NHL free agency preview: How each team can earn an A+

With the 2025 NHL draft successful the rearview mirror, it's clip for escaped agency. The signing play officially begins Tuesday astatine noon ET, though re-signings (and trades) person been flowing for the past respective days.

Every beforehand bureau is trying to maximize its accidental astatine reaching the Stanley Cup playoffs adjacent outpouring and lifting the astir celebrated trophy successful sports. Here's however each of them tin nail this offseason and the headdress abstraction that each squad has, arsenic good arsenic a look astatine cardinal players hitting restricted and unrestricted escaped agency.

Note: Profiles for the Atlantic and Metro teams were written by Kristen Shilton. Ryan S. Clark analyzed the Central and Pacific teams. Stats are collected from Natural Stat Trick, Hockey Reference and Evolving Hockey. Projected headdress abstraction arsenic of June 29, per PuckPedia.

Draft recap: All 224 picks
Grades for each 32 teams
Winners and losers

ATLANTIC DIVISION

Boston Bruins

2024-25 result: Missed the playoffs

Key subordinate hitting UFA: D Henri Jokiharju
Key subordinate hitting RFA: None
Cap space: $16,643,333

What they should do: GM Don Sweeney seems invested successful taking attraction of the Bruins' own. He already signed Mason Lohrei to a two-year extension, and is engaged with Jokiharju connected a instrumentality to support Boston's extent connected the close side.

Sweeney besides got Morgan Geekie signed to a caller deal. The guardant is coming disconnected his champion NHL play (33 goals and 57 points) and could beryllium a foundational portion for the Bruins moving forward.

From there, Sweeney has to find immoderate extracurricular assistance to up Boston's scoring punch. Only Geekie and David Pastrnak managed 20-plus goals past play arsenic the Bruins' ranked 28th successful offense. There's superior country for betterment that Sweeny volition person to code successful escaped agency.

Buffalo Sabres

2024-25 result: Missed the playoffs

Key players hitting UFA: None
Key players hitting RFA: D Bowen Byram, G Devon Levi
Cap space: $20,840,319

What they should do: Well, GM Kevyn Adams said helium had a plan. And it went into afloat question erstwhile helium traded RFA JJ Peterka to Utah. That felt similar conscionable the archetypal domino to autumn successful Buffalo.

Adams past signed pending RFA Jack Quinn to a two-year extension. But there's enactment near to do. If Adams intends to determination connected from Byram, present is the clip to bash it portion he's inactive a invaluable player. Then, Adams' precedence should beryllium an hold for Alex Tuch. The cardinal guardant (and passionate leader) tin re-sign opening Tuesday, and there's nary usage waiting astir erstwhile the Sabres are hopeless for positivity astatine this point.

There's besides the question of however to wring much consistency retired of the lineup adjacent season. Adams should people escaped agents who tin bring that. Skaters specified arsenic Mason Appleton oregon Connor Brown could capable retired the Sabres' bottommost six nicely, and springiness them immoderate much-needed depth. The cardinal is for Adams to enactment progressive and not fto Buffalo's deficiency of occurrence breed complacency.

Detroit Red Wings

2024-25 result: Missed the playoffs

Key subordinate hitting UFA: F Patrick Kane
Key players hitting RFA: F Jonatan Berggren, F Elmer Soderblom
Cap space: $18,411,628

What they should do: The Red Wings pulled disconnected a blockbuster during draught weekend, landing John Gibson from Anaheim successful speech for Petr Mrazek and a brace of picks. That was a needed upgrade for Detroit successful net, and allows Gibson to play with different coagulated seasoned successful Cam Talbot. That's a beardown commencement to the offseason for GM Steve Yzerman.

He'll springiness his radical a accidental to get backmost into the postseason representation by continuing to tweak. Re-signing Kane is an casual boost -- helium has played good astatine 5-on-5 and peculiar teams, and has a seasoned poise.

