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Free Agent Focus 2025

Free Agent Focus: Dallas Stars

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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 Stars.

Key Restricted Free Agents

F Mavrik Bourque – The Stars don’t have many restricted free agents, but one forward they may want to retain long-term is Bourque. The 23-year-old Quebec native enjoyed a solid rookie showing in 2024-25, posting 11 goals and 24 points in a bottom-six role. However, while he suited up in 73 games during the regular season, he only saw action in three playoff contests, with no points to show for it. Still, the arrow seems to be pointing up for the team’s 2020 first-round selection. Bourque has excelled in the AHL, posting 47 goals and 129 points in 147 games for the Texas Stars, and has the potential to make an impact in the NHL. For a team with limited cap space, signing a young forward with high upside makes sense.

D Nils Lundkvist– For a team that has five defenders set to make more than $3MM next season, the Stars may not want to shell out much more cap space to blueliners. With that said, the team should have some interest in retaining Lundkvist, a former first-round selection of the New York Rangers. The 24-year-old skated in 39 games this past season, posting five assists, a plus-four rating, 34 blocked shots, and 23 hits. Although his offensive output declined from the 2023–24 season, in which he tallied 19 points and a plus-13 rating, Lundkvist saw an increase in average ice time, rising to 15:01 from 14:06 per game. With only six defensemen under contract for next season (excluding non-rostered players), re-signing Lundkvist could be a cost-effective option for the team’s third pairing.

Other RFAs: F Antonio Stranges, G Remi Poirier, G Benjamin Kraws

Key Unrestricted Free Agents

F Jamie Benn – The team’s most notable pending unrestricted free agent, at least from a nostalgic point of view, is longtime captain Jamie Benn. For the first time in his career, Benn is heading for the open market. Benn has played all 1,192 of his games in Dallas, and the soon-to-be 36-year-old ranks second only to franchise legend Mike Modano in several key categories, including games played, points, goals, and shots on goal. Benn also recently discussed his desire to re-sign with Dallas. This past season, Benn showed he can still be productive in a bottom-six role, finishing with a solid 16 goals and 49 points. And while the Stars may have a mutual desire to retain their captain, the issue now may be the team’s limited cap space. Should the team resign Benn or use this opportunity to get younger?

F Matt Duchene – Duchene showed last season that he can still perform at a high level, finishing with an impressive 30–52–82 stat line in 82 games. However, the well dried up for the 34-year-old in the playoffs, where he posted just one goal and six points in 18 games. That reality may leave a sour taste for GM Jim Nill and the front office as they consider whether to re-sign Duchene. Either way, Duchene’s strong regular season may generate enough interest on the open market to price him out of Dallas. He will certainly see a sizeable raise on his previous $3MM AAV deal.

F Evgenii Dadonov – Like Duchene, Dadonov is coming off a resurgent season that will likely lead to a pay raise in free agency. While he didn’t share the statistical success of Duchene, Dadonov posted 20 goals and 40 points on the year, his most points since the 2021-22 season. However, Dadonov also struggled in the playoffs, posting four points and a minus-three rating in 13 games. Still, 20-goal scorers don’t grow on trees and Dadonov is sure to draw interest from teams seeking depth scoring.

F Mikael Granlund – Perhaps no pending free agent’s market is harder to gauge than Granlund’s, who has been a wildly inconsistent contributor throughout his career. Still, he appeared to find instant success after being traded to Dallas last season, posting 21 points in 31 games. He finished the year with 66 points between San Jose and Dallas, his most since the 2017-18 season. He also posted a solid 10 points in 18 playoff games. The pass-first forward just turned 33 and may be seeking one more significant contract on the open market.

D Cody Ceci – One of the more unusual stats from the 2024–25 season was that Cody Ceci appeared in 85 regular season games — 54 with the Sharks and 31 with the Stars. He tallied 24 points overall, including nine assists during his time in Dallas. Ceci also logged a notable 20:14 of ice time per game with the Stars, a number that increased to 21:31 in the playoffs. The Stars are sure to have interest in retaining Ceci’s services, but the veteran of 871 career games will have plenty of suitors if he reaches the open market. Like Granlund, Ceci may be looking for one final large, multi-year agreement.

Other UFAs: D Brendan Smith, G Magnus Hellberg, F Colin Blackwell, F Cameron Hughes, F Kole Lind (UFA-Group6), F Emilio Pettersen (UFA-Group6), F Matej Blumel (UFA-Group6)

Projected Cap Space

Nill and the front office will have to get creative if they want to make any sort of waves in free agency, or even to simply retain a few of their pending free agents. According to PuckPedia, the team currently has just south of $5 million in cap space. With over $60 million committed to their top seven players, the team is top-heavy with contracts and faces tough decisions regarding the future of their pending free agents, including Benn.

Contract info courtesy of PuckPedia.

Free Agent Focus: Columbus Blue Jackets

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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 Blue Jackets. 

Key Restricted Free Agents

F Dmitri Voronkov – A number of players had breakout campaigns for the Jackets in 2024-25. Voronkov wasn’t chief among them, but he was up there. After a strong rookie campaign last year, the 24-year-old received loads of top-line deployment at even strength with Kirill Marchenko on his opposite wing and either Adam Fantilli or Sean Monahan down the middle. His 23 goals and 47 points didn’t explode off the page, but it’s still serviceable top-six output and a steady improvement on 2023-24’s 18-16–34 scoring line in two more appearances. Voronkov averaged 16:47 per game, a figure that shouldn’t see much variation heading into next year. The 6’5″, 227-lb winger also played as you’d expect given his frame – 71 hits and quite good defensive impacts. With some room to grow, Columbus is likely looking at a long-term deal in the $6MM range annually. A bridge deal, if they go that route, should be more attainable in the high $3MMs or low $4MMs in terms of AAV.

D Jordan Harris – Harris was picked up from the Canadiens in last summer’s Patrik Laine trade. He’d become a fine bottom-pairing and even fringe top-four option with Montreal last year, but the 24-year-old spent most of the year as the odd man out on the Columbus blue line, even with Erik Gudbranson missing most of the season. After posting just five points and a minus-one rating in 33 games while averaging a minuscule 11:23 per game, there’s reason to believe the Blue Jackets don’t have an appetite to issue him his $1.4MM qualifying offer. The 2018 third-round pick could be on the open market this summer as a result.

G Daniil Tarasov – Like Harris, Tarasov is a non-tender candidate later this month. The 26-year-old Russian could still have some untapped upside, but a roster crunch in net likely means he won’t discover it in Columbus. He was superseded as a top-two option for the Jackets down the stretch by the younger Jet Greaves, who looks to serve in tandem with Elvis Merzlikins next year. He struggled when given the chance to start in 2024-25, posting a 7-10-2 record, .881 SV%, and 3.54 GAA in 20 appearances. He’s also due a seven-figure qualifying offer ($1.26MM) and has arbitration rights, neither of which work in his favor for being retained as a No. 3 option.

