10 contract-year players who’ve upped their stock in 2024-25 postseason
Never underestimate the power of recency bias in free agency. A player’s performance in the Stanley Cup playoffs represents the final impression he can leave on a season, and excelling at that time of year trumps anything else he can accomplish. That’s why the likes of Sam Reinhart, Brandon Montour and Oliver Ekman-Larsson, among others, earned pretty pennies on their new deals after lifting the Stanley Cup last year.
Which pending UFAs and RFAs have increased their values with their play during the 2025 playoffs? Here are 10 names to consider, listed alphabetically.
First, a few disclaimers:
(a) I’m not simply listing any player on a contract year having a good playoff run. I’m looking specifically for players who impacted the perception of their values for the better this spring.
(b) Only players who reached Round 2 of the playoffs and beyond qualify, as I wanted a decent sample size to work with.
Anthony Beauvillier, RW, Washington Capitals (UFA)
Reason: Better playoff performer than regular-season performer
Beauvillier cost the Capitals a second-round pick when they acquired him at the Trade Deadline, and he justified that price when he worked his way onto Washington’s top line alongside Dylan Strome and Alex Ovechkin, finishing the postseason there. Beauvillier quietly finished as the Caps’ third-leading playoff scorer, compiling six points in 10 games while dishing out 31 hits. In his regular-season career, he averages 19 goals and 38 points per 82 games, whereas it jumps to 23 goals and 47 points per 82 games in the playoffs. Beauvillier has expressed interest in remaining with the Caps. He’s earned a raise over the one-year, $1.25 million deal he signed last summer – in AAV and perhaps term, too.
Sam Bennett, C, Florida Panthers (UFA)
Reason: All-out playoff beast mode
We can only say so many things about the Stanley Cup playoff goals leader. Bennett has been a monster in the postseason, crashing the net with aplomb and asserting himself physically. Early this week, I published a deep-dive on what to expect for his next contract given the thin center market and rising cap. I’ll let it do the talking.
Evan Bouchard, D, Edmonton Oilers (RFA)
Reason: Historical greatness on defense
His haters will comb the internet for every possible angle showing anything less than 100 percent exertion on every backcheck. It doesn’t matter at this point. Only Bobby Orr averages more points per game in the playoffs for his career than Bouchard among D-men. He has been a dominant play driver in the Oilers’ machine and brings a consistently threatening slapshot to keep defenses from focusing all their attention on Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl during Edmonton power plays. The AAV on Bouchard’s next deal starts with a 9 at minimum, right? Even $10 million is plausible now. Bouchard bet on himself signing a two-year, $7.8 million bridge contract two years ago and will reap the rewards now. He has passed the likes of Zdeno Chara, Doug Harvey and Rob Blake on the all-time defenseman playoff scoring leaderboard this spring. Bouchard is 25. Let that sink in.
Aaron Ekblad, D, Florida Panthers (UFA)
Reason: Showing he’s still a top-pair defenseman
Ekblad has done well for himself already, wrapping up an eight-year contract at a $7.5 million AAV. Given his struggles to stay healthy, it felt a couple years ago like he was trending down on his next deal and that he’d never quite become the Norris Trophy level blueliner he was expected to as the 2014 Draft’s No. 1 overall pick. It’s true that Ekblad isn’t going to be a Hall of Famer in the end, but he’s played more than 23 minutes a night on Florida’s top pair this spring, he’s shown much better offensive flair than he did a year ago, and the Panthers control 57.04 percent of the 5-on-5 scoring chances when he’s on the ice with Gustav Forsling this postseason. Given Ekblad brings size, mobility and a righthanded shot, he may actually command a raise over his current AAV. Then again, he’s expressed a desire to remain a Panther for life, and the no-state-income-tax benefit should allow them to retain him at a below-market number that satisfies both sides if they decide they still want him.
