Ranking the NHL's top pending UFAs 2vq2l

Welcome to theScore's ranking of the top pending unrestricted free agents in the NHL. Age - which we listed as of July 1 when free agency opens - was slightly factored into the order. 3x4r1b

xGF% = five-on-five expected goals share
GSAx = goals saved above expected

1. Mitch Marner 1b563d

Position: RW
Age: 28
Last team: Maple Leafs
2024-25 cap hit: $10.9M

GP	G	A	ATOI	xGF%
81	27	75	21:19	52.8

With a reunion in Toronto seemingly unlikely, there's a good chance Marner will be one of the most coveted UFAs in years. It's not often that 100-point, Selke-caliber wingers who are firmly in their prime are available.

2. Vladislav Gavrikov 6e2hz

Position: LD/RD
Age: 29
Last team: Kings
2024-25 cap hit: $5.875M

GP	G	A	ATOI	xGF%
82	5	25	23:05	57.19

Gavrikov being slotted this high may surprise some, but the 6-foot-3, 220-pound defenseman is one of the game's premier shutdown blue-liners.

3. Aaron Ekblad 4051t

Position: RD
Age: 29
Last team: Panthers
2024-25 cap hit: $7.5M

GP	G	A	ATOI	xGF%
56	3	30	23:31	52.66

There are ittedly some underlying concerns with his five-on-five game, but Ekblad is a big, physical, right-shooting defenseman who can contribute to both special teams units.

4. Sam Bennett 103q23

Position: C
Age: 29
Last team: Panthers
2024-25 cap hit: $4.425M

GP	G	A	ATOI	xGF%
76	25	26	17:27	53.44

A career-high 51 points is nothing to write home about, but Bennett's playoff resume and inclusion on Canada's 4 Nations roster is evidence of his big-game ability.

5. Nikolaj Ehlers t2n5n

Position: LW/RW
Age: 29
Last team: Jets
2024-25 cap hit: $6M

GP	G	A	ATOI	xGF%
69	24	39	15:48	55.41

Ehlers is speedy, dynamic, and could potentially thrive in an increased role. He averaged just 15:48 per game over the last three seasons.

6. Ivan Provorov 351mx

Position: LD/RD
Age: 28
Last team: Blue Jackets
2024-25 cap hit: $6.75M

GP	G	A	ATOI	xGF%
82	7	26	23:21	46.31

The best ability is availability, and Provorov - a legitimate top-four defenseman - has missed just three games over his nine-year NHL career.

7. Brock Boeser 6p5p1t

Position: RW
Age: 28
Last team: Canucks
2024-25 cap hit: $6.65M

GP	G	A	ATOI	xGF%
75	25	25	18:10	46.82

Boeser is a pure shooter, but the career-high 40-goal campaign he had in 2023-24 looks like an outlier, as he's never reached 30 goals in any other season.

8. Matt Duchene 5e375a

Position: C/LW/RW
Age: 34
Last team: Stars
2024-25 cap hit: $3M

GP	G	A	ATOI	xGF%
82	30	52	17:09	53.02

Duchene proved he still has a lot left in the tank after producing the second-most points of his career in 2024-25. He took a discount to stay in Dallas last offseason. Will he do so again?

9. John Tavares 5e3y2r

Position: C
Age: 34
Last team: Maple Leafs
2024-25 cap hit: $11M

GP	G	A	ATOI	xGF%
75	38	36	18:14	49.15

Tavares rebounded from his worst year as a Maple Leaf with the second-most goals of his career in a single season. He could fetch a nice payday on the open market, though there are rumors of him taking a hometown discount in Toronto.

10. Brad Marchand 6u3q3j

Position: LW/RW
Age: 37
Last team: Panthers
2024-25 cap hit: $6.125M

GP	G	A	ATOI	xGF%
71	23	28	18:19	48.07

He may not be the elite, top-line player he was in his prime, but Marchand has proved with the Panthers that he can still be highly effective in a middle-six role.

11. Dmitry Orlov 2xq3f

Position: LD/RD
Age: 33
Last team: Hurricanes
2024-25 cap hit: $7.75M

GP	G	A	ATOI	xGF%
76	6	22	19:60	54.96

Orlov remains a reliable, well-rounded second-pairing defensemen, even as he approaches his mid-30s.

12. Mikael Granlund 191o4c

Position: C/LW/RW
Age: 33
Last team: Stars
2024-25 cap hit: $5M

GP	G	A	ATOI	xGF%
83	22	44	19:27	42.95

While the versatile Finn has served as a top-six center in recent years, Granlund is best suited as a creative, offensive-minded winger in the middle of a lineup at this point in his career.