Other RFAs: F Hunter McKown, F Mikael Pyyhtia, D Ole Julian Bjorgvik-Holm, D Cole Clayton, D Daemon Hunt, D Samuel Knazko

Key Unrestricted Free Agents

D Ivan Provorov – Some extensions in the back half of the season vaulted Provorov into being the consensus No. 3 UFA available this summer on the blue line behind Aaron Ekblad and former Blue Jacket Vladislav Gavrikov. The 28-year-old has been a fine fit in Columbus since his acquisition two years ago, though, and there could still be a long-term fit on the left side behind Zach Werenski, even with top prospect Denton Mateychuk emerging as an NHL option. He managed a +11 rating and 33 points in 82 games this year, his first time in the black since 2020-21, but his possession metrics (47.9 CF%, 45.6 xGF% at even strength) are still lacking for someone logging over 23 minutes per game. Regardless, a weak UFA market on defense and his usability in heavy minutes likely mean the Jackets will need to offer a long-term deal in the $7MM range per season to keep him around.

D Dante Fabbro – Provorov isn’t the only core member of the Jackets’ top four at risk of hitting the open market. Claimed off waivers from the Predators early in the season, Fabbro was a revelation and quickly stapled himself alongside Werenski in top-pairing duties. It wouldn’t be particularly surprising to see Columbus pour more resources into re-upping Fabbro, who’s their best right-shot option at present ahead of Gudbranson and Damon Severson, than Provorov. His brief track record in extended usage will likely limit his value to under $5MM annually. After the waiver claim, Fabbro had 26 points and a +23 rating in 62 games for the Jackets while controlling 54.4% of expected goals alongside Werenski, per MoneyPuck.

F Sean Kuraly – The Ohio native came home on a four-year, $10MM contract in free agency in 2021. He responded with a career-high 30 points in 77 games, but the checking center’s offense has steadily dwindled since then. While still an alternate captain, his average ice time of 11:46 in 2024-25 was the lowest of his NHL career in a full season. He still managed 17 points and a respectable minus-four rating in heavy defensive deployment, though, and he finished third on the team with 163 hits. The 32-year-old remains a good fourth-line piece and could find a shorter-term deal to stay in Columbus at a slight discount on his current $2.5MM cap hit.

F Justin Danforth – After spending most of his pro career in the minors or overseas, Danforth made his NHL debut with the Jackets in his age-28 season four years ago. Now 32, the diminutive but physical forward posted a 9-12–21 scoring line in 61 games last year while averaging a career-high 14:23 per game. He’s primarily a winger but can flex in at center. Still, he’s the most expendable among their more pertinent UFAs and could be the one out the door to make roster space for a big splash or an up-and-coming prospect making the jump. He’s likely in the market for a multi-year but sub-$2MM cap hit contract this summer.

Other UFAs: F Christian Fischer, F Trey Fix-Wolansky, F Dylan Gambrell, F Luke Kunin, F Kevin Labanc, F Joseph LaBate, F Owen Sillinger, F James van Riemsdyk, D Jack Johnson, G Zachary Sawchenko

Projected Cap Space

Only the Sharks have more cap space for 2025-26 at present than the Blue Jackets. They’ve got $40.4MM to work with despite already having 18 roster players inked for next year, per PuckPedia. Cap space won’t be an obstacle for re-signing anybody with mutual interest in an extension or making competitive offers for some of the top players available on the open market.

Images courtesy of Jerome Miron-Imagn Images (Voronkov) and Marc DesRosiers-Imagn Images (Provorov). Contract info courtesy of PuckPedia.

Free Agent Focus: Colorado Avalanche

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Free agency is just over 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 Colorado Avalanche.

Key Restricted Free Agents

D Sam Malinski – Malinski is Colorado’s only RFA to play considerable NHL time this season. It was his rookie year in the league, and Colorado opted to strap Malinski to the third-pair for nearly the whole year. He handled the role well, netting 15 points and a plus-eight in 76 games despite averaging just 16 minutes of ice time. He also ranked third in blocked shots, behind top defenders Cale Makar and Samuel Girard. That’s an impressive stat line for the young Malinski, and one that maintained his momentum after posting 10 points and a plus-three in 23 games last season. He’ll be a must-sign option for the Avalanche, even if it’s only to continue forward in a quaint role. Malinski should only come at the cost of a few years in term and a few million in salary.

D John Ludvig – Ludvig only appeared in eight NHL games this season, and his two assists and minus-four won’t be marks to remember. The rest of his season was spent in a top-four role with the AHL’s Colorado Eagles, where he posted 12 points and a plus-five in 31 regular season games – then stepped up with four points in nine postseason games. He’s a lumbering defender who supports all three lanes well enough. Those traits earned him 33 games on the Pittsburgh Penguins roster last season – but on an Avalanche team with a higher demand, it’s unclear exactly where Ludvig’s upside falls. Colorado will get a chance to declare their faith in him this summer, while also shoring up their left-defense depth at a cheap cost.

Other RFAs: F Sampo Ranta, F Matthew Stienburg, F Jean-Luc Foudy, F William Dufour, F Jason Polin, D Sergei Boikov, G Kevin Mandolese, G Trent Miner

Key Unrestricted Free Agents

F Brock Nelson – The Avalanche’s off-season could be based around their ability to re-sign veteran Brock Nelson. The team traded a king’s ransom for the 12-year pro at the Trade Deadline, and seemed to land a strong return when he scored 13 points in 19 regular season games. But Nelson managed just four assists in Colorado’s seven playoff games. He didn’t shine in the bright lights, and rumors in weeks since have swung both ways on his potential to re-sign. It seems mutual interest in staying with the Avalanche is growing, though it might cost the team the bulk of their remaining cap space. Nelson did finish the year with a stout 26 goals and 56 points in 80 games, and managed seasons above 30 goals and 60 points in each of the last three years. A full year in Colorado could bring out that high-end scoring once again, and make a lofty deal worth the price.

D Ryan Lindgren – Views were mixed when Lindgren came over from the New York Rangers at the Trade Deadline. He stepped up as another shutdown option near the bottom of Colorado’s depth chart, and fluctuated between as little as 16 minutes and as much as 23 minutes per game depending on game flow. But he finished his first stint in Colorado with just three points and a minus-one in 18 games. Lindgern did step up in the playoffs – with three points and a plus-five in seven games – but the sentiment on whether he should stick around could still swing either way. He’s a defense-first role player who can be trusted to block shots and throw hits. That’s a strong style to fold into the lineup – but too high of an asking price could lead to a split between Lindgren and the Avalanche this summer.

