NHL’s Top 12 UFAs of 2025: Latest rumours, reports

Former captains and current Stanley Cup champs. Top-pair defencemen and all-world playmakers.

Yes, even with several franchise studs and key support players signing pocket-padding extensions way before the deadline and avoiding the stress of free agency, the NHL’s 2025 UFA class still sets up to be an intriguing one.

And with the salary cap guaranteed to rise by $7.5 million, up to $95.5 million, those spendy general managers should have even more budget to splash the pot on the next difference-maker to test the open waters.

All eyes will be on the Toronto Maple Leafs, Florida Panthers, and guys named Brock.

Here’s a rundown and ranking of hockey’s best impending unrestricted free agents, plus the latest buzz circulating about their future.

July 1 is only weeks away.

Age on July 1: 28
Position: Right wing
2023-24 salary cap hit: $10.9 million

The latest: Once Mikko Rantanen got traded for a second time (and not for Marner) and signed his eight-year, $96-million extension with Dallas, Marner shot to the top of the charts. The rest of the pack lags behind, who is undisputedly the most coveted pending UFA of 2025.

Marner rebuffed the Leafs’ attempts to negotiate in-season — a $13.5-million AAV was reportedly offered on a long-term deal — and has now positioned himself to take a run at not only becoming the NHL’s highest-paid winger but highest-paid player.

If he goes for top dollar.

Plenty of good teams will also shuffle the decks and clear space to take a run at the playmaker.

When the Carolina Hurricanes proposed a Rantanen-for-Marner trade at the deadline, Treliving brought the idea to Marner, and he refused to waive his no-move clause.

“I always loved my time here. I’ve loved being here,” he said in reflection. “It’s been amazing. It’s been ups and downs, obviously.

“I mean, you feel the love and the passion of the city, and you’re forever grateful for that. And it’s one of the best cities to live in in the world. And I’ve been forever grateful to not just grow up here but wear this Maple Leaf and be a part of the history and this team.”

But it’s time to break up the band, and Marner is not under contract.

So, here we are: A team doubting its star winger wants to stay, and an in-demand talent who holds all the power over his future.

Age on July 1: 29
Position: Centre
2023-24 salary cap hit: $4.4 million

The latest: When Florida Panthers GM Bill Zito identifies a core piece of his championship roster worth retaining, he usually finds a way to keep his man — with an assist from his state’s tax laws, of course.

Zito prioritized locking up Gustav Forsling, then Sam Reinhart, then Carter Verhaeghe. All re-upped for fair rates.

Now, Zito is grinding away with Bennett, that rare middle-six centre who can score, defend, and truck over an opponent.

That Verhaeghe came in at a reasonable $7 million AAV helps with the Bennett budget.

Leverage rests here with player agent Darren Ferris, who has a reputation for stressing deadlines and knows his client would be coveted leaguewide because of his unique skill-set, playoff pedigree, and the dearth of under-30 centre options.

Ultimately, it boils down to this: If Bennett likes the South Florida life, a deal will be made. If he wants the biggest pay day, he’ll find that elsewhere. Like Brandon Montour did.

No doubt, the Team Canada fourth-liner could spark a bidding war — presumably landing somewhere between $7 million and $8 million per season, depending on term — if he reaches July 1.

Bennett and Zito restarted contract negotiations, Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reported on March 15. Weeks later, Panthers fans are still scrolling for an announcement.

If Marner indeed walks, the Maple Leafs are just one of a long list of teams who will take a run at the Ontario-born Bennett.

Age on July 1: 29
Position: Right wing / Left wing
2023-24 salary cap hit: $6 million

The latest: Unlike the monster extensions centre Mark Scheifele and goalie Connor Hellebuyck signed in 2023, just ahead of their walk years, all was quiet in Winnipeg on the Ehlers extension front during the final year of his deal.

A frequent subject of trade rumours, the speedy Dane was reportedly open to a change of scenery in the off-season, according to The Fourth Period.

