NHL Free Agents 2025 Rumors and Predictions for Bowen Byram, Marco Rossi, More

The NHL free-agent market is starting to slow down.

All of the big names are off the board after Nikolaj Ehlers inked a deal with the Carolina Hurricanes, but there's some value out there between the remaining restricted and unrestricted free agents.

Perhaps the most fascinating player left on either board is defenseman Bowen Byram, a restricted free agent who has been the topic of trade speculation for weeks.

Most of the other top restricted free agents are expected to remain with their teams, but Byram appears to be the one set for a move.

Bowen Byram

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The Athletic's Jeremy Rutherford reported on Thursday that the St. Louis Blues "are pushing hard" to acquire Bowen Byram from the Buffalo Sabres.

Byram is the most fascinating player left on either free-agent market because of his age and position.

Byram is only 24 and can provide depth on the blue line for a handful of teams in need of defensemen.

St. Louis makes sense because it just let go of Nick Leddy and has an open spot in its top six on defense.

The Blues followed a similar strategy on the restricted free-agent market last year when they acquired Dylan Holloway and Philip Broberg from the Edmonton Oilers.

St. Louis reinforced its blue line with the addition of Cam Fowler in a midseason trade last year as well.

The addition of Byram would give the Blues a few solid pairings on defense with Colton Parayko, Fowler, Justin Faulk, Broberg and Ryan Suter already at the position.

A move out of Buffalo to anywhere would be great for Byram to give him a chance to win again after he was shipped from Colorado to Buffalo in the Casey Mittelstadt trade two seasons ago.

Prediction: St. Louis trades for and signs Byram

Marco Rossi

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Sportsnet's Chris Johnston reported at the start of free agency that it is "way more likely he stays now" in regard to Marco Rossi and the Minnesota Wild (h/t NHL Trade Alert).

Minnesota is in a somewhat tricky spot with the salary cap because it needs to have to room to re-sign Kirill Kaprizov to a deal before he hits the open market next summer.

The monster contract Kaprizov will demand puts a hindrance on how much the Wild can offer Rossi as a restricted free agent this offseason.

Sportsnet's Luke Fox suggested a deal similar to the two-year deal Cole Perfetti received from the Winnipeg Jets.

"The best route is likely a short-term, kick-the-issue-down-the-road solution. Think something along the lines of Cole Perfetti’s two-year, $6.5-million extension in Winnipeg."

A return to the Wild lineup is likely in the cards, but length and price of the contract are still up for debate.

Prediction: Marco Rossi re-signs with Wild on a two-year contract.

Lukas Dostal

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The path is wide open for Lukas Dostal to be the starting netminder for the Anaheim Ducks for the 2025-26 season and beyond.

Sportsnet's Luke Fox reported that Ducks general manager Pat Verbeek and Dostal's agent have "begun discussions" over a new deal for the restricted free agent.

John Gibson's trade to the Detroit Red Wings allowed Dostal to become the presumptive No. 1 in the Anaheim net.

The Ducks currently have two veteran goalies in Ville Husso and Petr Mrazek on their roster, but they are expected to compete for the backup role.

Dostal owns a career .902 save percentage. He has never had a single-season save percentage under .900.

Dostal should be the top goalie for a squad that is chock full of young talent and one that could make a push at the top eight in the Western Conference in 2025-26.

Prediction: Dostal re-signs with Ducks