F Jonathan Drouin – Drouin has 30 goals and 93 points in 122 games with the Avalanche, spanning the last two seasons. That’s an 82-game average of 20 goals and 63 points, which would surpass any stat lines he’s posted so far. Drouin belongs in Colorado, and saw his production soar from 29 points to a career-high 56 points when he moved from the Canadiens to the Avalanche in 2023. But his season this year was marred by injury, holding Drouin to 37 points in 43 games. That’s still a productive year, and should be enough to earn a new deal – especially as Colorado looks to shore up their left-wing depth behind the uncertain Gabriel Landeskog.

F Jimmy Vesey – Colorado acquired Vesey and defender Ryan Lindgren from the New York Rangers at the Trade Deadline. Vesey quickly fell into the rut of healthy scratches in the Western Conference, and managed just two points in 10 games with the Avalanche before the end of the season. He wasn’t tapped at all in the playoffs, and posted minimal stats across the board in the minutes he did play. Vesey finished the year with a combined eight points in 43 games, far below the 26 points he scored in 80 games last year. He’s fallen into the hole of fourth-line forward – but could still have a glimmer of scoring upside. That could be enough to entice a team on the open market, but it doesn’t seem that team will be Colorado.

F Joel Kiviranta – Kiviranta received the most complete NHL role of his career this season. Despite tons of flux in Colorado’s top-end, their bottom-six wasn’t disturbed all too much – and Kiviranta was left to perform as the scorer on the team’s fourth-line. He fit the role well, netting 16 goals and 23 points in 79 games – all career-highs – despite averaging third-line minutes and no special teams. But he also shot at a 19-percent success rate – a drastic spike after his last three seasons fell below 10-percent. It’s clear by now that Kiviranta is a shooting-dependent scorer who can’t be tasked with much role. With the first double-digit goal-scoring of his career, he could convince the Avalanche to maintain him in their bottom-six on a cheap deal – but they run the risk of ending up with a forward they’ll soon need to swap out.

D Erik Johnson – Johnson learned that there’s no place like home this season. After three years in the Eastern Conference – one in Buffalo and two in Philadelphia – Johnson was eagerly dealt back to the Avalanche at the Trade Deadline. The move allowed the veteran to pursue one more Stanley Cup run with the team he’s spent 14 years with – but their hopes fell short at the hands of the Dallas Stars in the second round. Now, it’s the offseason, and Johnson must face the question of retirement after contributing just five points in 36 total games this season. He’s freshly 37 years old and seems to have a bright future in NHL coaching or management at the ready. This could be the summer that the 2006 first-overall selection opts to hang them up. If not, he’ll likely return on a league-minimum deal and continue to handle shutdown roles in Colorado.

Other UFAs: D Tucker Poolman, F Chris Wagner, F TJ Tynan, F Matthew Phillips, F Jere Innala, D Calle Rosen, D Jack Ahcan, G Adam Scheel (Group-6 UFA)

Projected Cap Space

Colorado is entering the off-season with just $8.7MM in projected cap space. That is peanuts in the NHL, and could be eaten up very quick by the mix of Malinski, Lindgren, and Drouin re-signing. Colorado could also opt to spent the bulk of it on locking down Nelson, though they’d be left at an impasse with many of their remaining free agents. Pending a major cap-clearing trade, Colorado is in store for a summer of budgeting – though a few lucrative signings is all they need to return for another strong season.

Photo courtesy of Nick Turchiaro-Imagn Images. Contract information courtesy of PuckPedia.

Free Agent Focus: Chicago Blackhawks

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Free agency is just over 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 Blackhawks.

Key Restricted Free Agents

F Philipp Kurashev – As the Blackhawks continue to navigate through a rebuild, holding onto a 25-year-old forward with a 50-plus point season on his résumé makes plenty of sense, and that’s exactly what they have in soon-to-be restricted free agent Philipp Kurashev. But after a breakout 54-point campaign in 2023–24, Kurashev took a step back this past season, managing just 14 points in 51 games. So, who is the real Kurashev? And what is his value to the Blackhawks, or potentially other teams? These are the questions the Blackhawks’ front office must answer as they weigh his next contract.

D Wyatt Kaiser – No pending free agent, restricted or unrestricted, may be more important to the Blackhawks than Wyatt Kaiser, who took a clear step forward this past season. The 2020 third-round pick appeared in a career-high 57 games, recording four goals and eight points, and finishing third on the team with 93 blocked shots. Just as notable, his even plus-minus rating was the best among all Blackhawks defensemen and second-best on the roster overall, behind only forward Ilya Mikheyev’s plus-four. At just 22 years old, Kaiser may be the kind of defenseman the Blackhawks look to sign long-term as they aim to solidify their blue line for the Connor Bedard era.

G Arvid Soderblom – Despite being buried on the depth chart heading into the last season, Soderblom ended the season with more games between the pipes than any Blackhawks goalie. With Laurent Brossoit missing the season with a meniscus tear, and veteran Petr Mrázek being traded at the deadline, Soderblom saw action in 36 contests, compiling a 10-18-7 record to go with a .898 save percentage. While those numbers are unflattering by league standards, Soderblom statistically outperformed Mrazek and Spencer Knight, who came over in a blockbuster trade that sent Seth Jones to the Florida Panthers. Knight appeared in 15 games for the Blackhawks, finishing with a 5-8-2 record and .893 save percentage. While the Blackhawks may like the idea of keeping Soderblom in the mix, they already have $7.8MM committed to Brossoit and Knight next season. If Soderblom is now viewed in the league circles as a legitimate backup, another team could step in with a solid offer.

Other RFAs: D Louis Crevier, D Victor Soderstrom, F Antti Saarela, F Aku Raty, F Jalen Luypen

Key Unrestricted Free Agents

D Alec Martinez – On April 13, the day of the Blackhawks’ last home game of the season, Martinez announced that he would be retiring following the season. A three-time Stanley Cup champion, the 37-year-old was signed last offseason to a one-year, $4 million deal to bring leadership and experience to a young Chicago lineup. And while it’s difficult to measure the impact of his presence in the locker room, Martinez’s on-ice performance left much to be desired. He finished the year with 12 points and a minus-15 rating in 44 games. Martinez will finish his career with 862 games played, 289 points, and, of course, those three Stanley Cups.

F Pat Maroon – Similar to Martinez, veteran Pat Maroon is hanging up his skates after a 14-year career. Back in March, Maroon announced he would be retiring, citing a desire to start a new chapter with his family. He signed a one-year, $1.3MM contract with the team in free agency last summer, and like Martinez, was brought in to provide mentorship and leadership. In 68 games on the season, Marron totaled five goals and 19 points in a bottom-six role. He’ll finish his career with 323 points in 848 games. Like Martinez, he can also boast three Stanley Cups (winning in three consecutive years with the St. Louis Blues and Tampa Bay Lightning).

F Ryan Donato – Donato, coming off a career-best season with 31 goals and 62 points, is among the top centers headed for unrestricted free agency. If the Blackhawks hope to keep him, they’ll likely have to fend off interest from around the league. At the trade deadline, the Blackhawks held discussions with Donato about a possible contract extension and did not end up dealing him for future assets. Scott Powers of The Athletic reports (subscription link) that the deal the team put on the table was a three-year offer worth somewhere around $4MM per season, essentially doubling his expiring contract. Donato did exactly what any player on an expiring contract hopes to do — post career-best numbers and set himself up for a sizable payday. The reported $4MM per season may not be a large enough figure to keep Donato in Chicago.