The Presidents’ Trophy–winning Jets were boosted by a winger who, despite injury, enjoyed his most efficient regular season and followed it up with a career-high five goals in eight playoff games.

Winnipeg’s general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff has been noncommittal on the topic, and Ehlers skipped exit interviews upon elimination, rushing to join his country at the world championships.

Now that Ehlers has come this far, one must assume he’ll peek behind the curtain.

Competing teams would surely outbid the Jets for Ehlers’ services this summer in a market thin on 25-goal scorers.

Moreover, Cheveldayoff has to consider upcoming raises for Gabriel Vilardi (RFA), Dylan Samberg (RFA), Kyle Connor (UFA 2026), and captain Adam Lowry (UFA 2026).

“He’s such a big part of this family and the heart and soul of a lot of things we do here,” Connor Hellebuyck told reporters on May 21.

“Not only does he bring it on the ice, but just around the rink he’s a pleasure to be around. You know he’s going to have your back, no matter what you’re going though. He’s a big part of the group, and the business side is up to him and his group coming up.”

Age on July 1: 34
Position: Centre
2023-24 salary cap hit: $11 million

The latest: Already top 70 on the NHL’s all-time scoring list, the still-productive Tavares is not entertaining any notions of quitting.

While his captaincy was removed by the new GM (Brad Treliving) and his ice time chopped by the new coach (Craig Berube), the proud Maple Leaf is still a force in the face-off dot, a threat on the power-play and below the hash marks, and the consummate professional.

Armed with a full no-move clause and understanding he’s up for a pay cut, Tavares has already shown a willingness to sacrifice a little me for the sake of the we.

His agent, Pat Brisson, and Treliving did begin some preliminary extension talks in September — but the initial gap was too large. As much as Tavares would like to put pen to paper yesterday, Toronto has other priorities.

Tavares and wife Aryne are raising three young children in the city. He is close to the necessary support of his extended family. He has benefitted from multiple outside endorsement deals.

“I love playing here. It’s a remarkable place to play,” Tavares said. “And when I committed here six years ago, obviously I saw a tremendous amount of talent and an amazing hockey market and organization that’s fully committed to winning and doing whatever it can — and I still feel that way.”

Critics will point to Tavares’s age. Defenders will argue that he slid seamlessly into the No. 1 centre role when Auston Matthews got injured and is still producing at point-per-game pace.

As the highest goal scorer of the 2025 UFA class (38), a $7 million AAV wouldn’t be too much to ask for on the open market. But Tavares would rather not pack his bags.

How much of a hometown discount will he take?

Age on July 1: 29
Position: Defence
2023-24 salary cap hit: $7.5 million

The latest: An occasional subject of trade rumours, the second-longest-serving Florida Panther played an integral role in the franchise’s two trips to the fourth round and is finally entering the eighth year of his max-term contract.

Neither Ekblad nor management has projected concern here, despite the uncertainty. But Zito’s deadline trade acquisition of another excellent righty, Seth Jones, raised an eyebrow.

Jones comes with retained salary and five more seasons of term. In short, he serves as Ekblad insurance should the latter walk.

Ekblad already has $62.775 million (state tax free!) in career earnings, but he is one of the few top-pair defencemen under age 30 who could go to market in a summer when the cap spikes.

How is the second-longest-tenured Cat dealing with contract pressure?

“I mean, it’s one of those things. It’s always going to linger around,” Ekblad says.

“But at the end of the day, I’m well taken care of. I’m able to go out and play pretty free on a nightly basis and not have to worry about something like that. It’s going to come when it comes. And if it doesn’t, it doesn’t. And life goes on.”

Jakob Chychrun’s eight-year, $72-million windfall in Washington leaves Ekblad as the most desirable defence option for teams looking to bolster their blueline.

That he rebounded from his 20-game PED suspension to contribute offensively and defensively to yet another Panthers’ trip to the final four only ups his value.