It's the Red Wings' defence that's successful request of a existent upgrade. Detroit gave up the 12th-most goals past season, and the postulation of veterans the Red Wings relied connected for their 2nd and 3rd pairings weren't cutting it. There are UFA options disposable specified arsenic Vladislav Gavrikov who mightiness help, oregon Yzerman could plaything a woody for idiosyncratic specified arsenic RFA K'Andre Miller. Regardless of wherever Yzerman looks, it's important helium finds a defenseman (or two) who tin instrumentality immoderate unit disconnected Moritz Seider and Simon Edvinsson.

Florida Panthers

2024-25 result: Won the Stanley Cup

Key players hitting UFA: D Aaron Ekblad, F Brad Marchand, D Nate Schmidt, G Vitek Vanecek
Key subordinate hitting RFA: F Mackie Samoskevich
Cap space: $11,000,000

What they should do: The Panthers already recovered Sergei Bobrovsky's caller backup successful a commercialized with Columbus for Daniil Tarasov. The 26-year-old volition regenerate departing UFA Vanecek, and crosses 1 point disconnected GM Bill Zito's to-do list. Then it truly comes down to Marchand and Ekblad. Because until those deals are done -- oregon not -- the ripple effect connected what other Florida is capable to bash won't beryllium afloat known.

Before re-signing, Sam Bennett publically said helium wasn't leaving Florida, a proclamation Ekblad's cause encouraged him not to bash retired large (for leverage reasons). But it's harmless to accidental each sides would similar to stay unneurotic if possible. It's conscionable a ample "if."

Zito has constricted headdress abstraction for further contracts. Will helium marque a commercialized to guarantee Ekblad stays? Thankfully for Zito, Florida doesn't person galore different holes to fill. And retaining Marchand shouldn't beryllium astatine excessively precocious a outgo fixed his property and relation with the team. Zito recovered his backup netminder, and present it's each astir moving internally to acceptable the Panthers up for different palmy run.

Montreal Canadiens

2024-25 result: Lost successful the archetypal round

Key subordinate hitting UFA: F Christian Dvorak
Key subordinate hitting RFA: G Jakub Dobes
Cap space: $-3,394,166

What they should do: Montreal made waves with its propulsion into the postseason successful 2024-25. That's thing compared to what GM Kent Hughes pulled disconnected connected draught day, acquiring Noah Dobson from the Islanders and signing him to an eight-year, $76 cardinal contract. It outgo Hughes a beauteous penny -- including 2 2025 first-round draught choices -- but the 25-year-old Dobson joining Lane Hutson & Co. connected the Canadiens' bluish enactment makes that a formidable-looking squad.

Now the Canadiens' astir glaring request is simply a second-line halfway -- but that's a blistery commodity without galore skaters disposable via escaped bureau to capable that role. Anthony Beauvillier has been mentioned often successful transportation to the Habs, but that doesn't supply a semipermanent solution. Re-signing Dvorak would beryllium a holdover prime arsenic well.

Hughes could besides settee for adding to the wings, oregon orchestrate a commercialized that wrangles a existent top-six pivot. Either way, there's a privation and request for the beforehand bureau to infuse immoderate breathtaking violative vigor into the Canadiens' lineup without sacrificing excessively overmuch of the pipeline oregon much draught capital.

Ottawa Senators

2024-25 result: Lost successful the archetypal round

Key players hitting UFA: F Nick Cousins, G Anton Forsberg
Key players hitting RFA: None
Cap space: $8,194,286

What they should do: The Senators' absorption was mostly trained connected re-signing Claude Giroux. GM Steve Staois got that 1 done Sunday erstwhile helium inked Giroux to a one-year declaration extension. That's an important woody for the Senators to support immoderate of the consistency that helped them go a playoff squad past season.

Now, volition Staois bash overmuch other to boost Ottawa going forward? He has been vocal astir liking Ottawa's radical arsenic it is, and mightiness determine conscionable keeping Giroux -- and his enactment -- volition astir payment the Senators' rising core.

Ottawa doesn't look successful glaring request of assistance successful different facets -- they've built dilatory and dependable for a crushed -- truthful getting Giroux done mightiness beryllium Staois' awesome that the Senators volition proceed prioritizing maturation from wrong arsenic opposed to chasing extracurricular help. That mindset would besides beryllium good reflected successful an hold for Forsberg, though the goalie is rumored to privation to trial the unfastened marketplace instead.

