The NHL’s general managers have already signed more than 270 contracts since July 1, committing more than $1.4 billion to the league’s talent since free agency opened last week.
And still: A few contract-worthy players are still hanging around unemployed.
Tell your favourite executive not to hang the "Gone Fishin'" sign just yet.
Here is the latest buzz on the unrestricted free agents still looking for work.
1. Patrick Kane
Age: 37
Position: Right wing
2025-26 salary cap hit: $3 million
No UFA left standing racked up more assists (41) last season than the future first-ballot Hall of Famer. Kane still has game and can improve a power play.
Despite the Red Wings’ pitch to keep the playmaker, Kane appears ready to join a fourth team — or reunite with his first love. Either way, his next deal sounds like it’ll bring him full circle.
The Buffalo native has reportedly explored contracts with his hometown Sabres and the Chicago Blackhawks.
“It is down to Buffalo and Chicago. I know that, obviously, because I spoke to him,” Chicago legend Chris Chelios told 104.3 The Score on July 15. “It’s a tough decision for him. It really is. Whether to go home, make it easy on his parents, his family, his friends, and finish like (Jonathan Toews) tried to do.
“Or he comes back. In my opinion, he’s a Blackhawk.”
Chelios estimates Kane still has two or three more seasons in him.
Age: 28
Position: Defence
2025-26 salary cap hit: $1.25 million
The youngest D-man on this list, Stanley is a monster on the back end: six-foot-seven, 231 pounds. That his offensive breakout (nine goals, 26 points) aligned with his contract year is good fortune.
Winnipeg rented Stanley to Buffalo at the trade deadline, but Jets GM Kevin Cheveldayoff could still circle back and make an offer to bring the lefty back to Manitoba. He’d make a nice replacement for big Jamie Oleksiak in Seattle, too.
Stanley is still weighing his options, and he has plenty.
The Waterloo, Ont., native is asking for as much as $25 million on a four- or five-year pact, according to Frank Seravalli.
But as the summer drags on, Stanley may have to lower his price.
Age: 27
Position: Right wing
2025-26 salary cap hit: $3.475 million
One of a handful of wingers who has filtered through Seattle lately, Tolvanen’s skill and relatively young age make him an intriguing bet.
The Finnish first-rounder failed to build on 2024-25’s 23-goal showing and saw his goal total dip to 12 last season. He also posted a career-worst minus-18 rating.
Properly slotted in a middle six and given power-play time, he could play a nice role on a deeper roster. Tolvanen is reportedly seeking term.
Age: 34
Position: Right wing
2025-26 salary cap hit: $4.75 million
Switching agents to Dan Milstein, shooter-for-hire Tarasenko should still attract some decent offers even as he enters his mid-30s.
The Russian played 75 games and ripped 23 goals for the Minnesota Wild this past season despite modest power-play usage.
Teams in need of scoring off the wings should kick tires on a short-term deal. That the Oilers expressed interest in Claude Giroux (before he re-upped in Ottawa) has some wondering if Edmonton could turn its sights to Tarasenko.
Age: 33
Position: Defence
2025-26 salary cap hit: $2 million
As the San Jose Sharks drastically overhaul their blueline, the veteran Klingberg finds himself back in a familiar place: wandering teamless.
The right-shooting playmaker can still work a power play and add offence from the back end, but he’s had a rough time finding security since he left Dallas in search of a payday in his prime.
Klingberg scored 10 goals in just 56 games for the Teal last season, his best showing in years. But he was also a minus-13 and his defensive deficiencies aren’t going anywhere.
Boston and Philadelphia are two teams still eager to boost the right side of their D.
6. Patrik Laine
Age: 28
Position: Left wing
2025-26 salary cap hit: $8.7 million
One of the more confounding talents of his generation, the sharp-shooting Laine is a second-overall pick poised to join his fourth team before his 29th birthday.
Laine can still rip it from a power-play flank. He endeared himself to Montreal Canadiens fans early in his 2024-25 season. But healthy and unhealthy scratches piled up, and his too-rich contract made him untradeable.
Laine did not score last season. He played only five times. A massive pay cut is coming.
Still, the Islanders, Kings, Lightning, Flames and Wild are all reportedly considering taking him on as a project.
Age: 30
Position: Left wing / right wing
2025-26 salary cap hit: $4.5 million
Looking to join his seventh team in seven seasons, the agitating winger can still boost many a middle six.
Bunting has four 19-goal seasons on his résumé and a track record of complementing elite players, drawing penalties and crawling under opponents’ skin.
After failing to make a significant impact in Dallas, his most recent stop, Bunting should be looking at a pay cut. Still, he’d be worth a one-year flyer.
8. Reilly Smith
Age: 35
Position: Right wing / Left wing
2025-26 salary cap hit: $2 million
The veteran winger was upfront about expressing his desire to remain a Vegas Golden Knight before another trip to the Stanley Cup Final, but once again the club has cut him loose.
“If there’s an opportunity to stay here, that’d be great. I think I play well for this team. I think it’s probably been the best hockey that I’ve played through my career has been wearing this jersey,” Smith said in May.
“My family loves it here. So if there’s a way to make it work, that’d be great. I’d definitely be in favour for that. But at the end of the day, it’s a business and we’ll figure it out.”
The two-way forward had a tough time squeezing into John Tortorella’s playoff lineup but could still contribute in a third-line role elsewhere. He did score 16 goals in 69 games this past season.
9. Cam Talbot
Age: 39
Position: Goaltender
2025-26 salary cap hit: $2.5 million
Among the goaltenders without a chair as the carousel slows on July 2, Talbot played more games (34) than anyone last season. Accustomed to bouncing around the league, the veteran could serve in a mentorship-slash-backup role.
Talbot’s save percentage dropped to .883 last season in Detroit. A down year behind a disappointing squad? Or is Father Time rearing its ugly head?
10. Philipp Kurashev
Age: 26
Position: Centre
2025-26 salary cap hit: $1.2 million
The Swiss shooter’s 18-goal, 54-point standout performance for a bad Blackhawks squad in 2023-24 seems like a distant memory. Kurashev got stuck on seven goals in the two seasons since — and failed to stick with non-playoff teams in Chicago and San Jose.
One of the youngest UFAs of interest, Kurashev was left unqualified as an impending Sharks RFA. But his 20 points in 43 appearances this past season suggest there is still some offensive upside here. Particularly when you consider the third-liner started only 36 per cent of his San Jose shifts in the offensive zone and saw limited power-play time.
Trouble is, Kurashev struggles in the faceoff dot and isn’t overly physical. Not quite a shutdown man, not a bona fide top-six scoring threat.
More notable UFAs: Evander Kane, David Perron, Adam Henrique, Kevin Hayes, Petr Mrazek, Matt Murray, James Reimer, Jonathan Drouin, Brandon Saad, Ryan Reaves, David Kämpf, James van Riemsdyk, Matt Grzelcyk, Adam Erne, Nick Blankenburg, Connor Ingram, Tyson Jost, Carson Soucy, Jeff Skinner, Ben Hutton