Mikael Granlund, LW, Dallas Stars (UFA)
Reason: Versatility, ability to play on top line
It felt like Granlund peaked as a first-line forward during his Minnesota Wild years. He then settled in as a journeyman utility piece, playing in all situations and bouncing all up and down teams’ depth charts. He was a Nashville Predator, a Pittsburgh Penguin, a San Jose Shark and hadn’t played postseason hockey in three years before the Stars added him to their deep team this winter. It felt like he’d be a middle-six forward and secondary power-play unit guy…but he recaptured his magic when placed on an all-Finn line with Roope Hintz and Mikko Rantanen. During the postseason, Granlund gave Dallas a life with five goals and 10 points in 18 games. Given how smooth the fit was, and that Granlund can be deployed at all three forward positions and on both special teams, it’s no wonder Dallas reportedly wants to re-sign him.
Matthew Knies, LW, Toronto Maple Leafs (RFA)
Reason: Breakout to reveal higher ceiling than anticipated
Knies already busted out during the regular-season as a net-front monster, burying 29 goals and flashing the upside to become an all-star power forward. But he was even more of a difference maker during Toronto’s two playoff series this spring, showing not just physicality in front of the net but also legitimate breakaway speed. Knies is a lock to earn a major raise; it’s merely a matter of whether the next contract is a bridge deal or a long-term commitment. Either way, with Mitch Marner all but gone, Knies is now part of the Leafs’ core group going forward.
Brad Marchand, LW, Florida Panthers (UFA)
Reason: Proving he’s far from washed at 37
Marchand was an afterthought during the 4 Nations Face-Off, seemingly struggling to keep up with the pace of play. He was injured on a head-first crash into the boards shortly after the tournament, his trade value seemingly plummeted, and the Panthers bought low, acquiring the future Hall of Famer for just a second-round pick. He seemingly rewound his body clock years once the postseason started. He has formed a dominant matchup nightmare of a third line with Anton Lundell and Eetu Luostarinen. They’ve outscored opponents 12-2 at 5-on-5 this postseason. Marchand has an outstanding 18 points in 20 games, including the overtime winner in Game 2 of the Final.
Max Pacioretty, LW, Toronto Maple Leafs (UFA)
Reason: Looking relatively healthy and showing a dawg factor
Pacioretty battled injuries during the regular season but was healthy enough to suit up down the stretch; the Leafs, red hot in April, simply didn’t have a spot for him in their lineup by the start of the playoffs. But he eventually drew in for Nick Robertson partway through Toronto’s series against the Ottawa Senators and began to make a mark. Pacioretty played the most physical hockey of his career, throwing a staggering 61 hits in 11 games, and he chipped in three goals and eight points, including the series clincher vs. Ottawa in Round 1. Now 36 and winding down a productive career, he admitted after the season the time away from his family was difficult in 2024-25, but he showed he still has some savvy and scoring touch left in him, and he’s a candidate to re-up with the Leafs. It’s not so much that Pacioretty has earned himself a bigger contract, but he’s shown he deserves another contract if he wants to keep playing.
Corey Perry, RW, Edmonton Oilers (UFA)
Reason: Proving he has another year left in him
The Worm is 40 but has no plans to retire. He buried 19 goals in the regular season and has played an important part for the Oilers in reaching what is now his fifth Cup Final appearance in the past six seasons, with nine goals and a playoff-best five on the power play. He’ll never recapture his Hart Trophy form of 2010-11, but he’s shown he can still keep up with elite players, which has been extremely important with Zach Hyman suffering a season-ending injury.
Nate Schmidt, D, Florida Panthers (UFA)
Reason: Showing his mobility makes him a sneaky-good depth defenseman
A key component of the Panthers’ 2025 run: the consistent lifts provided by their depth defensemen. Schmidt has three goals and 12 points, including two game-winners, across 20 games this spring. He skates better than your average third-pair blueliner. Only seven pairs league-wide during these playoffs (min. 50 mins played together) have an expected goal share north of 60 percent; Schmidt and Dmitry Kulikov are one of them. After the Jets bought out the final year of Schmidt’s previous deal, he’s shown he can still be quite a valuable player in a relatively sheltered role.
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