Tampa Bay Lightning

2024-25 result: Lost successful the archetypal round

Key subordinate hitting UFA: D Nick Perbix
Key subordinate hitting RFA: F Gage Goncalves
Cap space: $5,480,001

What they should do: As usual, thing is disconnected the array for Tampa Bay. Where there's a will, GM Julien BriseBois mostly usually manages to find a way.

The Lightning ran retired of steam successful the postseason (again), and you could spot BriseBois wanted to defender against that by leveraging his minimal headdress abstraction with the summation of immoderate caller players, peculiarly connected the backmost end. But there's enactment to beryllium done astatine the minimum successful keeping Perbix and Goncalves. Both skaters person filled their roles for Tampa Bay recently, and Goncalves particularly is conscionable uncovering his stride successful the NHL.

BriseBois has brokered much than 1 blockbuster of precocious though, and Goncalves could besides beryllium idiosyncratic to ticker connected the commercialized marketplace if the GM is looking to rotation the dice again to springiness the Lightning different accidental to beryllium the squad to beryllium bushed successful the Sunshine State.

Toronto Maple Leafs

2024-25 result: Lost successful the 2nd round

Key players hitting UFA: F Steven Lorentz, F Mitch Marner
Key subordinate hitting RFA: F Nick Robertson
Cap space: $13,570,581

What they should do: The Maple Leafs took attraction of concern by getting John Tavares signed to a four-year hold past week. That was the apical precedence this offseason for GM Brad Treliving.

Unless a commercialized for Marner's rights materializes successful the adjacent 24 hours, there's astir nary uncertainty helium volition locomotion distant for thing successful escaped agency. Either way, that's a monolithic nonaccomplishment for the Leafs' offense. Losing Tavares excessively would person cratered the Leafs' halfway depth.

But with Tavares squared distant -- and knowing the Leafs won't beryllium investing ample headdress abstraction successful Marner -- Treliving was capable to re-sign RFA Matthew Knies to a six-year hold carrying a $7.75 cardinal AAV. That's astir arsenic bully arsenic it gets for the Leafs.

Now, volition Treliving capable successful the gaps with immoderate blue-line help? That would beryllium bully concern arsenic well. And helium should besides see bringing backmost Lorentz and Robertson.

METROPOLITAN DIVISION

Carolina Hurricanes

2024-25 result: Lost successful the league finals

Key players hitting UFA: D Brent Burns, D Dmitry Orlov, F Jack Roslovic
Key players hitting RFA: None
Cap space: $26,715,958

What they should do: Carolina can't rather get implicit the hump, stalling retired successful the Eastern Conference finals 2 of the past 3 seasons. It's connected GM Erik Tulsky to find players to powerfulness the Hurricanes done to the different side.

The archetypal happening Carolina needs is to adhd scoring wingers, preferably those with top-nine pedigree and a proven way record. A second-line halfway would beryllium invaluable arsenic well, and -- if there's headdress country near -- boosting their right-side antiaircraft extent wouldn't hurt. Carolina averaged less than 3 goals per crippled successful the playoffs, and struggled particularly successful the league finals against Florida's stout antiaircraft effort.

The Hurricanes mightiness person excessively galore of the aforesaid benignant skater successful their lineup, making them easier to unopen down, truthful Tulsky should people immoderate grit to spell with the finesse Carolina tin already wield with its existent roster.

Columbus Blue Jackets

2024-25 result: Missed the playoffs

Key players hitting UFA: F Christian Fischer, F Luke Kunin, F Kevin Labanc, D Ivan Provorov
Key players hitting RFA: D Jordan Harris, F Dmitri Voronkov
Cap space: $28,533,752

What they should do: Columbus didn't hold astir for Tuesday to commencement dealing, trading for Charlie Coyle and Miles Wood from Colorado. Coyle particularly helps marque the Blue Jackets' mediate six much robust, and gives the squad immoderate flexibility astatine center. And if Wood tin reignite his crippled aft immoderate down seasons, he'll lend determination successful the bottommost six.

Depth similar that is an asset. But it's not capable (right now) to genuinely alteration the Blue Jackets' fortunes. GM Don Waddell should beryllium seeking different halfway and a top-six winger who complement the young core. The close broadside of their bluish enactment would besides payment from a boost, beyond the hold for Dante Fabbro.

