild in 2024-25. He reached a career-high in scoring with two goals and 12 points in 66 contests, averaging just shy of 17 minutes of ice time per game. Furthermore, even though he started many of his shifts in the defensive zone, Chisholm finished the season with a quality 50.4% CorsiFor% at even strength, and a 91.5% on-ice save percentage at even strength. Chisholm would make for a reliable depth option to retain on a saturated defensive core.

Other RFAs: F Graeme Clarke, F Adam Raska, F Michael Milne, F Luke Toporowski, D Ryan O’Rourke

Key Unrestricted Free Agents

F Gustav Nyquist – The second iteration of the Nyquist experiment in Minnesota didn’t go as well as the first time. The last time the Wild acquired Nyquist at the 2022-23 season, he scored one goal and five points in three regular season contests, with another five assists in six playoff games. This time around, the Halmstad, Sweden native scored two goals and seven points in 22 games after a trade from the Nashville Predators, and went scoreless in the Wild’s opening-round matchup against the Vegas Golden Knights. There will be better options available to Minnesota on the free agent market to address their secondary scoring needs.

F Justin Brazeau – Like Nyquist, the Wild acquired Brazeau at this year’s trade deadline from the Boston Bruins. He was tasked with giving Minnesota more grit and defensive prowess in their bottom-six for their playoff push, and that’s exactly what he gave them. His ice time was cut by more than four and a half minutes when he was moved to the Wild, and his scoring followed. Still, Brazeau managed nearly two hits a game for Minnesota, and added 22 more in six postseason contests.

D Jon Merrill – Merrill is unlikely to sign another contract with the Wild. Unfortunately, he doesn’t do all that much aside from eat limited minutes. He managed a quality 91.4% on-ice save percentage at even strength in 70 games, but that was only good for fifth on the team among blue liners, meaning the Wild can easily replace his value internally.

Other UFAs: F Travis Boyd, F Devin Shore, F Tyler Madden, D Cameron Crotty, G Troy Grosenick, G Dylan Ferguson

Projected Cap Space

The time has finally come for Minnesota to forget about the buyout burden from Zach Parise and Ryan Suter. After paying the pair of former-veterans nearly $15MM last season, the Wild’s payment drops down to $1.7MM for the 2025-26 season, giving them nearly $16MM in salary cap flexibility with few roster spots to fill. Minnesota have already placed a priority on signing superstar Kirill Kaprizov to a long-term extension this summer, so they’ll have to game out any free agent additions with that extension in mind.

Contract info courtesy of PuckPedia.

Photo courtesy of Nick Wosika-Imagn Images

Free Agent Focus 2025| Minnesota Wild| Pro Hockey Rumors Originals

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Free Agent Focus: Los Angeles Kings

June 6, 2025 at 1:46 pm CDT | by Josh Erickson 9 Comments

Free agency is now under a month away, and teams are looking ahead to when it opens. There will be several impact players set to hit the open market in July, while many teams also have key restricted free agents to re-sign. We continue our look around the NHL with an overview of the free agent situation for the Kings.

Key Restricted Free Agents

F Alex Laferriere – Not only has Laferriere arrived as a full-time piece for the Kings earlier than expected, but he’s likely been pencilled in as a future top-six piece long term. The 23-year-old cooled off down the stretch after a torrid start, but still saw a 25% increase in average ice time from his rookie season.

He’s shown immense promise as a playmaking right-winger, putting together a 19-23–42 scoring line in 77 games with a +22 rating in his sophomore outing. At Laferriere’s age, there’s still some room to grow, especially after seeing his points per game output jump from 0.28 to 0.55 in his rookie and sophomore seasons.

He’s owed a qualifying offer of $826,875 coming off his entry-level deal that he’ll obviously exceed, and it’s worth noting he’s a 10.2(c) RFA who’s ineligible to receive an offer sheet because he lacks the required professional experience. While he’ll obviously land a seven-figure extension, the question is if the Kings opt for a bridge deal to reserve more cap space for this summer or aim to get him signed long-term now.

Considering they have a few high-cost UFAs to retain, it might make more sense to go for a bridge deal in the $3MM-$4MM range.

Other RFAs: F Jack Studnicka, D Cole Krygier

Key Unrestricted Free Agents

D Vladislav Gavrikov – The Kings needed Gavrikov to play like a true top-pairing defenseman to begin the season with Drew Doughty on the shelf, and he delivered in spades. Less fortunately for them, Gavrikov’s career-best campaign came in a contract year.

The 29-year-old Russian fell just short of his career high in points but was a dominant two-way force, finishing the year with a 5-25–30 scoring line, a +26 rating, and 140 blocks while averaging a career-high 23:05 per game. Despite seeing the most defensive-zone-oriented deployment among L.A. defenders, the Kings averaged just 1.64 goals against per 60 minutes with Gavrikov on the ice at 5-on-5.

