Top 5 Remaining NHL Free Agents & Potential Landing Spots

The NHL free agent frenzy has come and gone, but plenty of teams still have a ton of cap room, and there are still several players deserving of contracts on the open market.

Let’s take a look at the top five remaining NHL free agents as of July 9, 2025.

Jack Roslovic

Jack Roslovic signed a one-year deal with the Carolina Hurricanes last summer and is back on the open market this offseason. In fact, one week after free agency opened, Roslovic might just be the top remaining forward on the market.

Roslovic can play either center or wing as a right-shot forward. He had 22 goals and 17 points for 39 points in 81 games with the Hurricanes last season, adding four points in nine postseason games.

That seems to be around the player that Roslovic is at this point: a guy that can give you around 40 points a year while filling out your middle six.

Ideally used in a bottom-six role, Roslovic can move up the lineup in a pinch without hurting you too much.

Teams Linked: Toronto Maple Leafs, Washington Capitals, Buffalo Sabres, San Jose Sharks

Matt Grzelcyk

We have another player coming off a one-year deal with defenseman Matt Grzelcyk. The veteran blueliner had 40 points and was a minus-6 in 82 games with the Pittsburgh Penguins last season after spending the first eight years of his career in Boston.

Grzelcyk had primarily been used in a second-line role in Boston, averaging 18:03 per night during his 445 games with the Bruins. However, he played a career-high 20:37 per game for a Penguins team that is starting to tear things down under Kyle Dubas.

The 31-year-old left-shot defenseman may be getting overlooked due to his size (5’10”, 180 lb), but he racked up a career-high 39 assists last season, including 15 on the power play.

Grzelcyk may interest some teams who are looking for a bottom-four defenseman who can help out on the man advantage. Perhaps he could reunite with his hometown Bruins.

Teams Linked: Winnipeg Jets, Chicago Blackhawks, Boston Bruins

Victor Olofsson

Victor Olofsson is another player who is coming off a one-year deal, this one with the Vegas Golden Knights. Olofsson had a chance to prove himself in Vegas with injuries in the top six, but dealt with injuries himself that limited him to 56 games.

Olofsson put up 29 points (15 goals, 14 assists) in Vegas and 4 points (2 goals, 2 assists) in the postseason.

The Swedish winger, who turns 30 on July 18, has made a living thanks to his shot. He has a 13.5% shooting clip in his career and had three 20-goal seasons in 2019-20, 2021-22, and 2022-23 in Buffalo.

Olofsson could help a team looking to add an offensive winger to their middle-six and power play.

Teams Linked: Toronto Maple Leafs, San Jose Sharks, Chicago Blackhawks

Jeff Skinner

Jeff Skinner finally tasted playoff hockey last year with the Edmonton Oilers and even got into three playoff games. However, at 33 years old, Skinner is looking to have a bounce-back season.

Skinner scored just 16 goals in 72 games with the Oilers, which is a bit surprising. He never really found a home in Edmonton’s lineup despite putting up 24, 35, and 33 goals in his final three seasons in Buffalo.

It’s fitting that Olofsson and Skinner are both former Sabres, because they’ll likely have similar suitors as scoring wingers that don’t offer a ton much else.

Teams Linked: Toronto Maple Leafs, Chicago Blackhawks, Carolina Hurricanes

Ilya Samsonov

Goaltenders went off the market pretty quickly come noon on July 1, leaving Ilya Samsonov as one of the top options available.

The Russian netminder started his NHL career in Washington in a backup role and showed some flashes in his first season in Toronto before his save percentage fell off a cliff.

Samsonov had a .891 SV% and 2.82 GAA last season with Vegas after posting an .890 SV% and 3.13 GAA the previous season in Toronto.

There aren’t a ton of teams still looking for a backup goalie, so Samsonov might have to wait for an injury or take a chance to compete for a role in training camp.

Teams Linked: Edmonton Oilers, Chicago Blackhawks, Ottawa Senators