Other UFAs: F Andreas Athanasiou, F Zach Sanford, F Brett Seney, F Cole Guttman

Projected Cap Space

General manager Kyle Davidson will have plenty of financial flexibility this summer, as the team has nearly $30MM in cap space, per PuckPedia. If the team is serious about keeping Donato and Kaiser in Chicago long-term, their new contracts would certainly put a dent into that space, but would still leave Davidson with ample flexibility to pursue additional free agents.

Free Agent Focus: Carolina Hurricanes

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Free agency is just over 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 Hurricanes.

Key Restricted Free Agents

F Ryan Suzuki – The Hurricanes are a rare bird this summer. After needing to deal with high-profile RFAs in the 2024 offseason in Seth Jarvis and Martin Nečas, Carolina didn’t even have a single pending RFA on the active roster to end the season. We’ll look at the most intriguing non-roster RFA at each position instead, starting with Suzuki. The 2019 first-round pick needed to have a big 2024-25 campaign to maintain a role in the organization after some underwhelming AHL performance over the last few years, and he delivered. The 24-year-old recorded a career-high 59 points (12 G, 47 A) in 69 games for the Chicago Wolves, leading the club in assists and points. Suzuki landed his NHL debut amid that surge, recording a plus-one rating but no points in a pair of outings in January and February. He’ll likely just end up accepting his $813,750 qualifying offer, but it was uncertain whether he’d secure one at all when looking at his track record a season ago.

D Ty Smith – The 2021 All-Rookie defenseman did log some NHL time for Carolina this year, posting a goal and an assist in eight games as a frequent call-up option from the Wolves. It was his first NHL action since January 2023, as the 2018 first-round pick has failed to hold onto an everyday role after aggressively sliding down the Devils’ depth chart following his promising first-year showing four years ago. He did manage 28 points and a plus-four rating on a defensively challenged AHL Chicago team in 36 games, though. While that may not be enough to secure him a qualifying offer from a Hurricanes organization with brighter defense prospects to insert into next season’s lineup, it could be enough to convince an NHL team in need of an offensive rearguard to give him a more extended look next fall.

G Yaniv Perets – A 2023 NCAA national championship with Quinnipiac, Perets hits RFA status following his second professional season. The 25-year-old played mostly in the ECHL with the Bloomington Bison but was exceptional there, recording a .921 SV%, 2.59 GAA, and three shutouts with a 12-12-1 record. That was a huge step up over last year’s .889 SV% in the ECHL and could be enough to earn him a qualifying offer, although Carolina already has two young minor-league goalies under contract for 2025-26 and might prefer a more veteran option to complement the depth chart as a No. 3 option rather than using a contract slot on Perets.

Other RFAs: F Skyler Brind’Amour, F Noel Gunler, D Domenick Fensore, D Anttoni Honka, D Ronan Seeley

Key Unrestricted Free Agents

D Brent Burns – Burns, 40, finally got caught by Father Time in 2024-25. While he remained in a top-pairing role alongside Jaccob Slavin, his offensive production took a sizable hit compared to the up-and-down point totals he’d posted over the last few years. His 29 points in 82 games were the fourth-worst points per game pace of his 21-year career and his lowest since his first three years in the NHL. His 20:57 average time on ice was also its lowest since then, not including the two years he primarily played right wing with the Sharks. Once a physical force, he wasn’t nearly as involved along the wall or stepping up against forwards as he once was. Burns had just 11 hits all year. It wouldn’t be surprising to see Carolina let Burns walk and deploy younger righty Scott Morrow in his role next season. If he extends his career in Carolina or elsewhere, he’s looking at a one-year deal at likely no more than half of his previous $8MM cap hit.

D Dmitry Orlov – Orlov hasn’t been the best fit with the Canes after signing a two-year, $15.5MM deal in free agency in 2023. He was the top prize of that year’s weak UFA class, but the lefty got thrust into sheltered minutes last year on the left side behind Slavin and Brady Skjei, averaging just 17:19 per game after seeing over 22 minutes per night the year prior. Orlov got increased deployment this year after Skjei left in free agency, logging 20 minutes per game and posting 28 points with a +16 rating in 76 appearances. He remains an extremely serviceable top-four piece with historically strong possession impacts, but the 33-year-old will almost surely hit the open market with the higher-upside Alexander Nikishin set to replace his role in 2025-26. While Orlov’s poor postseason showing may sour some teams on the open market, he again benefits from a weaker market and should again land north of $5MM per season on a short-term deal.

F Jack Roslovic – Roslovic was a pleasant surprise for the Canes, who picked him up for cheap last summer to help soften the blow of losing multiple scoring forwards in free agency. The 28-year-old rewarded their $2.8MM investment by tying his career-high 22 goals, totaling 39 points in 81 games to sit sixth on the Canes in scoring. He can play both center and wing, a valuable factor for a Hurricanes team that’s thin down the middle. It would be surprising not to see them try to retain his services before he hits the open market on July 1, but it’ll likely take something in the $4MM range on a multi-year commitment to help dissuade other offers.

F Eric Robinson – Robinson, 30 next month, also punched far above his weight class offensively for what the Canes paid for him last summer ($950K) to help add some bottom-six depth. The longtime Blue Jackets winger answered the bell with a 14-18–32 scoring line in 82 games, averaging 12:16 per game while placing fourth on the club with 123 hits. He’s also presumably someone the club wants to keep around. Will they be willing to triple his salary to do so?

F Tyson Jost – 2024-25 was an important campaign for Jost, who re-established himself as a fine fourth-line/press box option after spending a significant chunk of last season in the AHL. He still saw some brief minor-league assignments this year but injuries paved the way for him to make 39 appearances, scoring nine points and a plus-two rating while averaging 10:22 per game. He had a stellar 60.3% share of shot attempts at even strength, and it stands to reason both parties could be interested in extending his stay in Raleigh as a 12th/13th forward.

Other UFAs: F Jesper Fast, F Juha Jaaska, D Joakim Ryan, D Riley Stillman, G Spencer Martin, G Dustin Tokarski

Projected Cap Space

After dealing with a cap crunch last summer, general manager Eric Tulsky will have much more flexibility in his second offseason at the helm. Burns’ and Orlov’s deals expiring, plus young players on entry-level deals ready to step into their roles, means they can be among the top players in free agency with $28.4MM in space. They’ll have the flexibility to retain whoever they want from the list above, plus pursue some of the top-notch prizes available on the open market.

Image courtesy of James Guillory-Imagn Images (Suzuki) and Timothy T. Ludwig-Imagn Images (Burns). Contract info courtesy of PuckPedia.