He’s the top shutdown defenseman still set to hit the market this summer and will command well north of $7MM on a max-term contract. The Kings can bring down the cap hit slightly by offering him a comparable total-value deal with an eighth year of term, something they’d likely take advantage of.

With Doughty aging and only having two years left on his contract, the Kings can ill-afford to lose Gavrikov and will likely be willing to shell out the cash they need to keep him.

F Andrei Kuzmenko – A notoriously hot-and-cold scorer over his three years in the league, Kuzmenko has already been traded three times since his arrival in the NHL in 2022, including twice this season. Los Angeles got the Dr. Jekyll version of Kuzmenko after acquiring him from the Flyers for a third-round pick.

The 29-year-old fit seamlessly on Anže Kopitar’s wing and was a lethal power-play weapon, totaling 17 points in 22 regular-season games before going point-per-game in L.A.’s first-round loss to the Oilers. Still, Kuzmenko has spent stretches in the press box during recent stops with the Canucks and Flames and shot just 13.3% this season after a raucous 27.3% finishing rate in his rookie year.

He’ll almost certainly be taking a pay cut on his previous $5.5MM cap hit as a result, but he likely boosted himself back into the $4MM range on a mid-term deal with his finish to the season. At that price, the Kings would be smart to pounce on an extension unless they feel they can confidently replace his top-line role with a big-ticket external signing.

F Tanner Jeannot – The Kings paid a second and fourth-round pick to acquire Jeannot from the Lightning last summer, just over a year after Tampa essentially gave up an entire draft class’ worth of picks to acquire the energy winger from the Predators in one of the more puzzling swaps in recent memory. The 28-year-old has scored just 20 goals in 198 games over the last three seasons following his 24-goal rookie campaign with Nashville in 2021-22, which is now a distant memory.

He’s still an incredibly physical fourth-line piece, albeit with underwhelming possession impacts, but can be a fine fit in limited minutes with some limited scoring upside. There should be some interest in his services league-wide, but it would be surprising to see him match or beat his expiring $2.665MM cap hit.

G David Rittich – Rittich’s past few seasons have been mired in inconsistency. After being one of the best backups in the league for L.A. last season, he regressed heavily to a .886 SV% in an increased workload (31 starts, three relief appearances).

His -11.4 goals saved above expected was seventh-worst in the league, according to MoneyPuck, and fourth-worst among goalies with at least 30 appearances. While he’s had good showings in limited deployment, the 32-year-old isn’t realistically a reliable tandem option, but his value this summer could be helped by a weak goalie market.

It might still make sense for L.A. to pursue a reunion given his 2023-24 performance, though, especially since prospect Erik Portillo isn’t quite ready for full-time NHL minutes after a disappointing AHL campaign.

F Trevor Lewis – The two-time Stanley Cup champion with the Kings returned for his second stint in L.A. two summers ago after three years away. He fell out of a full-time role this season, logging 60 appearances after playing in all 82 regular-season games the year before, but still managed 12 points and 100 hits while averaging 10:13 per game.

He’s played the last two years on one-way deals at or a shade above league minimum, a trend that could continue if the Kings want a familiar face to slot into the lineup if needed.

Other UFAs: F Samuel Fagemo (Group VI), F Taylor Ward, D Joseph Cecconi, D Caleb Jones, D Reilly Walsh (Group VI), G Pheonix Copley

Projected Cap Space

The Kings have just over $21.7MM in space below the $95.5MM Upper Limit, and with just a few roster spots to fill, they should be able to re-sign all of their pending free agents. If they plan to keep both Gavrikov and Kuzmenko around, though, they’ll need to make sure they go short-term with Laferriere to keep themselves in contention for some top UFA wingers like Brock Boeser and Nikolaj Ehlers. Signing Mitch Marner could still be realistic, but not with Kuzmenko taking up the chunk of change he’s projected to receive.

Image courtesy of Timothy T. Ludwig-Imagn Images (Laferriere) and Walter Tychnowicz-Imagn Images (Gavrikov). Contract information courtesy of PuckPedia.

Free Agent Focus 2025| Los Angeles Kings| Pro Hockey Rumors Originals

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Free Agent Focus: Detroit Red Wings

June 4, 2025 at 4:04 pm CDT | by Brennan McClain 9 Comments

Free agency is now under a month away, and teams are looking ahead to when it opens. There will be several impact players set to hit the open market in July, while many teams also have key restricted free agents to re-sign. We continue our look around the NHL with an overview of the free agent situation for the Red Wings.

