2025 NHL Free Agency: Top UFAs, latest rumours and predictions
Free agency in the NHL is less than a day away and there’s no shortage of rumours and buzz surrounding the biggest UFAs like Mitch Marner, Nikolaj Ehlers and Brad Marchand.
We’ve done the dirty work for you by digging into all the rumours around the NHL and separating what we believe to be the most likely scenarios come 12 p.m. ET on Tuesday.
Let’s dive right in.
Mitch Marner
The free agency rumours begin with Mitch Marner. One thing we know for sure, is Marner won’t be back in Toronto next season. That has led to a lot of speculation, but it’s looking more and more like Vegas is Marner’s next destination.
There’s speculation defenceman Alex Pietrangelo will go on LTIR and miss most or all of next season and there’s also a belief the Golden Knights could shop William Karlsson and/or Tomas Hertl. Those moves would all free up the cap space needed to give Marner a contract.
There’s also been word that Toronto will file a tampering complaint against Vegas if the teams don’t work out a sign-and-trade for Marner, so this deal could happen before free agency even begins. With a full no trade clause, Marner would have to agree to a sign-and-trade, but all indications point to him wanting to join the Knights.
Prediction: Marner signs with the Vegas Golden Knights
Nikolaj Ehlers
Nikolaj Ehlers has reportedly told the Jets he will test free agency, but unlike Marner, there’s a belief he will still listen to Winnipeg’s offer. Carolina, Buffalo, Washington, Boston and Columbus all need scoring wingers and they can afford to offer more money than Winnipeg, so they’ll be the Jets’ biggest competition.
If Marner does land in Vegas through a sign-and-trade it immediately makes Ehlers the biggest fish in free agency. A five-time 25-goal scorer in the NHL, Ehlers will be due for a significant raise from his $6 million AAV. With extensions upcoming for Gabe Villardi (RFA 2025), Dylan Samberg (RFA 2025), Kyle Connor (UFA 2026) and captain Adam Lowry (UFA 2026), Winnipeg will have a tough time making the money work for Ehlers.
Carolina seems to make the most sense for Ehlers. The Hurricanes are going after Marner, but he’s already nixed a trade there, so why would he sign in the off-season? Carolina will pivot to Ehlers and offer him more money than anyone else while providing him a contending team to play for.
Prediction: Ehlers signs with the Carolina Hurricanes
Brad Marchand
With 10 goals in the playoffs, including six in the Stanley Cup Final alone, Brad Marchand will go down as one of the best trade deadline acquisitions ever, whether he re-signs with Florida or not. Term is reportedly more important for the 37-year-old, which would be beneficial for the cash-strapped Panthers, who could spread the money out for Marchand and lower his AAV.
While Marchand was a perfect fit in Florida and I believe he would be willing to re-sign there, familiar territory might be calling his name even stronger. There is a belief the door isn’t shut on Marchand returning to Boston. The former Bruins captain tried hard to make a deal work before he was traded and his performance in the playoffs may have the B’s brass changing their mind on moving on from Marchand.
Prediction: Marchand signs with the Boston Bruins
Brock Boeser
Brock Boeser and the Vancouver Canucks have held contract talks over the last calendar year, but it’s increasingly clearer the two sides are headed for a split. The Hurricanes were reportedly interested in Boeser at the trade deadline, although he’ll likely be a third option if Carolina misses on Marner and Ehlers.
Other teams that have emerged as contenders for Boeser in recent weeks include Ottawa, L.A., San Jose, Minnesota, Tampa Bay, Anaheim, Buffalo, Nashville, Detroit, Boston and Toronto. It’s almost easier to list the teams that wouldn’t interested in Boeser, a 28-year-old winger one year removed from a 40-goal season.
By all accounts, Boeser is comfortable continuing to play in a Canadian market, so why not go to an Original Six team and sign in Toronto? The Leafs would esssentially be swapping a Marner contract for a Boeser contract that would be millions of dollars cheaper on the AAV. If Toronto really is serious about “changing the DNA of the team”, a tough power forward like Boeser would go a long way to realizing that goal.
Prediction: Boeser signs with the Toronto Maple Leafs
