Updated NHL Free Agents 2025 Landing Spot Predictions and Latest Trade Rumors

The majority of the high-priced, highly-sought free agents may be gone but there are still several players that NHL teams are eager to get under a deal, either through the open market or via trade.

The crown jewel still left is Bowen Byram, a talented young defenseman who is a restricted free agent with the Buffalo Sabres.

What is the latest on him and what reports do league insiders have regarding potential trades for the Penguins' Erik Karlsson and Blues' Jordan Kyrou?

Find out with this recap.

Latest on Bowen Byram

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The Vancouver Canucks, like several other teams this off-season, were interested in acquiring Bowen Byram from the Buffalo Sabres.

The Fouth Period's David Pagnotta reported on the Sekeres & Price Podcast that it is increasingly unlikely the Canucks land the 24-year-old defenseman.

"But honestly, for me, it would probably be something coming out of left field once all is said and done if something does happen with the Canucks," he said.

The St. Louis Blues had previously been linked to the Canadian-born player, and it is not difficult to see why.

Bryam played in 82 games, scoring 38 points on seven goals and 31 assists. The young competitor, with star potential, has great hockey IQ and is a skilled puck mover. He has the ability to be an offensive facilitator, too, making him even more appealing to teams looking to the future.

With the Sabres electing arbitration with Byram, the team can still elect to trade him, but the front office has made it abundantly clear that they want players in return for the asset, not draft picks.

Considering arbitration and the fact that the Sabres and interested teams have not already gotten something done to this point, expect Byram to remain put.

Prediction: Byram stays in Buffalo for two more seasons

Update on the Blues, Jordan Kyrou

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Julian McKenzie reported on The Chris Johnston Show that, despite earlier interest in trading him, the St. Louis Blues are less likely to trade Jordan Kyrou now that his no-move clause has kicked in.

Kyrou has consistently been in the 70-plus point range for the last four years, with the exception being a 67-point effort in 2023-24. He finds the net, facilitates the offense, and is a career 16:26 per night player.

He scored three goals in seven playoff games this past season, too.

The idea that he would have final say in where he goes if the Blues were looking to move on from him understandably gives the organization pause. Given that he is still under contract for $8.125 million per season through 2030-2031, the likelihood that many teams would be interested in taking on that contract seems somewhat low.

McKenzie specifically named the Montreal Canadiens as a team interested in the 27-year-old. While the two sides could still make that deal a reality, with Kyrou's permission, it feels as though the right winger is destined to remain with the team for whom he has committed through the end of the decade.

Prediction: Kyrou stays put in St. Louis

Erik Karlsson and Toronto Linked

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The Pittsburgh Penguins are the in the midst of a youth movement, a concentrated effort on getting younger and looking to the future amid missed playoffs and a general decline in the stature of the team in the Eastern Conference.

Erik Karlsson is a 35-year-old defenseman and winner of the 2022-23 Hart Trophy winner as the best in the league at his position. That season, he scored 101 points on 25 goals and 76 assists.

He has played every game in the proceeding two seasons, but has not replicated those numbers, making his expendable to the team.

James Murphy of RG.com reported that the Toronto Maple Leafs are looking for an offensive-minded defenseman and that Karlsson is on their radar.

“There’s more than just hearsay when it comes to the Leafs and Erik Karlsson right now,” a league source told Murphy.

He continued, “There’s probably going to be salary retained, but the thought that there’s some kind of bad blood between Dubas and the Leafs still that would prevent something like this is crazy. This is a business, and if there’s enough interest from both teams and they figure out the cap hit and money, then that’s all that matters.”

Dubas was fired by the Leafs in 2023 amid another early playoff exit.

The retained salary will be a significant part of any deal the Penguins make as Karlsson has two years left on his current deal at $11.5 million per, according to Spotrac.

So desperate are the Pens to move on and look forward, though, that it will be interesting to see how stubborn they are when it comes to eating that salary.

The report states the Stars and Red Wings are also interested in Karlsson.

Considering the specific desire of the Maple Leafs, and their need to bolster a roster that is suddenly without Mitch Marner, look for the team to be aggressive in their attempt to lure the veteran away from their conference foe.

Prediction: Karlsson lands in Toronto