13. Patrick Kane 5s2r6t

Position: RW
Age: 36
Last team: Red Wings
2024-25 cap hit: $4M

GP	G	A	ATOI	xGF%
72	21	38	17:59	45.52

Kane's five-on-five effectiveness waned this past season, but he's still a threat on the power play, where he tallied 29 of his 59 points.

14. Claude Giroux 1r1m3e

Position: RW
Age: 37
Last team: Senators
2024-25 cap hit: $6.5M

GP	G	A	ATOI	xGF%
81	15	35	18:12	47.99

Giroux has served as a valuable veteran presence for the young, ascending players on his hometown Senators. With Ottawa finally making the playoffs, don't be surprised if the two sides find common ground on a new deal.

15. Jamie Benn 543b4l

Position: LW
Age: 35
Last team: Stars
2024-25 cap hit: $9.5M

GP	G	A	ATOI	xGF%
80	16	33	15:18	50.01

It's hard to imagine Benn in another uniform, but anything is possible with the Stars up against the cap. Dallas' heart and soul failed to step up in the playoffs, notching just three points in 18 games.

16. Brent Burns 2w521c

Position: RD
Age: 40
Last team: Hurricanes
2024-25 cap hit: $8M

GP	G	A	ATOI	xGF%
82	6	23	20:57	54.73

Does Burns have another season in him? While he's still an effective player, signs of decline started to creep in this past season.

17. Ryan Donato h1w15

Position: C/LW
Age: 29
Last team: Blackhawks
2024-25 cap hit: $2M

GP	G	A	ATOI	xGF%
80	31	31	16:19	45.04

Was Donato's breakout season for real? His 62 points more than doubled his previous career high, and he ed a 17% shooting percentage. A reunion in Chicago would make sense considering the Blackhawks held on to him at the deadline.

18. Jonathan Drouin 2m4w4d

Position: LW
Age: 30
Last team: Avalanche
2024-25 cap hit: $2.5M

GP	G	A	ATOI	xGF%
43	11	26	18:11	48.77

Drouin has found a nice home with the Avalanche. Will someone pay up to pry him out of Denver?

19. Pius Suter 6q4s4d

Position: C/LW
Age: 29
Last team: Canucks
2024-25 cap hit: $1.6M

GP	G	A	ATOI	xGF%
81	25	21	17:21	50.39

Suter chose a great time to have a career year in a UFA market lacking center options.

20. Ryan Lindgren 36l4z

Position: LD
Age: 27
Last team: Avalanche
2024-25 cap hit: $4.5M

GP	G	A	ATOI	xGF%
72	4	18	19:42	46.95

It may feel like Lindgren's been in the league forever, but he'll be one of the youngest blue-liners in this year's UFA class. A shot-blocking machine, he can still be a serviceable No. 4 defenseman if he has the right partner.

21. Jake Allen 62z6g

Position: G
Age: 34
Last team: Devils
2024-25 cap hit: $3.85M

GP	GAA	SV%	SO	GSAx
31	2.66	.906	4	19.07

Allen being the top netminder on this list says everything you need to know about this year's UFA goalie class. He can be the 1B in a tandem, but he's ideally suited as a backup.

22. Andrew Mangiapane 5464c

Position: LW/RW
Age: 29
Last team: Capitals
2024-25 cap hit: $5.8M

GP	G	A	ATOI	xGF%
81	14	14	13:02	54.08

Mangiapane's 35-goal season from 2021-22 is clearly an outlier, but he posted elite defensive metrics with the Capitals this past season.

23. Andrei Kuzmenko 1c18b

Position: LW
Age: 29
Last team: Kings
2024-25 cap hit: $5.5M

GP	G	A	ATOI	xGF%
66	11	26	15:38	51.46

The right fit is everything for Kuzmenko, who struggled with the Flames but flourished with the Kings. He tallied 23 points in 28 games, including the playoffs, during his time in Los Angeles.

24. Jack Roslovic 1s3m14

Position: C/RW
Age: 28
Last team: Hurricanes
2024-25 cap hit: $2.8M

GP	G	A	ATOI	xGF%
81	22	17	13:49	51.04

Roslovic can contribute offense in a depth role, though there are questions about his defensive game. He was a healthy scratch on multiple occasions during Carolina's playoff run.

25. Trent Frederic 371s5s

Position: LW/C
Age: 27
Last team: Oilers
2024-25 cap hit: $2.3M

GP	G	A	ATOI	xGF%
58	8	7	13:43	49.35

Frederic is coming off a tough season, but he scored 17 goals in 2022-23 and 18 goals in 2023-24. As one of the younger UFAs with a 6-foot-3, 221-pound frame and 20-goal potential, Frederic should have plenty of suitors.

(Analytics source: Evolving-Hockey)