NHL free-agent targets: One player each team should sign this offseason

There are simply over six weeks till NHL free company opens on July 1, and groups might be trying to fill holes on their rosters.

Although the free-agent class is brief on large names, there are many high quality gamers eligible to hit the open market — lots of whom might land stunning contracts, with NHL groups poised to spend loads of cash in a rising-cap setting.

This week, The Athletic requested its NHL workers to play free company matchmaker and record one pending UFA each team should goal this summer season.

Chris Johnston’s early NHL free agent big board was used as a place to begin, however writers have been free to transcend that record for his or her picks.

Here’s what they stated.

Anaheim Ducks

Jacob Trouba, RHD (Anaheim Ducks)

It could possibly be both Trouba or John Carlson, as each veterans are pending UFAs. Carlson brings pure puck motion and pure offensive instincts from the blue line. The Ducks additionally surrendered their 2026 first-round decide to get him, so a two-year extension for the 36-year-old might work. Trouba, 32, is youthful and had a renaissance season whereas serving as a robust companion to rising star Jackson LaCombe. Either means, they should hold onto one among their big-minute righties. — Eric Stephens

Boston Bruins

Rasmus Andersson, RHD (Vegas Golden Knights)

The Bruins need assistance on protection. They actually need assistance on the appropriate aspect. They tried to commerce for Andersson when he was with the Calgary Flames. If they go the UFA route, they gained’t have to surrender any property to assault a place of determined want. — Fluto Shinzawa

Buffalo Sabres

Alex Tuch, RW (Buffalo Sabres)

The Sabres’ prime precedence should be holding their big-ticket free agent in Buffalo. Tuch has been an necessary chief for the Sabres and has confirmed to be a playoff performer. If he’s keen to take an affordable contract (beneath $10 million AAV), the Sabres should maintain him round. — Matthew Fairburn

Calgary Flames

No one

The Flames are nonetheless rebuilding, so that they’re in all probability higher off not splashing the money this summer season. Of course, they’ll look into including veterans who may help gamers alongside. Or even a short-term, prove-it deal to a player who may help their youth motion alongside. But no must overdo it in free company once more this season. — Julian McKenzie

Carolina Hurricanes

Frederik Andersen, G (Carolina Hurricanes)

The Hurricanes have already got two NHL goalies — Brandon Bussi and Pyotr Kochetkov — signed for subsequent season, simply not the one who has gained eight straight video games to start out the 2026 playoffs. Andersen’s postseason efficiency has to this point silenced his critics, and if he continues to play wherever near this stage, Carolina will certainly need him again in 2026-27. Andersen, who will flip 37 in October, had a $2.75 million cap hit this season, although there are bonuses he should set off this postseason. — Cory Lavalette

Chicago Blackhawks

Mario Ferraro, LHD (San Jose Sharks)

The Blackhawks might use a veteran defenseman to carry some stability to their younger group. They in all probability have a bit extra flexibility on the left aspect than the appropriate, so somebody reminiscent of Ferraro might make sense. From his defensive play to his toughness to his puck-moving potential, he might slot in nicely with what Chicago already has. The principal query is whether or not the Blackhawks could be keen to sign him to a long-term deal. — Scott Powers

Colorado Avalanche

Jaden Schwartz, LW (Seattle Kraken)

The reply right here might be not one of the above, however for the sake of writing one thing extra fascinating, Jaden Schwartz could be a unbelievable addition to Colorado’s already sturdy backside six. His offense has dried up a bit, however his motor and tempo are nonetheless there. — Jesse Granger

Columbus Blue Jackets

Alex Tuch, RW (Buffalo Sabres)

The Blue Jackets had two gamers on CJ’s record earlier than Coyle’s extension. Now they solely have Marchment, however might have one other in Boone Jenner. They may maintain both or each, but when even one will get away, GM Don Waddell should exchange him. Tuch, who has scored 30-plus objectives in three of the final 4 seasons, would give the Blue Jackets a “finishing” enhance to assist Kirill Marchenko and Adam Fantilli carry the offensive load. He might additionally assist create one thing in Columbus that’s lengthy been lacking: a legit energy play. — Aaron Portzline

