Latest NHL Free Agency 2025 Rumors and Predictions for Top Stars on Day 2
The second tier of marquee NHL free agents will come into the spotlight on Tuesday.
Mitch Marner, Brad Marchand and Aaron Ekblad are all off the board. That should lead to a frenzy around Vladislav Gavrikov, Brock Boeser, Nikolaj Ehlers and a few others.
Gavrikov is the top defenseman left on the free-agent wire. Teams will be more desperate to add him after Ekblad opted to stay with the Florida Panthers.
Boeser is most likely headed to a new team, while Ehlers has the option to remain with the Winnipeg Jets, or chase a bigger deal elsewhere.
Vladislav Gavrikov
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TSN's Pierre LeBrun reported on Monday night that Gavrikov will go to market.
Gavrikov and the Los Angeles Kings could not come together on a deal and now there's a good chance he lands a large contract somewhere else.
The demand for Gavrikov is high after Ekblad and Ivan Provorov decided to remain with their respective franchises.
The New York Rangers should be one of the serious players for Gavrikov. They need an upgrade on the blue line next to Adam Fox as they reshape their roster.
A handful of other teams will be in the mix for the top free-agent defenseman, but New York looks like too good of a fit for player and team.
Prediction: Gavrikov Lands With Rangers
Brock Boeser
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Brock Boeser is most likely headed out of Vancouver.
David Pagnotta said in an appearance on the Hello Hockey podcast that Boeser is leaving and the Edmonton Oilers could be a landing spot for the forward.
Frank Seravalli reported that the Canucks did make an offer at bringing back Boeser, but that he will be headed to market on July 1.
Edmonton could add Boeser as scoring depth behind Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, Winnipeg could replace Ehlers, if he departs, with Boeser on the wing andToronto might chase after him as a Mitch Marner replacement.
Boeser has a world of options, but Toronto almost makes too much sense. The Maple Leafs need another front-end winger to partner Matthew Knies and Auston Matthews.
A move to Toronto might be what Boeser needs to re-energize his career after an average year in Vancouver.
Prediction: Boeser Signs with Maple Leafs
Nikolaj Ehlers
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The Athletic's Murat Ates reported that Carolina and Washington hold interest in signing Nikolaj Ehlers.
Ehlers is arguably the best forward left on the free-agent marker alongside Boeser after Marner and Marchand went off the board on Monday.
Ehlers is coming off a much better season than Boeser with 63 points in 69 games in Winnipeg.
Carolina needs to add scoring depth after it failed to extend Mikko Rantanen during his short-lived stint in North Carolina.
Washington is a fascinating spot for Ehlers because he could help Alex Ovechkin in the short term and be one of the Capitals' long-term stars among a young core.
The Rangers should inquire about Ehlers as well after trading Chris Kreider. They need a fresh injection of points to their top two lines.
However, Carolina seems like too good of a fit. The Canes need another star alongside Sebastian Aho to even make an attempt at dethroning the Panthers in the Eastern Conference.
Prediction: Ehlers ends up in Carolina
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