Free Agent Focus: Calgary Flames

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Free agency is just over 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 start our look around the NHL with an overview of the free agent situation for the Calgary Flames.

Key Restricted Free Agents

F Connor Zary – With Matthew Coronato signed to a six-year extension, the Flames will enter the off-season with two free agents demanding particularly close attention. The first is young center Connor Zary, who caught a strong wind with 14 goals, 34 points, and a plus-12 in 63 games last season. He seemed on track to top those numbers this year – netting 13 goals and 27 points in 54 games – but routine injuries forced Zary to miss most of January and shut down for the season before the end of March. He had three points in his final five games of the year, and was receiving upwards of 22 minutes of ice time each night. Those are lofty totals for a player who has paced for 40 points in back-to-back seasons. It’s clear that Calgary sees a future top-six center in Zary, but without reaching 70 games in a single NHL season, his upside is hard to project. He’ll likely be a candidate for a bridge deal this summer, and hopefully a much larger deal after a few healthy seasons.

D Kevin Bahl – Joining Zary at the top of Calgary’s list is defender Kevin Bahl, who the Flames acquired in their shipping of Jacob Markstrom to the New Jersey Devils last summer. Bahl was a revelation for a gutted blue-line, that lost the likes of Noah Hanifin, Chris Tanev, and Nikita Zadorov last season alone. The 24-year-old Bahl quickly took to playing north of 20-minutes a night and posted a career-high 20 points in 73 games this season. He’s 6-foot-6 and looked plenty comfortable playing opposite of Calgary’s top right-defenders, like MacKenzie Weegar and Rasmus Andersson. Calgary doesn’t have much in the way of competition for Bahl’s role as the top left-defense. Unless that changes with a big signing this summer, it’d be hard to think Bahl won’t land a deal that will carry him into his 30s.

F Morgan Frost – Frost is another trade acquisition who’s matched the bill in Calgary. He was acquired mid-season alongside Joel Farabee, in a deal that sent Andrei Kuzmenko and Jakob Pelletier the other way. Frost quickly stepped into a middle-six center role with the Flames, but found his way into boosted minutes when Zary fell to injury. The results were simply fine – 12 points and a minus-six in 32 games, but never any egregious moments of poor play. Frost combined for 37 points in 81 games this season, just shy of the 41 points he scored last year; and the career-high 46 points he managed in 2022-23. He has tepid upside at the age of 26, but could be a reasonably-priced option as Calgary looks to build out their center depth. Given his mid-season move, Frost seems to be a strong candidate to re-sign.

F Adam Klapka – Klapka played in the most NHL games of his career this season when he made 31 appearances in Calgary’s bottom-six. He performed alright in the role – netting 10 points, 29 penalty minutes, and a minus-three. He also confidently led the Flames in hits-per-60, recording a whopping 108 hits despite averaging just 9:39 in ice time each game. His 21.65 hits-per-60 is over five hits more than the 16.14 hits-per-60 averaged by Martin Pospisil in second place. Simply put, hard hitting, 6-foot-8 wingers don’t grow on trees. Even in his modest role, Klapka has emerged as a legitimate piece for an undrafted player. He should continue to offer Calgary the services of an imposing forward, and could even have scoring upside ahead – evidence by his 26 points in 33 AHL games this year. This should be a cheap and promising re-signing for the Flames.

F Rory Kerins – Flames fans kicked down doors to try and earn Kerins a hardy NHL chance this season. The 23-year-old centerman led the AHL’s Calgary Wranglers in scoring for much of the year, and finished the season with a whopping 33 goals and 61 points in 63 games. He continued to perform in his brief view of the NHL, recording four assists and a plus-three in what were the first five games of his NHL career. After such a red-hot season, Kerins seems like a strong bet to make the Flames’ roster out of training camp next season – even if it’d require some additional padding to house his small frame. Kerins isn’t at the point of a hefty contract yet, but could earn good money and a few years to prove he can continue his hot play into the NHL.

Other RFAs: F Eetu Tuulola, F Sam Morton, D Carl-Johan Lerby, D Nikita Okhotyuk, D Yan Kuznetsov, D Jeremie Poirier, G Waltteri Ignatjew, G Connor Murphy

Key Unrestricted Free Agents

F Anthony Mantha – Mantha suffered an ACL injury on November 5th, less than one month into the regular season. The injury immediately ended his season, cutting things short after he posted an impressive seven points and plus-six in the first 13 games of the year. Mantha continued to perform into his age-30 season, and is only one season removed from posting 23 goals and 44 points in 74 games. He’s a hard bet to make coming off such a tough injury. That could push him out of favor for a Flames group with players earning roles. But on the open market, Mantha shouldn’t have too much trouble finding a cheap, prove-it deal.

F Justin Kirkland – Less than three full weeks after Mantha’s injury, bottom-line forward Justin Kirkland also suffered a season-ending ACL injury. The blow took out what was set to be Kirkland’s first full year in the NHL. He looked strong to start the campaign, managing eight points and a plus-six through 21 appearances despite a low-grade role. But instead, Kirkland has spent the last few months recovering, and could face an uncertain future as a result. He’s a hard-working, bottom-end centerman who’s grown to an NHL role after multiple strong seasons in the minors. But he’s also coming off a difficult injury and facing competition from Calgary’s many emerging prospects. He could be on the cutting block in Calgary, and may have to rediscover his NHL hopes somewhere new.

F Kevin Rooney – Rooney was the beneficiary of injuries up the depth chart. He stuck into Calgary’s bottom-six for the entirety of the season, and scored a modest 10 points, split evenly, in 70 games. Rooney has now rotated onto the Flames roster in each of the last three seasons, and went on long campaigns with the New Jersey Devils and New York Rangers in four seasons before joining Calgary. He’s up to 60 points in 330 career games in the NHL. Those numbers won’t jump off the page for a Flames team close to the playoffs, but Rooney will offer cheap veteran upside.

D Joel Hanley – Among the unheralded this season is depth defenseman Joel Hanley, who seemed to grow as a shutdown option operating behind Bahl on the depth chart. Hanley posted a career-high nine points in 53 games this season, while adding 21 penalty minutes and a plus-12. He didn’t push the boundaries in any one way, but boasted a style that was well-rounded enough to stick. Calgary will need left-shot defenders this summer, and Hanley should be a cheap way to pad their depth.

G Daniel Vladar – Behind the glimmer of Dustin Wolf’s star rookie season, Daniel Vladar appeared in 30 NHL games for the first time in his career. He handled the growing backup role just fine – setting a 12-11-6 record and .898 save percentage. Those numbers – like many of Calgary’s UFAs – don’t jump off the page. But the Flames will continue to need a backup they can count on behind their top-notch starter. Vladar has served in that role for the last four years, and it’d be tough to see the organization let him go without a clear option to replace him.