Age on July 1: 37
Position: Left wing
2023-24 salary cap hit: $6.125 million

The latest: The former Boston Bruins captain’s ability to produce deep into his 30s and elevate his impact in important moments makes his current contract a bargain.

While it has been difficult for fans to watch Marchand pulling a Florida Panthers sweater over his head, it was equally difficult for the player to move south and for Bruins GM Don Sweeney to wave the white flag and detonate a chunk of his core.

Marchand met with the Bruins’ brass prior to his last-minute stunning trade with an appeal to negotiate an extension, reportedly through three years.

The money didn’t work, Sweeney opted to get younger, and the sides agreed to send the loyal veteran to a contender he’d like.

“Just had a gap,” the GM said.

The Bruins were prepared to pay Marchand no less than his current $6.125-million AAV, according to Friedman, but he will fetch more on the open market.

Marchand’s fit in Florida has been fantastic, as he has energized the best third line in hockey and is enjoying his deepest run since 2019.

Much like the Cats’ rental of long-serving Flyers captain Claude Giroux in ’22, this one feels like a wait-and-see.

Marchand will get his payday. For now, he’s just enjoying the ride.

“I’m not worried about next year at all,” Marchand said. “In this game, in this league, you need to take every day and enjoy it. You never know when you’re going to get an opportunity to be on a team like this again.”

Age on July 1: 28
Position: Right wing
2023-24 salary cap hit: $6.65 million

The latest: GM Patrik Allvin had stated publicly that he wanted to decide on Boeser’s future prior to the trade deadline. Then he tried — and failed — to deal the sniper for a decent return. The Hurricanes are one club with some measure of interest.

“If I told you what I was offered for Brock Boeser, I think I would have to run out of here because you would not believe me,” Allvin said on March 7, when asked why he had hung on to the expiring asset.

At that point, Boeser had 18 goals and 38 points through his first 55 games.

The eight-year veteran was aware of Allvin’s hardly flattering comments, but said he hadn’t processed the implications.

“I’m trying not to really think about that,” Boeser told reporters post-deadline. “I honestly have no idea what’s going to happen.

A rocky winter in Vancouver led to a coaching change, and now it feels like a longshot that the Canucks’ beloved sniper will stick around.

“Honestly, it’s unlikely at this point,” Boeser told Iain MacIntyre when asked about a return to Vancouver next season. “It sucks, it’s unfortunate. I’m just trying to play good hockey, and then I’ll worry about everything after that. We all know it’s been a roller coaster of a year. There’s been a lot of different things.”

If Boeser leaves, the organization must wear some brutal asset management.

2023-24 salary cap hit: $3 million

The latest: Castaway by Nashville, Duchene has not only found a niche but thrived with his former city’s greatest rival.

The veteran has already linked consecutive 25-goal, 65-point seasons since getting rocked by 2023’s summer buyout and is tracking his two best plus/minus campaigns of his 1,120-game career.

While younger star teammates Wyatt Johnson and Mikko Rantanen strike multi-year, eight-figure extensions, Duchene and his family have reached the stage where happiness and winning are king.

In short, Duchene seems to be slipping into his Pavelski years: short-term, reasonable money while sticking with a Cup contender.

As thin as the 2025 UFA market is on bona fide centremen, there should be an appetite on both sides to continue this relationship for another state-tax-free run in ’26.

Duchene still has a hunger for the game. So much so, he’d love to play his way onto Canada’s Olympic squad.

That said, he’s one of the best centres still unsigned. So, the resourceful rumour mill is digging up the interest expressed in the Montreal Canadiens back in 2019 and wondering about a revisit now that the Habs look legit.

If Duchene decides to go for the biggest payday, he’ll have options.

Age on July 1: 29
Position: Defence
2023-24 salary cap hit: $5.875 million

The latest: New Los Angeles Kings GM Kenn Holland wasted no time engaging in contract extension talks with Gavrikov, who is coming off a fantastic 30-point, plus-26 campaign just as the cap spikes.

Gavrikov switched agents, to Pat Brisson, with whom Kings president Luc Robitaille has a strong relationship.

