Top remaining NHL free agents: The best 2025 UFAs still on the board

Matt Larkin
Jul 25, 2025, 17:30 EDTUpdated: Jul 25, 2025, 17:40 EDT
Max Pacioretty
Credit: May 7, 2025; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Maple Leafs left wing Max Pacioretty (67) celebrates after scoring a goal against the Florida Panthers during the first period in game two of the second round of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Scotiabank Arena. Mandatory Credit: Nick Turchiaro-Imagn Images

Every year, we’re told NHL free agency begins at noon ET on July 1, yet, miraculously, signings pour in by the dozen at breakneck speed when that moment arrives. That was the case July 1, with 117 contracts signed, totalling $666,480,000 as of 8:00 p.m. ET. Teams were not afraid to make big splashes with the salary cap spiking to from $88 million to $95.5 million for 2025-26 – whether that meant retaining their pending UFAs before the market opened or spending wildly on new ones.

Who are the top remaining unrestricted free agents? Speedy Jack Roslovic is the most prominent forward left on the board, while blueliner Matt Grzelcyk, coming off a sneaky 40-point season, is the top defenseman available. There’s still some value out there. Max Pacioretty’s veteran savvy and physicality proved valuable during the 2025 Stanley Cup playoffs, whereas Victor Olofsson’s shot could help a team’s second power-play unit.

Here’s a look at the board, with players’ ranks in my Top 75 included along with contract projections from AFP Analytics. I’ve added a few more UFAs of note, as well.

RankPlayerPosAgeCap HitGPGPTSAFP Project
9Jack RoslovicRW28$2.8M8122393 x $4.1M
15Matt GrzelcykLD31$2.8M821403 x $3.8M
16Max PaciorettyLW36$1.5M375131 x $921K
21Victor OlofssonRW29$1.1M5615293 x $3.4M
37James ReimerG37$1M243.040.8961 x $ 1.14M
38Luke KuninRW27$2.75M7511182 x $1.78M
39Ilya SamsonovG28$1.8M292.820.8911 x $2M
46Evgeny KuznetsovC33N/A––––––N/A
50Joel KivirantaLW29$775K7916232 x $1.09M
52Luke GlendeningC36$800K77471 x $775K
55Alexandar GeorgievG29$3.4M493.710.8751 x $1.96M
58Craig SmithRW35$1M599181 x $968K
60Robby FabbriLW29$4M448161 x $992K
63Klim KostinLW26$2M35171 x $775K
64Jakub LaukoLW25$788K565111 x $1.17M
65Jan RuttaD34$2.75M54392 x $1.52M
66TJ BrodieD35$3.75M54210N/A
70Jon MerrillD33$1.2M70261 x $1.28M
71Nathan BastianRW27$1.35M594101 x $1.32M
73Conor ShearyRW33$2M500N/A
Brendan SmithD36$1M3216N/A
Noah GregorLW26$850K52471 X $775K
Oliver KylingtonD28$1.05M19151 X $775K
Brett LeasonRW26$1.05M625171 x $1.22M

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