Way-Too-Early 2025 NHL Free Agent Big Board
With the NHL trade market falling silent following the March 7 trade deadline, the focus shifts toward this summer's crop of notable unrestricted free agents.
The free-agent market opens at noon ET on July 1. Teams will continue to negotiate contract extensions with their pending UFAs until then.
This year's market features notable scoring stars such as Florida Panthers forward Brad Marchand and Toronto Maple Leafs winger Mitch Marner. Defensemen such as Aaron Ekblad of the Panthers and Jakob Chychrun of the Washington Capitals are also UFA-eligible on July 1.
Several of these players could re-sign with their current teams well before July. Most will test the market, where the best talent will be snapped up within hours of their availability.
Here's a way-too-early look at our top-15 players eligible for UFA status on July 1.
15. Ryan Donato, Chicago Blackhawks
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It's been another difficult season for the rebuilding Chicago Blackhawks, but Ryan Donato has been among the few positives.
The center is having a career-best performance in his contract year. With 23 goals and 28 assists for 51 points, he's Chicago's leading goal scorer and third in points.
The 28-year-old is in the final season of a two-year deal with an average annual value of $2 million. Rival clubs expressed interest in him leading up to the March 7 trade deadline, but Chicago retained him in the hopes of re-signing him before July 1.
A hard-working two-way forward who can also skate on the wing, Donato will try to capitalize on this season's performance for a long-term deal at double his salary. If he signs elsewhere, he might not get top-six minutes on a better club, which could adversely affect his production.
14. Mikael Granlund, Dallas Stars
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A versatile, two-way playmaking forward who can skate at center or on the wing, Mikael Granlund is completing a four-year contract with an AAV of $5 million. On Feb. 1, he was acquired by the Stars from the San Jose Sharks.
The 33-year-old signed his current deal with the Nashville Predators in July 2021. He's bounced around a bit since then, getting shipped to the Pittsburgh Penguins during the 2022-23 season and dealt to the Sharks in the summer of 2023.
Last season was a bounce-back performance for the Finn, leading the rebuilding Sharks with 60 points. He had 45 points in 52 games with San Jose before the trade to Dallas, where he has nine points in 15 games as a second-line right wing.
The Stars' limited cap space for next season likely makes Granlund a rental player. At this stage of his career, he won't receive any long-term offers on the open market. However, his improvement since 2023-24 should make him an enticing second-line forward target as a free agent.
13. Matt Duchene, Dallas Stars
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Matt Duchene is completing his second straight one-year, $3 million contract with the Dallas Stars. He signed the first one in the summer of 2023 after being bought out by the Nashville Predators.
Duchene has proved to be a good fit with the Stars. Centering their center line, he had 65 points in 80 games last season and is a point-per-game player (67 points in 66 games) this season.
That performance made the 34-year-old a valuable part of the Dallas offense. It could prompt him to seek a raise on a two or three-year contract.
However, the Stars have only $4.5 million in projected cap space for 2025-26 with 16 roster players under contract and team captain Jamie Benn due for a new contract. That could lead to Duchene moving to another club via free agency on July 1.
12. Ivan Provorov, Columbus Blue Jackets
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Acquired from the Philadelphia Flyers in June 2023, Ivan Provorov is an important part of the Columbus Blue Jackets' defense corps. He regularly logs big minutes, and he netted 32 points in 2023-24 and 28 points in 66 games this season.
A durable, all-around blueliner, the 28-year-old is completing a six-year contract with an AAV of $6.8 million. The Blue Jackets carry $4.8 million of that cap hit with the Los Angeles Kings retaining the rest as part of the three-team deal with the Flyers.
On Jan. 21, Pierre LeBrun of The Athletic reported Provorov's agent and Blues Jackets general manager Don Waddell had opened contract discussions. He indicated the blueliner enjoyed Columbus and hoped to stay. Since then, though, there's no indication they're any closer to a deal.
The Blue Jackets retained Provorov rather than move him at the March trade deadline and risk upsetting their team chemistry. If he and the club fail to agree to an extension before July 1, he could command over $8 million annually on the open market.
11. Jamie Benn, Dallas Stars
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For the past 16 seasons, Jamie Benn has been a reliable presence and leader on the Dallas Stars. The only player in franchise history to win the Art Ross Trophy (2015), he is second of all time among the franchise leaders with 1,178 games played, 399 goals and 948 points.
The 35-year-old forward is in the final season of an eight-year contract worth an AAV of $9.5 million. The long-time Stars captain is at the stage in his career where he won't get another lucrative long-term deal. His focus this season is on winning the Stanley Cup, but he's open to discussing a new deal afterward.