Dallas Stars

John Carlson, RHD (Anaheim Ducks)

The reality is, the Stars’ focus is to re-sign RFA Jason Robertson, who might command north of $12 million a season. That doesn’t go away a lot room for an enormous free-agent splash, and GM Jim Nill already stated he wouldn’t “blow it up” after a disappointing first-round loss. So the true reply right here is perhaps “none of the above.” Still, a right-shot defenseman or a top-six winger could be supreme. It virtually definitely gained’t occur, however Thomas Harley alongside Carlson on the second pair could possibly be numerous enjoyable. — Mark Lazerus

Detroit Red Wings

Bobby McMann, LW/RW (Seattle Kraken)

Really, many of the prime forwards are names the Red Wings should contemplate: Tuch, Mason Marchment and even Evgeni Malkin would all assist Detroit. I picked McMann, although, due to his energy/pace combo on the left wing, which might actually swimsuit Dylan Larkin and Lucas Raymond as a working mate. McMann will certainly be on the lookout for an enormous payday, however he’ll be beneath Tuch’s stratosphere and doubtless has extra pure offense than Marchment. Any of the above would match. — Max Bultman

Edmonton Oilers

Alex Tuch, RW (Buffalo Sabres)

The Oilers want a veteran aim scorer with dimension on the wing. Tuch scored 33 objectives in 2025-26 and is the very best of this kind out there. Tuch is 30 and should have a number of seasons of excellent manufacturing forward of him. If Tuch performs on a line with Connor McDavid or Leon Draisaitl as his heart, a 40-goal season could be attainable. The team would wish to dump a veteran with vital cap to make the cash work, however Tuch could be definitely worth the funding. — Allan Mitchell

Florida Panthers

Stuart Skinner, G (Pittsburgh Penguins)

Yes, the Panthers beat him within the Cup Final twice earlier than he bought traded to the Penguins. With Florida needing two netminders and an growing older Sergei Bobrovsky asking for the moon, going with a less expensive tandem makes numerous sense. (Just have a look at the groups within the playoffs proper now.) Skinner will possible look higher behind Florida’s protection. — James Mirtle

Los Angeles Kings

Bobby McMann, LW/RW (Seattle Kraken)

The Kings want facilities, and the already restricted UFA market additional dried up with Coyle re-signing in Columbus. It’s arduous to see Malkin and Pittsburgh parting methods, however they will nonetheless use scoring up entrance. McMann, 29, will definitely look to money in on a career-best 29-goal season between Toronto and Seattle. He’s a late bloomer who skates with goal, goes arduous to the online and has proven some final touch the final two seasons. If the worth isn’t exorbitant, he’s price a glance. — Eric Stephens

Evgeni Malkin, who turns 40 in July, faces an unsure future in free company. (Steph Chambers / Getty Images)

Minnesota Wild

Evgeni Malkin, C/RW (Pittsburgh Penguins)

If Malkin is keen to go away Pittsburgh and the Wild aren’t in a position to commerce for a big-fish heart, no less than the long run Hall of Famer would give them somebody with a pulse at their greatest place of want. As we noticed of their playoff sequence in opposition to Colorado, with Joel Eriksson Ek out, the Wild’s drawback up the center killed them. Plus, Malkin can nonetheless rating and is Kirill Kaprizov’s exercise buddy. — Michael Russo

Montreal Canadiens

Jacob Trouba, RHD (Anaheim Ducks)

This decide is extra in idea than in apply, as a result of the Canadiens tried arduous on the commerce deadline so as to add a bodily, right-shot defenseman. With the unsure standing of prospect David Reinbacher and the continued right-left imbalance on their blue line, a player reminiscent of Trouba on a short-to-medium-term contract could be useful. Trouba himself is unlikely to sign with Montreal, however he represents a profile they should be after. — Arpon Basu

