The top 10 remaining NHL free agents in the offseason in 2025 – Hockey Writer – Free agent

NHL free agent Frenzy comes and goes. A weak free agent class is less entertaining than it has been in the past few years, but most top players have signed for the 2025-26 season. Still, some interesting UFAs are available. They won’t move the needle too much, but can help improve the depth of the team. Here are the 10 best UFAs left in the 2025 NHL free agent course.

10. Jon Merrill, defenseman

Jon Merrill has only 6 points in 70 games last season, so it looks like he doesn’t have too many tanks left, but that’s not necessarily true. He may not offer much offense, but it was never his game. He has always been a solid bottom guard and has performed well in the defensive part of the game.

Merrill Lynch’s uniform defense deserves more than 3.5 alternative goals (XGAR) last season, ranking fifth among all wild skaters in Minnesota. He still defended the haste well, and his transition was at least average. He should be super cheap, especially the longer he stays unsigned, it should be a depth of quality for a team that is still seeking defensive help.

9. Kevin Labanc, right wing

Kevin Labanc has played only 34 games this season due to injury, but his impact on limited roles is impressive. His total XGAR is 2.7, ranking first half for the Columbus Blue Jacket skater and one of the team’s most effective five-point breakers, with an average of 1.99 points per 60 points in limited ice time.

Related: 10 Worst Contracts Signed by NHL Free agents in 2025

Labanc only locked in with a free agent team last offseason until he accepted the New Jersey Devils’ PTO. Since he has only played 34 games in 2024-25, he may have to go this route again, but for a team that isn’t confident about their score on a six-pointer, he could be a good low-risk, advanced pickup.

8. Joel Kiviranta, left wing

Joel Kiviranta totaled 16 goals last season, despite his career-high 19%. There may be a return, but he is still a solid two-way bottom of six wingers. Last season, he had a total XGAR of 7.5, ranking seventh among Colorado Avalanche Skaters.

Part of the reason for the 7.5 Xgar is because he has a high shooting percentage, but if you need six wingers at the bottom, you’ll do worse. Kiviranta should have a cheap one-year contract, and despite being only 5-foot-11, 185 pounds, he plays bigger than his size and is good.

7. Nikolai Kovalenko, right wing

The 2024-25 season is Nikolai Kovalenko’s first game on the North American ice. He spent that goal between the Colorado Avalanche and the San Jose Sharks, totaling 20 points in 59 games and 28 points in 82 games. Perhaps somewhat surprising is that the Sharks didn’t make him a qualified offer, making him an unrestricted free agent.

Kovalenko has a total XGAR total this season of 2.9, and although he doesn’t have a great skill, he looks like an NHL caliber striker. He is only 25 years old, so I want him to sign with someone if he doesn’t choose to return to KHL. Like Labanc, he may have to take the PTO route, but he can help some teams with a minimum of six.

6. Michael Carcone, left/right wing

Michael Carcone retreated from his 21 goals in 2023-24, with only seven goals in total last season, but many of his basic metrics are excellent. He is the third-level five-on-five-remember scorer for the Utah Mammoth, with an average of 1.84 points per 60 minutes, and his expected goal share (xg%) is slightly above 52%.

Even though Carcone’s goal score fell, he still produced at 30 points. His figure is his size (5-foot-9, 185 lbs), but here is a great hockey player. His career is 14.3% of the shooter, so I hope to return to the positive goals next season. He could be a huge value for any team that still wants to get the job done in free agency.

5. MaxPacioretty, left/right wing

Max Pacioretty may not be his top player, but he still seems to be a quality NHLER. He scored 13 points in 37 games for the Toronto Maple Leafs, which was 29 points in 82 games. He scored a total of 70 shots last season and he can still make shots, but he has been a problem for him over the past two years.

Pacioretty shot just 7.1% from the field last season and shot 4.2% from the field in 2023-24, so maybe his last step has fallen, but he still generates high chances with a sublime edit. Last season, he averaged 4.44 heights per 60 times, ranking fourth among all Toronto Maple Leaf Skaters. One must think that if he continues to generate quality opportunities, his shooting luck will get better.

4. Defense player Matt Grzelcyk

For Matt Grzelcyk, that’s a little weird. He scored 40 points, 39 of which were assists, and most of his scores were in power games. In fact, he struggled with average strength both offense and defense, but excelled in power play and free throw kills.

In confrontation with Grzelcyk, he is a short defensive player (5-foot-10, 180 pounds), and as we have seen recently, the trend for smaller defensive players is the past. Grzelcyk defended the haste, but he did struggle with the pretrial, without skating to make up for the short stature. Still, he scored 40 points in total so he could play. Some teams will take this opportunity to improve their depth.

3. Jeff Skinner, right wing

Jeff Skinner’s year of service with the Edmonton Oilers was less than hopeful. He scored 16 goals and 29 points in 72 games, but it’s not true that he doesn’t have some good hockey. He is the third-tier five-on-five-point breaker for the Oilers, with an average of 1.74 points per 60 minutes, and many of his shooting metrics are divided into good ones.

Is Skinner still the top six wingers? Maybe not, but if he still has 20 goals upside, it won’t shock me. This summer, there are many teams looking for the first six upgrades, but the supply doesn’t meet demand. If your favorite team stands out in the top six/six-squad promotion, Skinner could be a smart move to a cheap one-year contract.

2. Victor Olofsson, left/right wing

Victor Olofsson played only 56 games last season, but his game has a lot to like. With 15 goals and 29 points, he scored 22 goals and 43 points in 82 games, and his basic indicators are great. He ended with a total XGAR of 9.4, ranking seventh among all Vegas Golden Knights Skaters:

Olofson is not the fastest skater, but his chances are good and converts his chances. He should have a cheap one-year contract and will give the team a six-point scoring upgrade and provide some value to one of their two powerful units. He can be said to be the best scorer left in free agents this year.

1. Jack Roslovic, Center/Right Wing

There seems to be smoke around Jack Roslovic and Toronto Maple Leafs. We’ll see what’s going on there, but I understand Maple Leaf’s interest. Roslovic scored 22 goals and 39 points last season and could play on the right wing or center. He is a good skater and has been a six-time producer for the past three seasons, with an average of 16 goals and 43 points per 82 games in that game.

I assume Roslovic’s holding is because he is waiting for the maple leaf, but other teams should be interested in him. He is the best UFA left on the market, and signatures shouldn’t be too expensive, probably about $3 million in a year’s deal.

Some worthwhile free agents are still available

Like free agents, there are always UFAs that have long been unsigned in the summer, but are of great value. Despite the relatively weak class, this year is no different, so the team still has some opportunities to improve their roster with free agents.

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