Despite his age, Benn remains an important player for the team. His production is down compared to his Art Ross Trophy days, but he remains among Dallas' leading scorers while seeing third-line duty on its left wing.
On Jan. 19, RG.org's Jim Biringer cited a source claiming Stars management intends to bring back the forward next season. He'll have to accept a significant pay cut on a two or three-year deal, or perhaps it'll be a one-year, bonus-laden contract with a base salary of $4.5 million.
10. Neal Pionk, Winnipeg Jets
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After spending six of his eight NHL seasons with the Winnipeg Jets, Neal Pionk is in a good position to cash in if he heads to free agency on July 1. He is a right-shot defenseman who logs over 22 minutes per game, averaging 30 or more points in each season since 2019-20.
The 29-year-old is in the final season of a four-year contract with an AAV of $5.9 million. He'll seek a long-term deal with a raise of perhaps between $7.5 million and $8 million annually. With the salary cap projected to rise significantly, he shouldn't have difficulty finding that type of deal.
Speaking with Daily Faceoff on March 11, Murat Ates of The Athletic discussed Pionk's future with the Jets. He noted the blueliner wasn't concerned about the status of his contract negotiations. He also expects Pionk's next salary will be high given his offensive ability.
The Jets will attempt to keep their second pairing of Pionk and Dylan Samberg intact. The latter is due to become a restricted free agent this summer.
9. Brock Nelson, Colorado Avalanche
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After nearly 12 full seasons with the New York Islanders, Brock Nelson was traded to the Colorado Avalanche before the March 7 trade deadline. The two-way center is completing a six-year contract with an average annual value of $6 million.
A durable and reliable two-way forward who can also play on the wing, the 34-year-old has 20 goals and 45 points this season. It's the ninth time he's reached or exceeded 20 goals and 40 points in his NHL career. He's also a proven postseason performer, with 27 goals and 50 points in 78 playoff games.
His goal production is down from the three-straight 30-plus goal performances of the previous three seasons. That could be due to his age but also to the overall decline in the Islanders' offense this season.
Despite his age, Nelson shouldn't have difficulty drawing interest as a free agent if he doesn't re-sign with the Avalanche. He won't get a long-term deal this time, but he could get a three-year contract worth around his current AAV.
8. Brad Marchand, Florida Panthers
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Since his NHL debut in 2009-10, Brad Marchand spent nearly 16 seasons with the Boston Bruins. The pesky winger became one of their most productive and popular stars and was named team captain at the start of the 2023-24 season.
It's difficult to imagine the 36-year-old as anything other than a Bruin. Nevertheless, he was traded to the Panthers before the March 7 trade deadline. The winger is completing an eight-year contract with an AAV of $6.13 million.
Reports indicate the Bruins offered Marchand a three-year contract but the two sides couldn't agree on the dollars. That could factor into his contract negotiations with the Panthers if they attempt to keep him, or with other clubs if he tests the market on July 1.
At this stage of his career, Marchand won't get another lucrative long-term deal from the Panthers. He'll likely have to accept a slight pay cut (perhaps $5 million annually) on a short-term deal of two or three years. Teams could also offer him a bonus-laden one-year deal with a $4 million base salary.
7. Aaron Ekblad, Florida Panthers
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Drafted first overall by the Florida Panthers in 2014, Aaron Ekblad became one of their all-time great players. Winner of the Calder Memorial Trophy in 2014-15, he was the linchpin of their blue-line corps whose steady play helped them rise to become a Stanley Cup champion last season.
The 29-year-old is in the final season of his eight-year contract with an average annual value of $7.5 million. He has seen a lot of wear and tear over those years but still logs 23:31 of ice time per game on the Panthers' top defense pairing.
Given his value to the team over his 11-season NHL career, Ekblad could command a similar annual cap hit on his next contract. The club has a projected cap space of $19 million for 2025-25 but it may be reluctant to pay that much for a long-term deal.
Ekblad could be willing to accept a pay cut to remain with the Panthers, but the contract length could become a sticking point. His recent suspension for violating the league's performance-enhancing substances program could affect his contract talks.
6. John Tavares, Toronto Maple Leafs
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This will be a crucial season for John Tavares, who is completing a seven-year contract worth an AAV of $11 million with the Toronto Maple Leafs. He's at the stage where his best years are behind him but remains a notable name among this season's free-agent class.
The 34-year-old won't get that kind of contract again, but he's hoping to re-sign with the Leafs. On Feb. 25, he indicated he'd love to sign an extension before the trade deadline, but that didn't come to pass.
TSN's Chris Johnston reported the two sides had held contract discussions throughout the season. He thinks there's a good understanding of what Tavares' next contract should look like, but they're not close to an agreement yet.