That was each existent earlier the commercialized of goalie Daniil Tarasov, though. How volition Waddell spell astir Columbus' netminding now? There's Elvis Merzlikins and Jet Greaves. Waddell isn't giving the Blue Jackets' their champion accidental without exploring an upgrade successful the cage.

New Jersey Devils

2024-25 result: Lost successful the archetypal round

Key players hitting UFA: F Nathan Bastian, F Daniel Sprong, G Jake Allen
Key players hitting RFA: F Nolan Foote, D Luke Hughes
Cap space: $14,394,167

What they should do: The Devils volition beryllium rightfully focused connected getting a caller woody done with pending Hughes, a backbone connected their bluish enactment and cardinal to the franchise's future. Then, GM Tom Fitzgerald tin commencement adding to New Jersey's offense.

There's a captious request for a halfway (especially if they don't suffice RFA Cody Glass) considering that Dawson Mercer mightiness not beryllium acceptable for that leap adjacent season. Punching up the team's scoring is different important task. New Jersey ranked 20th successful discourtesy past season, and portion immoderate of that could beryllium tied to losing Jack Hughes to injury, it was inactive an contented adjacent erstwhile helium was healthy.

The backup goaltender presumption volition besides person to beryllium addressed: Can the Devils trust connected Nico Daws down Jacob Markstrom? It's slim pickings for a goalie successful escaped agency, but a commercialized could materialize to assistance the Devils amended there.

New York Islanders

2024-25 result: Missed the playoffs

Key players hitting UFA: None
Key players hitting RFA: D Alexander Romanov, D Scott Perunovich
Cap space: $20,943,334

What they should do: Incoming GM Mathieu Darche didn't discarded clip shaking things up connected the land erstwhile helium traded Noah Dobson to Montreal during draught weekend. That determination near the Islanders with lone 4 viable blueliners signed for this season, truthful Darche volition person to replenish determination via the escaped cause marketplace oregon different commercialized -- oregon by getting Romanov and Perunovich signed to caller contracts.

And of course, there's the anticipation No. 1 draught prime Matthew Schaefer works his mode into the rotation.

The team's adjacent precedence is ensuring Ilya Sorokin has the close enactment successful extremity adjacent season. Semyon Varlamov was sidelined by an wounded successful December, and helium ne'er returned; the Islanders' goaltending struggled arsenic a result. Varlamov is 37 now, and mightiness not beryllium the champion enactment immoderate longer to play successful tandem with a top-tier goalie specified arsenic Sorokin. Darche volition person to determine if there's a woody to beryllium made for Varlamov oregon if the Isles' tin beryllium assured he'll springiness them beardown minutes successful the coming season.

And, arsenic always, the Islanders could usage much scoring extent (they ranked 28th successful discourtesy past season) but they'll person to prioritize which areas tin beryllium shored up present vs. later.

New York Rangers

2024-25 result: Missed the playoffs

Key players hitting UFA: None
Key players hitting RFA: F Will Cuylle, F Arthur Kaliyev, D K'Andre Miller
Cap space: $12,197,142

What they should do: New York already sent Chris Kreider to Anaheim, completing a commercialized that seemed inevitable astatine immoderate constituent this offseason. That freed up immoderate headdress abstraction that they tin usage to effort to go a playoff squad again.

Coming to a determination connected Miller is vital. Do the Rangers support him? Trade him? Where does helium acceptable for them into the future?

Then determination is Cuylle, who had an fantabulous 2nd play and should beryllium signed by the Rangers rapidly to debar immoderate benignant of offer-sheet situation. New York doesn't person capable headdress yet to marque galore different large moves. Barring different seasoned trade, taking attraction of his ain mightiness beryllium the champion GM Chris Drury tin bash for now.

Philadelphia Flyers

2024-25 result: Missed the playoffs

Key players hitting UFA: None
Key players hitting RFA: F Jakob Pelletier, D Cam York
Cap space: $15,141,905

What they should do: Philadelphia's superior needs going into the 2025-26 play were to beryllium stronger down the mediate and getting different goaltender. Trading for Trevor Zegras has (theoretically) accomplished that archetypal goal. Now it's clip for the Flyers to find different goaltender who tin complement Samuel Ersson.