D Tyson Barrie – Barrie signed a one-year, $1.2MM contract with the Flames in October, but wasn’t able to carve out much of any role in the daily lineup. He posted three points in 13 games with Calgary before being waived and assigned to the minors in February. Barrie didn’t find much spark in the AHL either, though – with just five points and a minus-five through 11 appearances. He’ll be a hard bet to earn a new contract this summer, unless it’s a league-minimum price or two-way deal. One silver lining – Barrie has 508 points in 822 career games in the NHL.

Other UFAs: F Dryden Hunt, F Martin Frk, F Clark Bishop, D Jarred Tinordi, D Jonathan Aspirot

Projected Cap Space

The Flames are entering the summer with $28.15MM in projected cap space. That should be more than enough to lock-up the must-sign options on this list – Zary, Bahl, and Frost – and other upside bets like Klapka, Kerins, or Dryden Hunt shouldn’t come at too much additional premium. All of that should set Calgary up for an aggressive summer. They finished the 2024-25 season with the most points ever from a team that missed the playoffs – and a couple of impactful free agent moves could be what pushes the Flames back into Spring hockey.

Photo courtesy of Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports. Contract information courtesy of PuckPedia.

Free Agent Focus: Buffalo Sabres

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Free agency is just over 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 Sabres.

Key Restricted Free Agents

D Bowen Byram – The Sabres were hoping the 2019 fourth overall pick would fully establish himself as a top-pairing option in 2024-25 after acquiring him from the Avalanche at last year’s trade deadline. On most fronts, that’s what happened. After struggling through injuries in the early seasons of his career, he played a full 82 games for the first time and averaged a career-high 22:42 per game despite not receiving much power-play time. That also means 35 of his career-high 38 points came at even strength, tied for 15th in the league among defensemen. But with poor advanced metrics when lower in the lineup away from Rasmus Dahlin and a highly unbalanced ratio of lefties to righties on Buffalo’s blue line, they’ve been looking at possible trade options. Whether it’s in western New York or elsewhere, a long-term deal this summer for Byram should land him north of $7MM per season.

F JJ Peterka – In his first three seasons, Peterka has steadily upped his offensive output to an impressive 27-41–68 scoring line in 77 games in his first contract year. He did so primarily in top-line deployment with Tage Thompson. Yet with the Sabres still unable to find a postseason-caliber formula and Peterka in line for a huge raise this summer, he also finds himself in some trade speculation. A long-term deal for him will, like Byram’s, at least start at $7MM and could inch closer to $8MM per season given how consistently the 23-year-old has developed offensively thus far.

F Ryan McLeod – After the Sabres gave up high-end center prospect Matthew Savoie to acquire McLeod from the Oilers last summer, he justified Buffalo’s faith in him with a 20-goal, 53-point breakout in 79 games. Nearly all of that production came at even strength, too. He barely saw power-play time but was arguably the Sabres’ best two-way center in 2024-25, posting a +13 rating to rank second on the team while seeing significant penalty kill deployment. Given his all-around impact, he’ll likely land at least double his $2.1MM qualifying offer and could realistically approach the $5MM mark. With Dylan Cozens and Casey Mittelstadt gone in trades over the past few years and Thompson seeing increased time on the wing, they can’t afford to lose McLeod at center.

F Jack Quinn – The 2020 No. 8 pick was looking to get his feet back under him after Achilles surgery and a lower-body injury robbed him of most of his 2023-24 season. It didn’t pan out that way as a slow start led to a string of healthy scratches, but he did heat up with a 6-13–19 scoring line in 27 games after the 4 Nations Face-Off. That should at least help his case to earn another contract in Buffalo and get another chance at being part of the long-term future. Still, with how inconsistent he’s been thus far in his career, he likely isn’t in a position to command much more than $2MM per season on what could be as short as a one-year prove-it deal.

D Jacob Bernard-Docker – Acquired from the Senators in the Cozens/Joshua Norris deadline deal, the 2018 first-rounder looked to establish himself as an everyday lineup option down the stretch after a high ankle sprain derailed the first half of his season in Ottawa. He received strict third-pairing minutes but was quite effective in them, posting four points and a plus-three rating in 15 games for the Sabres with strong relative possession metrics (48.3 CF%, 57.9 xGF%, per Hockey Reference). He’s untested in top-four minutes, but he’s a big, defensively responsible righty the team sorely needed in their system. Expect Buffalo to try to negotiate a mid-term deal as a result, and pay a bit more to do so, potentially upward of the $2MM mark.

Other RFAs: D Erik Brännström, D Ryan Johnson, F Alexander Kisakov, F Tyson Kozak, G Devon Levi, F Bennett MacArthur, F Tyler Tullio

Key Unrestricted Free Agents

G James Reimer – The 37-year-old is the only pending unrestricted free agent who saw anything resembling consistent NHL minutes in 2024-25. After signing a one-year deal over the summer and briefly being lost on waivers to the Ducks for the first month of the season, he spent most of the season as Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen’s backup with the younger Levi struggling in his NHL chances. He made good on the Sabres’ $1MM bet, saving eight goals above expected in 24 appearances, per MoneyPuck. His .899 SV% and 2.90 GAA were far better than either Luukkonen’s or Levi’s numbers, and he was the only Buffalo goalie with a points percentage north of .500 with a 10-8-2 record. There might not be a role for him next year with Levi having another excellent AHL season, but it wouldn’t be surprising if the Sabres wanted to bring him back as insurance.

Other UFAs: D Kale Clague, F Mason Jobst, F Brett Murray (Group VI), D Jack Rathbone (Group VI), F Lukas Rousek (Group VI), G Felix Sandstrom

Projected Cap Space

For the first time in a while, the Sabres don’t have virtually unlimited cap space to work with. Handing out long-term deals to players they hoped would be long-term core pieces over the last few years is starting to take effect. While they do have $23.2MM in flexibility for next season and seven roster spots to fill, nearly all of that could be taken up by deals for Byram, Peterka, and McLeod if they opt to keep the first two and go long-term with both.

Photos courtesy of Timothy T. Ludwig-Imagn Images. Cap information courtesy of PuckPedia.

Free Agent Focus: Boston Bruins

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Free agency is just over 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 Boston Bruins.

Key Restricted Free Agents

D Mason Lohrei – Lohrei has been a revelation for the Boston Bruins. Only 24 years old, the Louisiana native managed to cement himself into the lineup this season on the back of 33 points in 77 games. His minus-43 plus-minus is the worst the team has seen in at least a decade – though he’s joined at the bottom of the leaderboard by three other players from this year’s squad. The statline paints what seems to be a fitting picture of Lohrei: flashy and successful at his best, and woefully out-of-place at his worst. But as time goes on, those bright spots are shining through more-and-more. Lohrei just managed three points and a plus-four in five games of Team USA’s Gold Medal run a the World Championship, and will enter the summer as the clear-cut top RFA for Boston. With 46 points and 118 games of NHL experience, Lohrei is likely to sign a sort of bridge deal that can carry him to a top line role within a few years.