Key Restricted Free Agents

F Jonatan Berggren – After spending much of the 2023-24 season with Detroit’s AHL affiliate, the Grand Rapids Griffins, Berggren earned another full-time opportunity with the Red Wings in 2024-25. His scoring output was depressed compared to his performance in the 2022-23 season, as he scored 12 goals and 24 points in 75 games, averaging 12:59 of ice time per night. Still, Berggren’s biggest improvements came on the defensive side of the puck, where he achieved an on-ice save percentage of 91.1% at even strength, far and away the best output of his young career. He’ll earn a raise on his $825K salary this summer, but it shouldn’t be by much, especially if Detroit has begun considering him a bottom-six defensive forward.

F Elmer Söderblom – The 6’8′ Swede brought a lot of punch to Detroit’s lineup when he was recalled in late January of the 2024-25 campaign. Söderblom finished the year with four goals and 11 points in 26 games, with 43 hits while averaging 13:22 of ice time per night. Similarly to Berggren, Söderblom offered more defensive help to the Red Wings lineup than expected, and that could be where he finds his home on the team longer-term. Expect Detroit to retain Söderblom on a one-year deal with a slight bump on his $878K salary while staying below $1MM.

D Albert Johansson – Requiring waivers for another demotion to the AHL, the Red Wings chose to keep Johansson on their active roster out of training camp. It took some time for Johansson to play regularly, but after trading Olli Määttä to the then-named Utah Hockey Club, Detroit found more opportunity for ’AlJo’. Unfortunately, he’s put himself in a situation where the Red Wings could conceivably non-tender him this summer. Despite starting a majority of his shifts in the offensive zone, Johansson ranked as one of the worst players on the team in Expected +/- according to Hockey Reference, and on-ice goals % according to MoneyPuck.

Other RFAs: F Cross Hanas, D Antti Tuomisto, D Eemil Viro, G Gage Alexander

Key Unrestricted Free Agents

F Patrick Kane – Despite a visible and significant drop-off in foot speed, Kane continues to produce for Detroit. The 36-year-old three-time Stanley Cup champion and former-MVP ranked fourth on the team in points this season with 21 goals and 59 points in 72 games in a second-line role. General Manager Steve Yzerman has already expressed confidence that Kane will return to the Red Wings for the 2025-26 season, although no contract has been agreed to yet. If Kane decides to remain in Detroit, his upcoming contract should resemble this year’s deal, which includes a base salary of $4MM and the potential to earn an additional $2.5MM in performance bonuses. These bonuses are primarily dependent on the Red Wings qualifying for the postseason.

D Jeff Petry – What a difference a year can make. After finishing the 2023-24 season with three goals and 24 points in 73 games, Petry finished the 2024-25 campaign with one goal and eight points in 44 contests, even while averaging more ice time. Petry finished last place among Detroit blue liners (with 41 or more games played) in CorsiFor%, and second-to-last in Expected +/-. Despite earning a modest $2.34MM salary this past season thanks to the Pittsburgh Penguins and Montreal Canadiens retaining a portion of his salary, it’s unlikely Petry will wear a winged wheel on his jersey next year. He may have to settle for a one-year, league minimum on his new deal or earn his way from a professional tryout agreement.

G Alex Lyon – Petry wasn’t the only pending unrestricted free agent who had a significant drop-off in the 2024-25 season. After managing a 21-18-5 record in 43 starts in the 2023-24 campaign, Lyon posted a 14-9-1 record in 26 starts this past year, with an eight-point drop in his SV% and a 3.6 drop in his Goals Saved Above Average. After adding several netminders last offseason and another at the trade deadline, the Red Wings are in dire need of contracting their goaltending situation, making Lyon an obvious candidate to leave this summer.

Other UFAs: F Craig Smith, F Tyler Motte, D William Lagesson, F Timothy Gettinger, F Joe Snively, D Brogan Rafferty, G Jack Campbell

Projected Cap Space

Thankfully for Detroit, the Red Wings will have a healthy salary cap situation heading into the offseason. PuckPedia lists the Red Wings as having $21.337MM in cap space, while already having 10 forwards, five defensemen, and two netminders signed for next season. Assuming Detroit re-signs Kane on a similar deal, and giving Berggren and Söderblom a generous salary of $1MM, that’ll give the Red Wings more than $15MM to work with. There should be competition for open spots on the roster from Nate Danielson, Jesse Kiiskinen, and Axel Sandin-Pellikka during next year’s training camp, so Detroit has the financial flexibility to be aggressive this summer.

Contract info courtesy of PuckPedia.

Photo courtesy of Brian Bradshaw Sevald-Imagn Images.

Detroit Red Wings| Free Agent Focus 2025| Pro Hockey Rumors Originals

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