Philadelphia ranked 32nd successful squad prevention percent past play (.872), and neither Ivan Fedotov nor Aleksei Kolosov look reliable capable for the Flyers to thin connected moving forward. GM Danny Briere volition person to scour the (middling) escaped cause marketplace for different netminder.

A commercialized for Thatcher Demko, with his transportation to caller manager Rick Tocchet and 1 twelvemonth near astatine $5 cardinal AAV, mightiness beryllium their champion stake contempt his wounded history. Alex Lyon oregon Jake Allen could besides beryllium viable seasoned options to enactment Ersson (whom the enactment inactive believes has a agleam future).

After the goaltending is sorted, if Briere tin besides adhd a left-handed defenseman to the mix, each the amended for Philadelphia.

Pittsburgh Penguins

2024-25 result: Missed the playoffs

Key players hitting UFA: None
Key players hitting RFA: F Connor Dewar, F Philip Tomasino
Cap space: $19,616,904

What they should do: We judge the Penguins won't beryllium trading Sidney Crosby successful the offseason. Erik Karlsson, though? That's thing GM Kyle Dubas should beryllium exploring.

Karlsson has shown his property the past 2 seasons, and Pittsburgh has to beryllium dialed successful connected getting younger and faster if they expect to beryllium a postseason contender. It won't beryllium casual to get Karlsson disconnected the books. But if there's a mode Dubas tin get retired from nether his contract, it volition payment the Penguins successful a large way.

Dubas is apt to get some Dewar and Tomasino signed to caller deals.

Then there's the Penguins' goalie assurance standing -- arsenic in, wherever is it close now? Tristan Jarry and Alex Nedeljkovic stay successful the fold but were, shall we say, not precisely a apical tandem past season. Could a Karlsson commercialized possibly instrumentality a netminder to assistance out? It's possible.

Washington Capitals

2024-25 result: Lost successful the 2nd round

Key players hitting UFA: D Ethan Bear, F Anthony Beauvillier, F Andrew Mangiapane
Key subordinate hitting RFA: D Alexander Alexeyev
Cap space: $9,375,000

What they should do: GM Chris Patrick said helium wanted to adhd much high-skill players to the Capitals' lineup. That's affluent coming from the second-highest scoring squad successful 2024-25 -- and yet, there's logic to it. Washington was boosted by a fistful of skaters having career-best seasons offensively. It would beryllium foolish to trust connected that happening again for truthful galore players.

Retaining Beauvillier would assistance the Capitals support their bottom-six extent without breaking the bank. There's going to beryllium immoderate turnover for Washington regardless, with T.J. Oshie retiring, truthful the determination to prioritize scoring is simply a omniscient one.

CENTRAL DIVISION

Chicago Blackhawks

2024-25 result: Missed the playoffs

Key players hitting UFA: None
Key players hitting RFA: D Louis Crevier, D Wyatt Kaiser, F Philipp Kurashev, G Arvid Soderblom
Cap space: $22,495,357

What they should do: Find a mode to amended the roster, portion besides advancing the team's rebuild astatine the aforesaid time.

The Blackhawks were successful the bottommost 10 of goals scored per crippled portion allowing the second-most goals per game. Blackhawks GM Kyle Davidson traded for Andre Burakovsky to supply different imaginable goal-scoring option. Davidson could usage escaped bureau oregon 1 much commercialized to find different experienced scorer who meshes with their younker movement.

There's besides a anticipation the Blackhawks could look to bash the aforesaid connected the backmost extremity by getting astatine slightest 2 experienced defensemen to amended upon past season's issues. Especially erstwhile the existent radical they person features 7 skaters younger than 24 who are either nether declaration oregon squad power for adjacent season.

Colorado Avalanche

2024-25 result: Lost successful the archetypal round

Key players hitting UFA: F Jonathan Drouin, F Joel Kiviranta, D Ryan Lindgren, F Jimmy Vesey
Key subordinate hitting RFA: D Sam Malinski
Cap space: $8,950,000

What they should do: Strengthen their roster to triumph different Stanley Cup. Building a supporting formed has been an contented since the Avs won the Stanley Cup successful 2022. It remains that mode present with them needing to again reconfigure their bottom-six guardant corps portion doing the aforesaid for their 3rd defence pairing.

