NHL Offseason
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There are just over two weeks until NHL free agency opens on July 1, and teams will be looking to fill holes on their rosters.
Headlined by stars such as Mitch Marner, Aaron Ekblad and Nikolaj Ehlers, there are plenty of pending unrestricted free agents available who could boost franchises in a big way.
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This week, The Athletic asked its NHL staff to play free agency matchmaker and list one pending UFA each team should target this summer.
Here’s what they said.
If Marner isn’t in play, Boeser could be a good Plan B who isn’t nearly as costly. He’ll get paid and could surpass Troy Terry’s team-high $7 million AAV. But the Ducks’ salary scale wouldn’t be thrown off, and they would get a shooter whose down year of 25 goals last season would have led Anaheim. Beckett Sennecke, the No. 3 pick in 2024, won’t need to be rushed. — Eric Stephens
Who would want to play against a team that rolls David Pastrnak on one shift and Marner the next? The Bruins would be top-heavy with two difference-making right wings. But in a good way. — Fluto Shinzawa
The Sabres’ biggest need is a right-shot defenseman capable of playing in the top four. Ekblad is the best player available who fits that description. He comes with an established track record playing for a winning team to go with a physical edge. He’s also only 29, so he should still have some good seasons left in him. — Matthew Fairburn
A goal-scoring winger with speed and skating in his arsenal. He makes a ton of sense for Calgary if he’s willing to remain in Canada. Boeser could be another option. The goal is for Calgary to get someone younger and not chase after mid-30s players who keep them away from that goal. — Julian McKenzie
Marner would fit the Hurricanes’ style and give the team an elite point producer. He’s a defensively responsible forward who is hardworking and can be used in all situations. While there is a case for Carolina upgrading at center over another wing, the team could accomplish its longtime pursuit of landing a superstar by landing Marner this offseason. — Cory Lavalette
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Marner is probably a long shot, and the Blackhawks may not even sign a significant unrestricted free agent. It’s possible they’ll be more aggressive in trying to acquire someone through trade. But of the current UFAs, Marner is the one who makes the most sense from age and talent standpoints. — Scott Powers
After signing Brock Nelson to an extension, Colorado has its core under contract, but also very little cap space to work with. The Avs should be looking to upgrade the fringes with a good value signing, and Fabbro could be perfect. He’s 26, a strong skater and played well with Norris Trophy finalist Zach Werenski this year. He’d be a great addition if Colorado could find a way to fit his contract. — Jesse Granger
The Blue Jackets want to bolster their blue line, and the right side needs the most help. Ekblad would be a perfect fit, whether he pairs with Werenski on the top pair or with youngster Denton Mateychuk on the second pair. The right side has been a sore spot since Seth Jones was traded to Chicago, but Ekblad could help give the Jackets two major minute-munchers, one on each side. — Aaron Portzline
Miro Heiskanen is capable of playing on his off side; he’s been doing it for years. But the Stars could use a good right-handed shot, and Ekblad fits the bill. He could slot in alongside Thomas Harley or Esa Lindell and give Dallas a terrific top four. But making the money work will be difficult, especially if Jim Nill plans to re-sign Matt Duchene and captain Jamie Benn. — Mark Lazerus
While a top-line winger would be the more exciting add, Detroit needs a top-four defenseman, and Gavrikov would be the dream fit. He’s one of the league’s best defensive defensemen, is used to taking tough minutes and has familiarity with Todd McLellan and Trent Yawney from Los Angeles. Putting Gavrikov next to Moritz Seider would make for a fearsome defensive pairing. — Max Bultman
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It’s a boring answer, but sometimes there’s nothing wrong with boring. Brown has become one of the heartbeats of the team as a penalty killer and role player who can move up in the lineup. He loves being an Oiler, his former agent runs the team and he surely won’t break the bank. That’s important, considering the Oilers don’t have an abundance of cap space. — Daniel Nugent-Bowman
Why mess with success? That goes for both sides, too. If Bennett wants to max out — and some team will be more than happy to offer the opportunity — it’ll be time to say goodbye. Is it that outrageous to think that Florida paying him, say, $7 million a season should be out of the question? The fit is perfect, and there (as usual) aren’t a ton of plug-and-play down-the-middle options on the market. — Sean Gentille
With Rob Blake as the Kings’ GM, it felt like a foregone conclusion that Gavrikov would be re-signed, but that’s no longer the case with Ken Holland. If Holland isn’t keen on throwing many years and big money at Gavrikov, the 29-year-old defensive bedrock, trading for the younger Bowen Byram (or perhaps Nicolas Hague) might be necessary if they also make a big move, such as taking a run at Marner. — Eric Stephens
The Wild’s main need is up the middle, and now they’re on Plan B after target Nelson re-signed with the Avalanche. Tavares’ priority has been to stay in Toronto, but if he gets to market, he’d give Minnesota the experienced, two-way center who could take some pressure off Joel Eriksson Ek. The Wild need to get Tavares, Duchene or Jonathan Toews to address the position, especially after missing out on Nelson. — Joe Smith
Fabbro might not make it to July 1, because the reasons why Montreal might want him are the same reasons Columbus would want to keep him: he’s young, shoots from the right side, should be relatively inexpensive and did some good things with the Blue Jackets. The Canadiens have a need on the right side of their blue line with the retirement of David Savard. — Arpon Basu
