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.
The frenzy has long since fizzled, but a few useful everyday players and a smattering of depth options remain unclaimed.
While the salary cap is on the rise, 29 teams are still under the 2025-26 ceiling in mid-July, so there is still budget to burn and flyers to take.
Here’s the best of the 2025 UFA crop still hunting for jobs.
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 the season's final 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.
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.
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.
Age: 28
Position: Goaltender
2024-25 salary cap hit: $1.8 million
No goaltender who turned 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.
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. 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.
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.
8. Jan Rutta
Age: 34
Position: Defence
2024-25 salary cap hit: $2.75 million
While a lower-body injury hampered Rutta’s season in San Jose, the six-foot-three blueliner still posted three goals, nine points and 81 blocks over 53 games.
Plenty of teams could do worse than adding this responsible, veteran right shot with championship pedigree to their dressing room.
A one-year contract sounds about right.
Age: 29
Position: Goaltender
2024-25 salary cap hit: $3.4 million
An absolute stud in 2022-23 — when he racked up 40 wins and a .919 save percentage for the Colorado Avalanche — Georgiev’s fall from awesome has been precipitous.
Carrying a starter’s load, the NHL’s first Bulgarian bungled his contract year, getting traded to the lowly Sharks mid-season and stumbling to a 15-26-4 record with a career-worst .875 save percentage.
The 2024 all-star was informed in April by San Jose GM Mike Grier that he would not be back, and buzz surrounding Georgiev’s next landing spot has been minimal.
A pay cut is inevitable.
Still, the man is a workhorse and could be a bounce-back candidate. He’s better than he has shown recently.
10. Kevin Labanc
Age: 29
Position: Right wing
2024-25 salary cap hit: $775,000
Columbus Blue Jackets GM Don Waddell took a one-year flyer on Labanc, who will be hard-pressed to match his heights of 2018-19, when he piled up 56 regular-season points and was a key contributor to the last playoff run in San Jose.
Injuries and inconsistency have plagued the winger since.
Now, after failing to have an impact in Columbus — scoring two goals and 12 points in 34 appearances — Labanc will either need to earn his spot on an NHL roster or take his skills to the other side of the pond to continue his pro career.
More UFAs still on the market: Ryan Suter, Robby Fabbri, Jon Merrill, Oliver Kylington, James Reimer, Chris Dreidger, Brett Leason, Craig Smith, Luke Glendening, Klim Kostin, Jakub Vrana, Georgii Romanov
All salary info via the fine folks at PuckPedia.com.
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