Tavares sits fourth among Leafs scorers this season with 27 goals and 56 assists in 59 games. Despite those solid numbers, he'll have to accept a significant pay cut on a short-term deal to stay in Toronto. However, another early playoff exit could prompt management to consider other options.
5. Brock Boeser, Vancouver Canucks
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A subject of media rumors leading up to the March 7 trade deadline, Brock Boeser remains with the Vancouver Canucks. For how much longer remains uncertain as reports emerged claiming management fielded trade offers as contract discussions remain in stalemate.
The 28-year-old right winger is completing a three-year contract with an AAV of $6.6 million. He has battled injuries during his nine NHL seasons. When healthy, he's a productive scoring winger and is a year removed from a career-best 40-goal performance last season.
Following the trade deadline, Patrick Johnston of The Vancouver Province reported Canucks general manager Patrik Allvin had received underwhelming trade offers for Boeser. According to CHEK-TV's Rick Daliwhal, the Carolina Hurricanes were among the suitors.
Boeser could be heading to free agency if negotiations with the Canucks fail to move forward. Whether those low-ball trade offers were indicative of his perceived value among rival general managers remains to be seen.
4. Nikolaj Ehlers, Winnipeg Jets
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Since his NHL debut in 2015-16, Nikolaj Ehlers has spent his entire career with the Winnipeg Jets. He's among their career leaders in games played (664), goals (222), assists (292) and points (514).
However, uncertainty over the 29-year-old's future in Winnipeg has hung over him since last summer. The winger was the subject of trade speculation last summer following reports the Jets were entertaining trade offers for him.
The rumor came to naught and Ehlers is finishing his seven-year contract with the Jets. With 57 points in 59 games, he's on pace in his contract year to exceed his career-best 64-point performance in 2016-17.
Ehlers will draw interest from clubs seeking a second-line scoring winger if he and Winnipeg part ways before July 1. Despite his consistent production, his injury history and underwhelming playoff stats (14 points in 37 games) could hamper his efforts to land a lucrative long-term deal.
3. Jakob Chychrun, Washington Capitals
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After playing for the Arizona Coyotes and Ottawa Senators over the last two seasons, Jakob Chychrun was traded to the Washington Capitals last July. The defenseman fit in well with his latest club. With 42 points in 62 games, he's set a new personal NHL best.
A skilled puck-moving defenseman, the 26-year-old couldn't have had a better time for a career year. He's in the final season of a six-year contract with an AAV of $4.6 million and has been underpaid given his production since 2020-21.
Chychrun has helped the Capitals exceed expectations this season as they sit atop the Eastern Conference standings. During a Jan. 2 interview with The Hockey News' Sammi Silber, he praised the organization and expressed his willingness to sign a long-term extension.
On Feb. 20, Silber reported the two sides had engaged in preliminary contract discussions. With $23.1 million in projected cap space, the Capitals can afford to pay Chychrun a significant raise, perhaps something close to $7.5 million annually. He could get that much or more on the open market.
2. Sam Bennett, Florida Panthers
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A skillful, agitating two-way forward who can play center or either wing, the versatile Sam Bennett is the type of player everyone hates to face but would love to have as a teammate. He's completing a four-year contract with an AAV of $4.4 million and could double his salary as a UFA.
Bennett began his career with the Calgary Flames but flourished after being acquired by the Panthers before the 2021 NHL trade deadline. Skating as their second-line center, he's in his fourth consecutive 40-plus point season.
The 29-year-old also has a reputation as a proven playoff performer, beginning during his tenure with the Flames. He played a key role in the Panthers' back-to-back appearances in the Stanley Cup Final, culminating in their championship last season.
Bennett's physical style has frequently left him sidelined with injuries. Nevertheless, his championship pedigree, clutch postseason play and two-way style should make him an enticing target in the free-agent market if he and the Panthers fail to agree to a new deal.
1. Mitch Marner, Toronto Maple Leafs
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One of the Toronto Maple Leafs' most reliable offensive stars, Mitch Marner has become a lightning rod at times for their fans' unhappiness with their playoff record. Nevertheless, he is the top player eligible for UFA status this summer.
From his debut in 2016-17 through 2023-24, the 27-year-old right winger was 10th among all NHL scorers with 445 assists and 639 points, leading the Leafs in total assists and sitting second to Auston Matthews in points. He currently leads the team with 80 points, sitting among the league's top-10 scorers.
Marner is completing a six-year contract worth an AAV of $10.9 million. He told reporters last September he wouldn't discuss his contract negotiations with the media, but he indicated his desire to remain with his hometown club.
Matthews is the Leafs' highest-paid player with an AAV of $13.3 million, but Marner has made a strong case to earn almost as much. Another early playoff exit, however, could force Toronto to make some changes, meaning he could test the free-agent market on July 1.
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