Nashville Predators

Logan Stanley, LHD (Buffalo Sabres)

The Preds (with a GM nonetheless to be named later) should tread calmly in free company, and never simply because it’s a tough class. It’s time for extra of a more in-depth have a look at a few of the younger guys. But some dimension and nastiness on the blue line, with a man who can develop into the subsequent model of the Preds, doesn’t sound too dangerous. — Joseph Rexrode

Viktor Arvidsson might make sense for a couple of groups if the worth is true. (Maddie Meyer / Getty Images)

New Jersey Devils

Viktor Arvidsson, RW/LW (Boston Bruins)

The Devils want to enhance their ahead depth, and Arvidsson is the kind of player who might match nicely. He may command greater than New Jersey is keen to supply, however the Devils will possible be taking a look at forwards to spherical out their group, and Arvidsson suits the invoice. — Peter Baugh

New York Islanders

Viktor Arvidsson, RW/LW (Boston Bruins)

The Islanders shouldn’t be large spenders in free company. The focus should be on growing their very own expertise and on the lookout for different up-and-comers on the commerce market. It wouldn’t harm to spice up the team’s middle-six depth, and Arvidsson’s tempo would slot in with the model of hockey they’re making an attempt to play. His two-way sport and utility might make sense on the proper value. — Shayna Goldman

New York Rangers

Mario Ferraro, LHD (San Jose Sharks)

I used to be tempted to say nobody, given the dearth of true needle-movers in this yr’s UFA class, however the Rangers have said their want so as to add on protection, with a gaping gap on the left aspect of their second pair. Ferraro is an imperfect choice due to New York’s want for higher puck-movers on its again finish, which isn’t his greatest energy, however he’s a troublesome, reliable defender and a transparent improve over the in-house candidates. I might additionally see them going after a ahead on a short-term deal. — Vincent Z. Mercogliano

Ottawa Senators

Bobby McMann, LW/RW (Seattle Kraken)

It wouldn’t harm for the Senators so as to add one other goal-scoring winger. And it definitely wouldn’t harm for the Senators so as to add some pace up the wing. Enter McMann, whose max skating pace of 39.03 ranked within the prime 10 this previous common season based on NHL Edge. McMann additionally almost hit the 30-goal mark whereas splitting the yr between Toronto and Seattle. — Julian McKenzie

Philadelphia Flyers

Darren Raddysh, RHD (Tampa Bay Lightning)

The Flyers’ energy play has been terrible for 5 years working, together with a last-place end throughout this previous common season. Raddysh had 10 objectives and 26 factors on the ability play this season, and would give the Flyers the large, booming shot that Rick Tocchet is in search of. The Flyers might transfer Rasmus Ristolainen within the offseason to make room for him, too. — Kevin Kurz

Pittsburgh Penguins

Mason Marchment, LW (Columbus Blue Jackets)

Kyle Dubas is aware of Marchment extraordinarily nicely, and he’s a great player who, at 30, is just not too long ago coming into his personal. His 6-foot-5 body is one thing the Penguins might use. He’s averaged higher than 20 objectives per season within the final three campaigns. This looks like a pure match. — Josh Yohe

San Jose Sharks

Darren Raddysh, RHD (Tampa Bay Lightning)

There is the danger of Raddysh’s blow-up 2025-26 season being an anomaly, however he’s bought a cannon of a shot and confirmed he can deal with top-pairing minutes. He’d have power-play weapons in San Jose, and the Sharks have had some advantageous right-shot blueliners of their historical past. — Eric Stephens

Seattle Kraken

Alex Tuch, RW (Buffalo Sabres)

The Kraken, as their pursuit of Artemi Panarin illustrated earlier than the Olympic break, need to add name-brand star energy to their stalemate team. Tuch is the largest title star player more likely to be out there on July 1, and accordingly, you’d anticipate the Kraken — relying on the end result of their exterior audit — to be amongst his main suitors when the market opens. — Thomas Drance