It’s doubtful Bennett will end up getting away from Florida and even more doubtful that Nashville would be high on his radar if he did, but the Preds should still be all in on giving it a try. This is exactly the productive, surly, still-in-his-prime player this team needs down the middle. — Joe Rexrode
The Devils need depth, and Brown is an affordable bottom-six player who has proved useful on an elite Edmonton team. Depth was New Jersey’s biggest weakness in the Carolina series, and he’d help address that. — Peter Baugh
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The Isles’ lack of playmakers on the wing, especially those who can skate a bit, is pretty evident. Outside of Marner, there aren’t really any potential UFAs with Ehlers’ skill set; signing him would allow Mathew Barzal to move back to center. — Arthur Staple
Suter might be too expensive for the Rangers because of their cap situation, but New York has created a bit of flexibility after the Chris Kreider trade. He’s a versatile player who would slot in perfectly at third-line center, allowing the team to keep Mika Zibanejad on the wing. It might not be possible, but he’d be a good fit. — Peter Baugh
A speedy winger who can pot 20-25 goals annually. The Sens need speed and goal scoring wherever they can get it. If Ehlers is interested in remaining in Canada and playing on another playoff team, the Sens should go hard after a potential linemate for Tim Stützle and Brady Tkachuk. — Julian McKenzie
If Bennett commands $10 million a season, as some reports have suggested he might, that will be too much for the Flyers at this stage of their building process. But they want to start pivoting on the rebuild and winning games next season, and that’s only going to happen if they find another reliable center who can play in the top six. Bennett would boost the Flyers’ biggest position of need. — Kevin Kurz
Gavrikov, a steady and dependable player, would help and fit well on the left side of the Penguins’ blue line. Plus, he’s only 29. — Josh Yohe
Ehlers would further jazz up their forward mix with a consistent, speedy and skilled scorer who doesn’t cost a Marner level of money. But Ehlers might block one of San Jose’s power forward prospects, and Ekblad would be a serious upgrade for a woeful defense. Sam Dickinson is coming, but they need a high-quality right shot on the blue line, and Ekblad would instantly fit into their top pairing. — Eric Stephens
Whether it’s Marner or Ehlers, the Kraken have to find a way to get to the front of the line and pitch one of the top offensive wingers on July 1 in unrestricted free agency. A potentially elite, dynamic offensive player who can help this team create some timely goals is the ball game for Seattle this summer. — Thomas Drance
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There are higher-profile free agents, such as Marner or Bennett, who would certainly help the Blues. But if the club could just secure itself a reliable veteran center such as Granlund, it would serve the Blues well because they’d be much deeper up the middle. At 33, he could help hold the fort down until Dalibor Dvorsky is ready, too. — Jeremy Rutherford
The Lightning need help on defense, so management should be looking for low-key adds such as Fabbro. The righty could slot alongside Victor Hedman on the top pair (which would allow J.J. Moser to shift back to his natural side on the third), or he could be a stabilizing force on the third pair. At 26 years old, he’s in the right age range for Tampa Bay, and he won’t break the bank this summer. — Shayna Goldman
Kane could slip into Marner’s long-time spot on the Leafs’ top line and give Auston Matthews a fresh look. He isn’t the superstar of his Chicago years, but still kicked in 59 points in 72 games for Detroit at age 36 last year. Kane would bring some swagger and a short-term fix for the Leafs’ top six in the wake of Marner’s likely departure. — Jonas Siegel
The Mammoth have seven NHL defensemen and both goalies signed for next season. With $20 million in cap space, the priority is be up front, and Marner makes a ton of sense to help supercharge what was a below-average offense and give Clayton Keller more help. Getting more star power in a new market couldn’t hurt, either. — James Mirtle
The Canucks can’t let perfect become the enemy of good this offseason. Though he’s 34 and struggled in the Western Conference final at five-on-five, Duchene remains a versatile, productive top-of-the-lineup player with speed to burn and the ability to contribute at center or on the wing. If he’s willing to come north of the 49th parallel, it’s hard to come up with a better, realistic fit. — Thomas Drance
Adding another big contract comes with risk, especially with Jack Eichel eligible for an extension on July 1, but Marner and Vegas could be a perfect match. Strong up the middle and on defense, Vegas’ biggest need is scoring on the wing. That, combined with this club’s history of aggressively pursuing prized players, means it will be surprising if the Golden Knights aren’t in the Marner sweepstakes. — Jesse Granger
Fun as it’d be to wish-cast someone such as Marner or Ehlers to Washington, this is a team without a ton of money to spend (less than $10 million), and with faith in the top of its lineup and a glaring need at third-line center. Figuring that out should be priority No. 1. Connor McMichael is an internal option, but Roslovic would be a nice bottom-six fallback plan who can also play right wing. — Sean Gentille
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Mangiapane is a good buy-low candidate after a 28-point season from Washington’s third line — a step back after 40, 43, and 55-point second-line seasons in Calgary. The 29-year-old is still a dogged forechecker, a pain to play against, and the kind of Nino Niederreiter-plus middle-six play driver Winnipeg needs — especially if Ehlers signs elsewhere. — Murat Ates
(Illustration: Kelsea Petersen/ The Athletic; Kevin Sousa / NHLI, Claus Andersen and Minas Panagiotakis / Getty Images)

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