Mitch Marner, Brad Marchand, and Aaron Ekblad have already signed deals, leaving fewer options for teams as the NHL free agency period approaches. Despite a relatively weak class of free agents, the salary cap increase, up by a record $7.5 million to $95.5 million, will see teams actively trying to secure talent once the market opens at noon EDT on Tuesday.
Here are some players to keep an eye on:
Brock Boeser
Rarely does a player with six seasons of 20 or more goals become available in free agency before hitting the age of 30. Boeser, who notched 40 goals as recently as the 2023-24 season, is only as old as Marner. After achieving 25 goals and 25 assists last season, he is likely to capture the interest of teams from Winnipeg to Washington. After spending his entire career with the Vancouver Canucks, Boeser might welcome a change of scenery, especially with the team seemingly entering a rebuilding phase. A move to a contending team could be on the horizon.
Nikolaj Ehlers
Ehlers stands to benefit from the flurry of signings at the end of June, making him one of the top wingers left in free agency along with Boeser. In his 10th season with the Winnipeg Jets, he came close to a point-per-game ratio, totaling 63 in 69 games. At 29, the Danish forward was earning $6 million annually under his previous contract. Given the cap increase and strong demand with limited supply, Ehlers could secure a significant raise.
Brent Burns
At 40, Burns remains determined to pursue the Stanley Cup and offers valuable experience to any contender. The towering 6-foot-5, nearly 230-pound defenseman isn’t playing top-pairing minutes anymore but managed almost 23 minutes per game during Carolina’s campaign to the Eastern Conference final. Another soon-to-be former Hurricanes player, Dmitry Orlov, will also attract suitors. Though Orlov struggled in a series against Florida, he brings championship experience from his time with the Capitals.
Nate Schmidt
The two-time defending champion Florida Panthers executed skillful maneuvers to re-sign Marchand, Ekblad, and playoff standout Sam Bennett. This leaves little room for Schmidt, who has revitalized his career with the team. After being bought out by Winnipeg a year ago, Schmidt, now nearing 34, has fresh opportunities to capitalize on his improved performance.
Ilya Samsonov
The goaltending market is notably thin, with fewer than a dozen unrestricted free agents who played in the league last season. Most are either backups or secondary options, including Jake Allen and David Rittich. Samsonov is arguably the most intriguing choice among them. At 28, he has starting experience, and with the right support from a goalie coach and locker room, he could rejuvenate his career following sub-.900 save percentage seasons with Toronto and Vegas.