There are options that tin beryllium had, but that goes backmost to wherefore they're successful this concern successful the archetypal place: headdress space. Trading Charlie Coyle and Miles Wood created an further $8.2 cardinal successful country but besides came astatine the outgo of trying to capable 2 much bottom-six roles.

Dallas Stars

2024-25 result: Lost successful the league finals

Key players hitting UFA: D Cody Ceci, F Evgenii Dadonov, F Mikael Granlund
Key players hitting RFA: None
Cap space: $980,084

What they should do: Reinforce their bottom-six guardant group. Who knew? There's different Western Conference squad successful a title model that indispensable rebuild its bottommost six with the intent that it tin play a relation successful getting them to their desired destination.

While that's not to accidental the Stars couldn't beryllium inclined to adhd much assistance elsewhere, the bottommost six appears to beryllium their top need, with lone 10 forwards nether declaration connected a squad that indispensable make much abstraction to attain the strongest imaginable options.

Minnesota Wild

2024-25 result: Lost successful the archetypal round

Key players hitting UFA: F Justin Brazeau, D Jon Merrill, F Gustav Nyquist
Key subordinate hitting RFA: F Marco Rossi
Cap space: $17,711,835

What they should do: Solidify their roster by adding much extremity scorers. GM Bill Guerin said astatine the extremity of the play that uncovering different halfway was successful the team's plans. The Wild appeared to person respective options of players who were slated to deed escaped agency.

Or that appeared to beryllium the lawsuit until centers specified arsenic Sam Bennett, Matt Duchene, Brock Nelson and John Tavares decided to enactment with their teams, portion Jonathan Toews signed a one-year woody with his hometown Jets.

Should the Wild determine to spell successful different direction, they could beryllium inclined to adhd different top-six oregon top-nine winger. Now, if lone determination was a seven-time 20-goal scorer who could scope escaped bureau that conscionable happens to beryllium from the Twin Cities.

Nashville Predators

2024-25 result: Missed the playoffs

Key players hitting UFA: D Marc Del Gaizo, F Jakub Vrana
Key subordinate hitting RFA: F Luke Evangelista
Cap space: $13,519,610

What they should do: Select the way they judge is the 1 to success. Being experienced successful immoderate areas portion inexperienced successful others played a relation successful wherefore they went from playoff squad to lottery entrant successful a azygous play -- particularly aft "winning July 1" past year, arsenic GM Barry Trotz mentioned during the draught broadcast.

Trotz has stated however overmuch imaginable helium sees successful the club's young players, and however that could spot the squad find cohesion with those much experienced players. But astatine the aforesaid time, the Preds could beryllium inclined to adhd different top-nine guardant and/or a top-six defenseman conscionable to beryllium safe. Trotz did the second precocious Sunday erstwhile helium traded for Golden Knights defenseman Nicolas Hague, and signed him to a four-year declaration worthy $5.5 cardinal annually.

St. Louis Blues

2024-25 result: Lost successful the archetypal round

Key players hitting UFA: F Radek Faksa, D Ryan Suter
Key players hitting RFA: None
Cap space: $1,625,150

What they should do: Add astatine slightest 1 much defenseman. GM Doug Armstrong said successful May that helium doesn't expect Torey Krug to play adjacent season. If that's the case, that would permission the Blues needing different top-six defenseman, portion perchance trying to get 1 much for depth.

Armstrong told reporters days earlier the draught that the Blues volition person the semipermanent injured reserve abstraction from Krug's contract, which is connected the books astatine $6.5 cardinal annually.

Aside from that, the Blues look to person their top-nine forwards situated portion having some goalies nether declaration with Joel Hofer signing a two-year hold Saturday.

Utah Mammoth

2024-25 result: Missed the playoffs

Key players hitting UFA: D Robert Bortuzzo, F Nick Bjugstad, F Michael Carcone
Key subordinate hitting RFA: F Jack McBain
Cap space: $14,982,143

What they should do: Aggressively prosecute each top-six forward. They already got a caput commencement connected that by trading for JJ Peterka, and signing him to a five-year declaration hold worthy $7.7 cardinal annually.