St. Louis Blues

No one

The Blues are within the midst of a retool that’s establishing properly with the variety of excessive draft picks who’re coming in and performing. Jimmy Snuggerud, Dalibor Dvorsky, Otto Stenberg and Theo Lindstein are within the fold, and Justin Carbonneau and Adam Jiricek are on their means. The membership doesn’t must spend now on free brokers who don’t match. If something, it wants to switch a few core gamers by way of commerce, not via a poor free company class. — Jeremy Rutherford

Tampa Bay Lightning

Darren Raddysh, RHD (Tampa Bay Lightning)

Raddysh is a main overpay candidate, contemplating his offensive breakout this yr and the general state of free company. But if any team can come to an affordable deal, possibly it’s the one he clicked so nicely with this yr. Otherwise, it’s again to the drafting board to search out one other offensive choice on the again finish, and that’s going to be an actual problem for a team on a funds, with no ton of commerce property and with no deep prospect pool. — Shayna Goldman

Toronto Maple Leafs

Darren Raddysh, RHD (Tampa Bay Lightning)

Raddysh could be a sophisticated addition. On the one hand, he would assist the Leafs in areas of want on the again finish — specifically, his potential to maneuver pucks successfully and enhance the ability play with an enormous shot and QB presence. The complication is that he’s 30 and the Leafs are already flooded with 30-and-over defensemen, but when the Leafs and their new GM John Chayka can’t remedy their want again there by way of commerce, there’s a case to make for the Toronto native. — Jonas Siegel

Utah Mammoth

Bobby McMann, LW/RW (Seattle Kraken)

Utah is fairly set on the again finish with the MacKenzie Weegar addition, plus the anticipated development of Dmitri Simashev. Up entrance, although, the Mammoth might use a middle-six ahead, particularly one who could possibly be an improve within the spot that Kailer Yamamoto occupied on Logan Cooley’s line. A winger with dimension, grit and secondary scoring, reminiscent of McMann or Marchment, should warrant consideration. — Harman Dayal

Vancouver Canucks

Michael McCarron, C (Minnesota Wild)

The rebuilding Canucks should use July 1 to interrupt the wage scale for gamers. How do you catch as much as 31 different NHL groups, and out-accumulate them over an affordable five-year time-frame, in spite of everything, if the cap retains growing and only a few groups really feel a lot stress to make tough choices on their good gamers? You turn into an inflationary drive. Short-term, eye-popping cash offers to gamers with secure resale worth. McCarron, a 6-foot-6, tough-as-nails, right-handed heart, is the right goal. — Thomas Drance

Vegas Golden Knights

Rasmus Andersson, RHD (Vegas Golden Knights)

The Golden Knights didn’t commerce Zach Whitecloud, a prospect, a first-round decide and a conditional second-round decide to look at Andersson stroll in free company. The offensively-minded defenseman has been a pleasant slot in Vegas. When he’s aggressively activating within the offensive zone, he generally is a game-changer. — Jesse Granger

Washington Capitals

Alex Tuch, RW (Buffalo Sabres)

We’ll ignore probably the most urgent candidate (Alex Ovechkin) and the funniest one (Malkin) in favor of the apparent decide. The market on Tuch might be foolish, however he makes much more sense for the Capitals than different groups. They have been in on Nikolaj Ehlers final summer season, and Tuch could be a match when it comes to age (30, proper within the Tom Wilson/Jakob Chychrun/Pierre-Luc Dubois zone) and position (top-six winger). — Sean Gentille

Winnipeg Jets

Mason Marchment, LW (Columbus Blue Jackets)

Winnipeg could be higher if it added a prime UFA reminiscent of Rasmus Andersson or Darren Raddysh, however prime UFAs don’t typically select Winnipeg. I’ve gone additional down CJ’s record for Marchment as a result of he’s a scorer and a shift disturber, and the Jets need assistance on each fronts. The 6-foot-5 left wing wouldn’t repair all that ails Winnipeg, however Marchment could possibly be a stylistically wanted enhance. — Murat Ates