Robitaille is a big Gavrikov fan, and a nice raise feels like a smart bet.

“Before the season, I let (the Kings) know I have no rush with (a contract), so we can wait until whenever,” Gavrikov said, after the club’s elimination. “No one wants to talk about it, rushing it before the playoffs, especially. And during the summer, we have more time to think. I made it clear that we have plenty of time.”

That said, as arguably the best left-shot, top-four D-man unclaimed, Gavrikov will have plenty of suitors if he does make it to July 1.

“It’s a hard question to answer right now, because you have to scout more around the league, if you want to know when you’re going to be and a good fit for a team,” he said.

“I haven’t done it yet, but I have plenty of time to research with my agent, to see where we’re at. I think we have a good idea about it over the next few weeks or so.”

Holland has the cap space and positional need to accommodate. Talks continue.

Age on July 1: 33
Position: Centre
2023-24 salary cap hit: $6 million

The latest: With a dearth of legit centremen on the rental market, Nelson fetched a tidy return for the aging New York Islander at the deadline: blue-chip prospect Callum Ritchie, a first-round pick and a conditional third.

Leaving the only franchise he’s known, Nelson slid into the 2C role in Colorado but failed to find the net in the Avalanche’s first-round series loss to Dallas. Avs’ GM Chris MacFarland has subsequently taken heat for the big swing.

Lamoriello did right by the player by trading him to his most desired destination. And with the Avalanche waving goodbye to Rantanen, MacFarland has the cap space to extend Nelson if both sides wish.

Nelson’s agent, Ben Hankinson, told Minnesota radio station KFAN that “Brock would be interested in playing at home and he could envision a fit.”

The Wild want a dependable second-line centre.

Age on July 1: 33
Position: Centre
2023-24 salary cap hit: $5 million

The latest: Dealt from lottery-bound San Jose to contending Dallas at the deadline, the 2010 top-10 pick is thriving in his first taste of playoff action in three years and longest run to date.

The 900-game veteran made the transition seamlessly, producing well as a member of the Stars’ Finnish Mafia, and looking every bit like another smart rental for GM Jim Nill.

Nill plans to meet with both of his ex-Sharks on expiring deals (defenceman Cody Ceci was part of the same trade) and talk extensions.

“He is a very efficient player,” said Nill, who noted Granlund’s connection with Duchene in Nashville.

“Very versatile, can play any forward position, centre, wing. Very effective on the power play. He’s a very good penalty killer, and he takes draws. He can play up and down the lineup. Great connection with the players here, that was another big part of it.”

Age on July 1: 28
Position: Centre
2023-24 salary cap hit: $1.6 million

The latest: As with the decision to hang on to Boeser at the trade deadline, hanging on to the expiring Suter amid a career year and potential offensive peak — 25 goals, 46 points — was met with derision in the market.

“Not a whole lot of market on our players,” Allvin said at the time.

Suter’s situation is an interesting one.

Now that the Canucks have dealt away J.T. Miller and Filip Chytil’s durability is of concern, the roster is in need of a centreman who can find the net.

Are they able to re-sign Suter? Or does the undrafted, underpaid Swiss player explore the market?

This is his best chance to get (over?)paid, especially with the cap going up and so few centres available.

More notable UFAs in 2025: Jamie Benn, Jonathan Drouin, Jack Roslovic, Ilya Samsonov, Brent Burns, Patrick Kane, Claude Giroux, Gustav Nyquist, Jake Allen, Dmitry Orlov, Vladislav Gavrikov, Ivan Provorov, Kyle Palmieri, Dan Vladar, Ryan Lindgren, Brandon Tanev, Anthony Mantha, Ryan Johansen, Jeff Petry, Andrew Mangiapane, Andrei Kuzmenko, Yanni Gourde, Reilly Smith, Tanner Jeannot, Jeff Skinner, Alexander Georgiev, Tony DeAngelo, Victor Olofsson, Dante Fabbro, Ryan Suter, John Klingberg