It's imaginable determination are different imaginable top-six options who could beryllium successful play if they scope the market. If not, the Mammoth could beryllium inclined to spot if a commercialized exists to adhd 1 much guardant to a squad that appears to beryllium connected the cusp of the playoffs. Especially erstwhile Utah was among the apical 10 teams successful the NHL successful shots per 60 minutes and scoring chances per 60 but finished 21st successful goals per game.

Winnipeg Jets

2024-25 result: Lost successful the 2nd round

Key players hitting UFA: F Mason Appleton, F Nikolaj Ehlers, F Brandon Tanev
Key players hitting RFA: F Morgan Barron, F Rasmus Kupari, D Dylan Samberg, F Gabriel Vilardi
Cap space: $23,513,810

What they should do: Strategically motion much forwards. It's imaginable that the Ehlers saga could travel to an extremity with him signing a contract. But there's besides the world helium could permission successful a marketplace successful which he's 1 of the strongest options available.

Ehlers oregon not, the Jets tin walk to get further scoring help. But determination indispensable beryllium definite items taken into information fixed they'll request to equilibrium their headdress space. They'll either request to re-sign Ehlers oregon find who they consciousness tin beryllium his replacement.

Also, they request to get a caller woody done for 27-goal scorer Vilardi. They'll besides request to bolster their bottom-six guardant radical portion taking attraction of Samberg connected the backmost end.

PACIFIC DIVISION

Anaheim Ducks

2024-25 result: Missed the playoffs

Key players hitting UFA: F Robby Fabbri, F Brock McGinn
Key players hitting RFA: G Lukas Dostal, D Drew Helleson, F Mason McTavish, F Isac Lundestrom
Cap space: $35,988,812

What they should do: Spend cautiously now, knowing what's up successful the future. Hypothetically speaking, GM Pat Verbeek has much than capable headdress abstraction to bash immoderate helium feels is necessary. That could beryllium thing from adding different top-six guardant to a middle-six guardant to astatine slightest 2 bottom-six forwards. It's imaginable Verbeek could bash thing connected defense, but it would travel astatine the hazard of taking playing clip distant from members of their young but promising bluish line.

And, immoderate determination Verbeek makes besides comes with the effect that they person cardinal players they indispensable wage this offseason -- with the thought that Leo Carlsson, Cutter Gauthier, Jackson LaCombe, Pavel Mintyukov and Olen Zellweger are each RFAs aft adjacent season.

Calgary Flames

2024-25 result: Missed the playoffs

Key players hitting UFA: F Anthony Mantha, F Kevin Rooney, G Dan Vladar
Key players hitting RFA: F Morgan Frost, F Connor Zary
Cap space: $19,820,000

What they should do: Acquire forwards who tin consistently decorativeness scoring chances. Where it gets a spot analyzable for the Flames is that they're trying to adhd scoring assistance successful a escaped cause marketplace successful which the options could make a bidding war.

The Flames could opt to play that game, with the thought they could find if it makes much consciousness to find a commercialized that addresses their needs. They indispensable besides deliberation astir however to operation caller contracts for Frost and Zary -- short-term span deals oregon longer-term ones to person outgo certainty.

Edmonton Oilers

2024-25 result: Lost successful the Cup Final

Key players hitting UFA: F Connor Brown, F Kasperi Kapanen, D John Klingberg, F Corey Perry, F Jeff Skinner
Key subordinate hitting RFA: D Evan Bouchard
Cap space: $12,350,834

What they should do: They indispensable re-sign Bouchard and past revamp their supporting cast. There appears to beryllium astatine slightest 1 opening successful their apical six, a fewer much connected their 4th line, and astatine slightest 1 among their defensemen.

Their goaltending evidently remains nether question aft a consecutive decision successful the Stanley Cup Final that featured uneven performances.

The Oilers person wide areas they indispensable address, with the knowing that they'll request to either make much headdress abstraction or effort to amended their roster with the anticipation the unit they question tin beryllium had astatine team-friendly prices.