F Morgan Geekie – Geekie holds a strong bid for surprise of the 2024-25 season. He broke out in a big way, recording a career-high 33 goals and 57 points – second to only David Pastrnak in team scoring. That was largely helped along by a 22-percent shooting percentage – nearly nine-percent more than the 13.1 percent that led Geekie to 17 goals and 39 points last season. Still, Boston has struggled to find scoring outside of perennial superstar Pastrnak. Geekie’s 30-goal season makes him just the third Bruin to hit the mark in the last four seasons – alongside Pastrnak and now-Florida Panther Brad Marchand. That’s upside worth locking in, even if signs point towards Geekie coming back down to Earth next season. Boston will need to walk a tightrope to land a value deal amid a rising salary cap and poor free agent market.

F Oliver Wahlstrom – The Bruins claimed Wahlstrom off of waivers from the Islanders in mid-December. He joined the squad for two months of action but could only muster two points and 28 penalty minutes in 16 games before Boston had seen enough. They waived Wahlstrom and assigned him to the minors in late-February. But then he thrived in the AHL, netting nine goals and 15 points in just 19 games – the highest scoring pace of his professional career at any level (save for a 10-game stint in Sweden in 2020-21). Wahlstrom is a hard bet after spending the last six seasons trying, and failing, to secure an NHL role. But a wave of strong play could be exactly what the doctor ordered. A cheap, two-way deal this summer could set Boston up to be the beneficiary of any resurgence next year.

F John Beecher – Beecher spent the full season on the NHL roster for the first time in his career. Unfortunately, the promotion didn’t spark any one part of his game. He ended the year with just 11 points in 78 games – just one more point than he was able to score in 52 games last season. Beecher carries first round precedent, having heard his name 30th-overall in the 2019 class. But now a few years removed, Boston should have a reasonable glimpse at what he brings to the lineup. If they’re looking for a big-body to continue holding down the fourth line, Beecher should come at little cost. But the open market may have more productive options to shore up Boston’s depth.

F Marat Khusnutdinov – Khusnutdinov joined the Bruins in the waning moments of the Trade Deadline. Boston seemed to have a carved-out role in the bottom-six for the Russian youngster, and he rewarded them with five points in 18 appearances. That may be moot, but it’s just two points shy of his totals in 57 games last year. The 22-year-old Khusnutdinov seemed to catch a spark in the Bruins’ system. He’ll offer the team a glimmer of upside on a new deal – but it could be tough to narrow down the price point of a former second-round pick with 91 games of experience but just 16 points.

F Jakub Lauko – Lauko joined Khusnutdinov in the late-Deadline move. He had spent the last two seasons in the Bruins organization, but traveled West for 38 games with the Minnesota Wild at the start of this season. Through the move, Lauko’s emposing physical presence continued to shine through – even as he ran into persistent injury issues with the Wild. Combined between Minnesota and Boston, Lauko finished the year with 11 points, 47 penalty minutes, and a minus-13 in 56 appearances. Those numbers don’t jump off the paper, but his continued bruiser role and Boston’s desire to re-acquire him this season both point towards a new deal coming soon.

Other RFAs: F John Farinacci, F Trevor Kuntar, F Georgii Merkulov, F Jaxon Nelson, D Ian Mitchell, D Daniil Misyul, D Drew Bavaro

Key Unrestricted Free Agents

D Henri Jokiharju – Jokiharju rounds out the trio of Trade Deadline acquisitions. He scored the lowest of the bunch – netting four assists in 18 games, one point fewer than either forward. But that number shouldn’t be the highlight of Jokiharju’s first stint in Boston. Despite low-scoring, the 25-year-old defender looked plenty comfortable on the Bruins’ blue-line – and played upwards of 24 minutes a night while filling in for Brandon Carlo’s second-pair vacancy. Boston needed help on the backend and Jokiharju supplied it en masse. He scored 20 points in 74 games with the Buffalo Sabres last season – a mark that could look mighty fine with a continued minutes in Boston. Jokiharju will be one of the Bruins’ pricier re-signings – albeit among a cheap bunch – but the shimmer potential he has as a top-six lock will make the deal worth it.

F Cole Koepke – Boston led with a quiet bottom-six all season long – and Koepke’s role on the fourth-line highlighted the group. He scored just 17 points in 73 games on the season, but never looked too terribly out of place with the big club. Koepke entered the year with just 26 games of NHL experience under his belt, all coming with the Tampa Bay Lightning over the last two seasons. He had otherwise been a productive minor-leaguer, with flashes of goal-scoring upside and two-way play. Those attributes could still shine through as he becomes more adjusted to the top flight. Boston will be left with the question of whether that upside is worth buying into, or if they’ll be able to find a better depth-winger on the open market… or in their prospect pool.

D Parker Wotherspoon – Wotherspoon operated as Boston’s true bottom defenseman this season, with his 18 minutes of average ice time the lowest of any blue-liner to spend the bulk of their year with the NHL club. He recorded seven points, 10 penalty minutes, and a minus-10 in 55 games to show for the role, falling one point shy of his career-high eight points from 41 games last season. Wotherspoon will be 28 years old by the time the 2025-26 season begins, and could be better suited for a return to the minors after platooning between leagues over the last two seasons. If not a demotion, Wotherspoon will likely continue on in a low-depth role for the Bruins – offering a low-cost, but low-upside option.

G Michael DiPietro – The Bruins will lose both of their minor-league goaltender to free agency this season. Both carry fantastic cases to be re-signed after effectively splitting starts this season. DiPietro performed best in the spotlight, though – ending the year with a .927 save percentage and 26-8-5 record through 40 games. He was once a top goalie prospect for the Vancouver Canucks, before injuries and lack of opportunity sent him on a spiral through the minors. DiPietro finally seems to be on the other side of those struggles, and could find a push back to the NHL on whatever new deal Boston can construct. That will make him worth a long look this summer, even if backup Brandon Bussi offers a plenty suitable replacement.

Other UFAs: F Tyler Pitlick, F Riley Tufte, F Vinni Lettieri, D Michael Callahan (Group-6), G Brandon Bussi

Projected Cap Space

The Bruins will enter the summer with a projected $26.27MM in cap space. That should be plenty of space to not only re-sign their top options entering free agency, but also take runs at aggressive free agent singings or summer trades. The Bruins missed the postseason for the first time in eight years – and just the third time since 2007-08 – this year. That’s an unacceptable result for the fixture of summer hockey. Ample signing room, strong candidates for re-signing, and open lineup spots should all give freshly re-signed general manager Don Sweeney a chance to show he can still build a playoff contender.

 Photo courtesy of Perry Nelson-USA TODAY Sports. Contract information courtesy of PuckPedia.

Free Agent Focus: Anaheim Ducks

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Free agency is just over 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 start our look around the NHL with an overview of the free agent situation for the Ducks.

