When the NHL’s free agency opened on July 1, the league’s general managers committed a whopping $862 million to 190 players before the weekend hit.
As the dust settles — and after Nikolaj Ehlers got around to making a decision — a few useful everyday players and a smattering of depth options remain unclaimed.
With the salary cap is on the rise, 28 teams are still under the 2025-26 ceiling after the madness of opening frenzy, so there is still budget to burn and flyers to take.
Here’s the best of the 2025 UFA crop still hunting for jobs.
1. Jack Roslovic
Age: 28
Position: Centre
2024-25 salary cap hit: $2.8 million
The right shot enjoyed a productive regular season in Carolina, posting 22 goals and 39 points in 81 games, but he fell out of the lineup when it mattered and got scratched for some playoff games.
The speedy, versatile Roslovic (he plays wing too) battles inconsistency but can make an impact when on his game.
Not many forwards under age 30 on the market. The best backup option for teams who were interested in Pius Suter.
On Sunday’s 32 Thoughts podcast, Elliotte Friedman reported that the Toronto Maple Leafs — who have sufficient cap space for the first time in a long time — are interested in signing Roslovic. The insider also mentioned that the Capitals took a long look at signing Roslovic.
The Sharks and Sabres are a couple more teams that could use a bona fide NHL forward.
2. Victor Olofsson
Age: 29
Position: Left wing
2024-25 salary cap hit: $1.075 million
A smart value buy, Olofsson finds himself one of the odd men out in cap-crunched Vegas after scoring 15 goals and 29 points in 56 games.
Olofsson is a power-play weapon who can fire the puck (career shooting percentage: 13.5) and has three 20-goal campaigns on his resume.
Don’t bet on him to play physical or rely on him for too many D-zone starts.
3. Matt Grzelcyk
Age: 31
Position: Defence
2024-25 salary cap hit: $2.75 million
Originally a Bruin, Grzelcyk played all 82 games for the Penguins this past season and told reporters that he was hoping to ink an extension in Pittsburgh.
The Penguins, however, signed defencemen Parker Wotherspoon and Caleb Jones to two-year deals on July 1 and are going in a different direction.
The left-shot, undersized Grzelcyk (five-foot-10, 180 pounds) notched a career-best 40 points in 2024-25 and boasts 527 games of experience, plus another 66 in the playoffs.
4. Ilya Samsonov
Age: 28
Position: Goaltender
2024-25 salary cap hit: $1.8 million
No goaltender who turned into a UFA on July 1 had a better record in 2024-25 than the Russian’s 16-9-4 mark in Vegas.
The Golden Knights feel set with No. 1 Adin Hill, 29, and Akira Schmid, 25, under contract at a combined $7.125 million, and Samsonov wants a change of scenery.
Samsonov posted a 2.82 goals-against average and a .891 save percentage. He did not see action during the Knights’ post-season.
With the goalie market particularly thin this summer, and John Gibson finally traded, Samsonov is the most intriguing option.
Landing spots are limited, though, and he may need to lower his asking price.
5. Max Pacioretty
Age: 36
Position: Left wing
2024-25 salary cap hit: $873,770
Author of the Maple Leafs’ series-clinching goal over the Senators, the veteran winger elevated his performance at the most critical time (eight points in 11 playoff games) and turned his Toronto tryout into what may be a noble final act.
Pacioretty’s arduous battles with injury are well-documented, and the father of five is still weighing all options — including retirement.
The former sniper has wisely adopted a more physical style.
If he wishes to keep playing, he can contribute on a one-year deal. Just don’t bet on Pacioretty being available for all 82 games.
Leafs GM Brad Treliving says the door is still open in Toronto.
6. Jeff Skinner
Age: 33
Position: Left wing
2024-25 salary cap hit: $3 million
While GM Stan Bowman overpaid for Skinner, an occasional scratch in Edmonton, the 1,078-game winger still has some goals in his stick.
He’d certainly need to accept a pay cut to remain an Oiler, but lesser teams in search of a power-play threat or secondary scoring could take a look on a short-term commitment.
7. Luke Kunin
Age: 27
Position: Centre
2024-25 salary cap hit: $2.75 million
Moved by San Jose to Columbus as a trade deadline rental, the right-shot depth centreman failed to gain any traction with his latest club (zero points, minus-4 in 12 appearances).
The veteran changed agents, to Craig Oster, and should have no problem bringing his hard-hitting 434 games of experience to a fifth team’s lineup.
Kunin’s offence peaked with Minnesota in 2019-20, when he scored 15 goals and 33 points in 63 games. He can still check.
8. Joel Kiviranta
Age: 29
Position: Left wing
2024-25 salary cap hit: $775,000
The undrafted Kiviranta exceeded his sub-$1-million salary in his second year for the Avalanche, posting career highs in games played (79), goals (16), assists (seven) and plus/minus (plus-15).
The “Finnish Gretzky” — as he was dubbed following his out-of-nowhere Game 7 hat trick for Dallas in 2020 — appears, like Jonathan Drouin, headed for a raise outside of Colorado.
And plenty of teams could do worse than trying Kiviranta out on their bottom six.
9. Nikolai Kovalenko
Age: 25
Position: Right wing
2024-25 salary cap hit: $896,250
Left unqualified by the bottom-feeding San Jose Sharks as a pending RFA, Kovalenko is now free to sign anywhere.
Known for his competitiveness and forechecking, the long-serving KHLer has amassed respectable stats in limited usage stateside: seven goals and 20 points while averaging 12:20 in 57 NHL games played.
The Colorado Avalanche’s forward depth has taken a hit this off-season. Would they circle back with a player they originally drafted?
10. Michael Carcone
Age: 29
Position: Left wing
2024-25 salary cap hit: $775,000
The undrafted journeyman might have peaked in 2023-24 when he quietly ripped 21 goals in the Arizona Coyotes’ final season.
But Carcone, an Ajax, Ont., native, chipped in with seven goals and 19 points in 53 appearances for Utah last season. He has every right to be looking for his first seven-figure contract.
Considering he plays with speed and edge, the smart-value Carcone could certainly energize a bottom six.
More UFAs still on the market: Alexander Georgiev, Ryan Suter, Robby Fabbri, Jon Merrill, Oliver Kylington, James Reimer, Chris Driedger, Brett Leason, Jan Rutta, Craig Smith, Luke Glendening, Klim Kostin, Jakub Vrana, Kevin Labanc
All salary info via the fine folks at PuckPedia.com.
COMMENTS
When submitting content, please abide by our submission guidelines, and avoid posting profanity, personal attacks or harassment. Should you violate our submissions guidelines, we reserve the right to remove your comments and block your account. Sportsnet reserves the right to close a story’s comment section at any time.
Hockey News