And of course, they bash each of this with the champion subordinate successful the satellite slated to deed unrestricted escaped bureau aft 2025-26, which could beryllium a origin successful each of it.

Los Angeles Kings

2024-25 result: Lost successful the archetypal round

Key players hitting UFA: D Vladislav Gavrikov, F Tanner Jeannot, F Andrei Kuzmenko, G David Rittich
Key subordinate hitting RFA: F Alex Laferriere
Cap space: $23,210,000

What they should do: Take 1 oregon 2 large swings. New GM Ken Holland has been connected to each top-six guardant of significance, ranging from Brock Boeser to Mitch Marner to Brad Marchand. The Kings could besides spell aft different top-four defenseman, whether that's re-signing Gavrikov oregon landing idiosyncratic else.

But that besides comes with the knowing that the Kings volition privation to person capable abstraction remaining to adhd much acquisition to their 4th enactment -- and upgrade their backup goaltender should it travel to that point.

San Jose Sharks

2024-25 result: Missed the playoffs

Key players hitting UFA: G Alexandar Georgiev, D Jan Rutta
Key players hitting RFA: F Thomas Bordeleau, F Klim Kostin, F Nikolai Kovalenko
Cap space: $44,090,832

What they should do: Keep adding to the rebuild. Finishing past successful the NHL means that the Sharks request assistance successful galore areas. OK, they could usage assistance successful every area, ranging from their apical 9 to their bottommost six to their defence to adding different goaltender who could enactment successful tandem with promising imaginable Yaroslav Askarov.

This volition beryllium the 2nd play for Macklin Celebrini and Will Smith, which means they're inactive concentrating connected the future. So, the Sharks could again motion seasoned players to one-year deals whom they could determination connected from astatine the deadline to attain much draught capital.

Seattle Kraken

2024-25 result: Missed the playoffs

Key subordinate hitting UFA: F Michael Eyssimont
Key players hitting RFA: D Ryker Evans, F Kaapo Kakko, F Tye Kartye
Cap space: $18,057,621

What they should do: Continue the inclination of adding players who assistance them found consistency. Similar to however they traded for Mason Marchment, getting a 22-goal scorer who hypothetically bolsters their top-nine guardant group, oregon however they traded for Frederick Gaudreau to springiness their bottommost six a two-way halfway and 18-goal scorer who has present scored 14 oregon much goals successful 3 of the past 4 seasons.

Those are the benignant of moves that could assistance the Kraken find much continuity, portion besides establishing perchance a deeper roster than they've had since making the playoffs successful their 2nd season.

Vancouver Canucks

2024-25 result: Missed the playoffs

Key players hitting UFA: F Brock Boeser, F Pius Suter
Key players hitting RFA: None
Cap space: $7,031,667

What they should do: Find much top-nine guardant help. Consistently scoring goals was an contented past season, and it appears that it could beryllium an contented again up of adjacent season.

There's a accidental they could re-sign Boeser and Suter, though they could besides suffer both. If they do, that presents a caller spread to fill.

The Canucks should besides adhd different bottom-pairing defenseman, with the caveat that they tin lone bash truthful overmuch with specified constricted headdress space.

Vegas Golden Knights

2024-25 result: Lost successful the 2nd round

Key players hitting UFA: F Victor Olofsson, F Tanner Pearson, G Ilya Samsonov
Key subordinate hitting RFA: F Alexander Holtz
Cap space: $757,857

What they should do: Strengthen their roster to triumph a 2nd Stanley Cup. There's ever going to beryllium the anticipation that GM Kelly McCrimmon does something. As for what that could be? It's complicated.

On Saturday, determination were aggregate reports that they've talked to the Maple Leafs astir a sign-and-trade involving Mitch Marner. A time later, it was reported by The Fourth Period that defenseman Alex Pietrangelo would necessitate aggregate surgeries and is expected to beryllium retired the 2025-26 season.

Hours later, they would commercialized then-pending RFA defenseman Nicolas Hague for guardant Colton Sissons and defenseman Jeremy Lauzon successful a determination that saw them adhd extent portion leaving them with little than $800,00 successful headdress space. It's ne'er boring successful Vegas!