Key Restricted Free Agents

G Lukas Dostal – Dostal had been viewed as Anaheim’s goalie of the future for some time now. He rewarded the franchise’s faith in spades with a breakout 2024-25 campaign. Now entirely supplanting John Gibson as the team’s No. 1 option between the pipes, his numbers slipped a bit down the stretch but still managed a 23-23-7 record, a .903 SV%, a 3.10 GAA, and one shutout in a career-high 54 appearances behind one of the league’s worst defensive teams. He’s owed a qualifying offer of just $892.5K coming off a cheap partial two-way deal, but will land much more than that on his coming deal, especially with arbitration rights in his back pocket. A one-year bridge likely keeps Dostal in the $4MM range, but for a Ducks club with ample salary cap flexibility, general manager Pat Verbeek could award him something in the $5MM-$6MM range on a mid-term deal if they’re unprepared to go eight years.

F Mason McTavish – McTavish’s game has steadily improved since being drafted third overall in 2021, and this season was no different. While the 22-year-old was robbed of a full 82-game schedule due to a few here-and-there injuries, he still set career-highs with 22 goals, 30 assists, and 52 points in 76 appearances. Now a legitimate top-six center with still room to grow, he’ll significantly outpace the $874,125 qualifying offer he’s owed as he comes off his entry-level deal. A deal in the $4MM range on a shorter-term commitment seems apt if the Ducks are still uncertain about his ceiling. Still, with his linear development so far, he could earn a long-term deal approaching the $7MM mark to lock him in as Anaheim’s No. 2 center behind Leo Carlsson long-term.

F Isac Lundestrom – A first-round pick back in 2018, Lundestrom’s role hasn’t fluctuated much since establishing himself as a full-timer in the shortened 2020-21 campaign. His ice time has steadily decreased as the player they once thought could be a long-term, defensively responsible third-line pivot hasn’t produced the level of offense they’d like for that role. 2024-25 was Lundestrom’s worst offensive performance of his five-year run as a full-time NHLer at just 0.19 points per game (4-11–15 in 79 GP). That’s not to say he’s not valuable – he’s one of the Ducks’ top penalty killers, and his possession metrics this season were passable given his extended defensive zone deployment at 5-on-5. Still, he’s likely more of a high-end fourth-line option long-term than a third-line one. It wouldn’t be surprising to see him accept his $1.5MM qualifying offer as a result, or take a multi-year deal in that range annually to gain some added stability in Anaheim if he desires.

F Brett Leason – Claimed off waivers from the Capitals at the beginning of the 2022-23 season, Leason capped off his third year in Anaheim with nine healthy scratches in 12 games. He was still serviceable in bottom-six minutes, scoring 17 points in 62 games with a minus-two rating in similarly heavy defensive deployment to Lundestrom. Still, he’s at risk of being non-tendered for the second consecutive year. Of course, he signed a one-year, $1.05MM contract on the first day of free agency to return to the Ducks despite not receiving a qualifying offer, but his willingness to do so again may be diminished after his lack of usage to end the campaign.

D Drew Helleson – Helleson, 23, somewhat surprisingly emerged as a roster fixture this year. He didn’t play anywhere close to a full schedule, suiting up 56 times, but remained on the Ducks’ roster for the balance of the season after being recalled from AHL San Diego in mid-November. The 6’3″, 214-lb righty did better than most would have expected given his limited minor-league success, posting 13 points and a plus-six rating in bottom-pairing minutes (16:21 ATOI). A 2019 second-round pick of the Avalanche who was acquired for Josh Manson in 2022, Helleson’s likely earned an opening-night job in the fall. He could even challenge Jacob Trouba for top-four minutes next year since the latter was a non-factor after his early-season acquisition from the Rangers.

Other RFAs: F Judd Caulfield, G Calle Clang, F Sam Colangelo, F Josh Lopina, F Jan Mysak, F Nikita Nesterenko, F Tim Washe

Key Unrestricted Free Agents

F Robby Fabbri – When healthy, Fabbri has been a decent secondary scorer throughout his nine-year NHL career. However, injuries have been a constant, and this year was no different. Knee surgery and a hand injury took away nearly half of his 2024-25 campaign, and he ended the year with an 8-8–16 scoring line in 44 contests. The 29-year-old has still hit at least 30 points twice in the last four years despite significant absences, which should help his case on the open market. With 2024 No. 3 overall pick Beckett Sennecke pushing for an opening-night job and the Ducks likely to be active in free agency, though, there may not be a fit for him on next year’s team. If they want to retain him, his injury concerns should make him a low-cost pickup around $1MM.

F Brock McGinn – From one injury-prone winger to another, McGinn’s season ended back in December due to ACL reconstruction. His recovery timeline may stretch into next year’s training camp, so his hope will likely be for a PTO opportunity somewhere, which could still be Anaheim, instead of searching for a guaranteed contract. Still, the defensive-minded winger has made just 50 appearances over the last two seasons combined with 11 points and a minus-four rating. They could still want to keep him in the fold with his over 500 games of experience, though, compared to some more unknown quantities in the system as a 13th or 14th forward.

D Oliver Kylington – Acquired at the deadline in what was effectively a three-team deal with the Avalanche and Islanders involving Brock Nelson, Kylington didn’t get much of an opportunity down the stretch in Anaheim. He averaged just 10:48 per game in six appearances, including his time in Colorado, where he spent most of the year in the press box with only 19 appearances to his name. The 28-year-old is now three years removed from his 31-point, +34 campaign with Calgary, and hopes of returning to those heights as a No. 2 left-shot option are slimmer than ever. He’s ticketed for a league-minimum or even two-way deal this summer, and it likely won’t be with the Ducks, who have plenty of young defenseman still to rotate/graduate into NHL minutes.

G Ville Husso – Husso began the season with the Red Wings, where he’d tumbled down to No. 3 on the depth chart and had cleared waivers in the final season of a three-year, $14.25MM contract. Anaheim, who had injuries to their AHL netminders and Gibson missing significant chunks of action, picked him up down the stretch to serve as a veteran backup option for Dostal. He did quite well in the few starts he received, posting a .925 SV% and 2.99 GAA in four appearances. While it’s a small sample size, that could go a long way toward earning Husso a chance at a No. 2 job next year on the open market instead of settling for a two-way deal and likely lengthy AHL assignments.

Other UFAs: F Justin Bailey, G Oscar Dansk, F Carson Meyer

Projected Cap Space

Few teams have more cap space than the Ducks this summer. They check in at $38.7MM, including $2.5MM worth of retention on the final season of Cam Fowler’s contract. A good amount of that will get eaten up by new deals for Dostal and McTavish, but they’ll still have over $25MM to spend after getting those deals done. As a result, expect them to be active on both the trade and free agent markets this summer as they aim to end their playoff drought at seven years.

Photos courtesy of Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images (Dostal) and Brian Bradshaw Sevald-Imagn Images (Fabbri). Contract information courtesy of PuckPedia.

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