The 2023-24 NHL season has reached its natural end point: the start of free agency.
That’s right, even though the Stanley Cup was awarded mere days ago, free agency has officially opened as of July 1. Now, all 32 NHL teams — including the newly relocated Utah Hockey Club! — will be able to sign unrestricted free agents to contracts for the upcoming 2024-25 season and beyond.
Free agency usually begins with a flurry of activity before quieting to a trickle as the summer well and truly begins for the hockey world. This season’s crop of free agents has some high-end talent, including a handful of recent Stanley Cup Final winners, but we’ll have to see how NHL GMs get creative with their moves this offseason.
As NHL’s free agent period continues, here are the top-20 UFAs headed to market that you should watch out for.
1
F Sam Reinhart, Florida Panthers
Brian Fluharty-USA TODAY Sports
Age: 28
2023-24 salary cap hit: $6.5 million
2024-24 production: 57 goals, 94 points (82 games)
Update: The Florida Panthers re-signed Reinhart to an eight-year deal.
2
F Jake Guentzel, Carolina Hurricanes
Bruce Bennett/Getty Images
Age: 29
2023-24 salary cap hit: $6 million
2024-24 production: 30 goals, 77 points (67 games)
Update: The Tampa Bay Lightning traded for then re-signed Guentzel to a seven-year deal.
3
F Steven Stamkos, Tampa Bay Lightning
Mike Carlson/Getty Images
Age: 34
2023-24 salary cap hit: $8.5 million
2024-24 production: 40 goals, 81 points (79 games)
Update: The Nashville Predators have signed Stamkos to a four-year deal.
4
F Jonathan Marchessault, Vegas Golden Knights
Ethan Miller/Getty Images
Age: 33
2023-24 salary cap hit: $5 million
2024-24 production: 42 goals, 69 points (82 games)
Update: The Nashville Predators have signed Marchessault to a five-year deal.
5
F Elias Lindholm, Vancouver Canucks
Derek Cain/Getty Images
Age: 29
2023-24 salary cap hit: $4.85 million
2024-24 production: 15 goals, 44 points (75 games)
Update: The Boston Bruins have signed Lindholm to a seven-year deal.
6
F Matt Duchene, Dallas Stars
Sam Hodde/Getty Images
Age: 33
2023-24 salary cap hit: $8 million
2024-24 production: 25 goals, 65 points (80 games)
Update: The Dallas Stars have re-signed Duchene to a one-year deal.
7
F Tyler Bertuzzi, Toronto Maple Leafs
Lawrence Scott/Getty Images
Age: 28
2023-24 salary cap hit: $4.75 million
2024-24 production: 21 goals, 43 points (80 games)
Update: The Chicago Blackhawks have signed Bertuzzi to a four-year deal.
8
D Brett Pesce, Carolina Hurricanes
Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images
Age: 29
2023-24 salary cap hit: $4.03 million
2024-24 production: Three goals, 13 points (70 games)
Update: The New Jersey Devils have signed Pesce to a six-year deal.
9
F Tyler Toffoli, Winnipeg Jets
James Carey Lauder-USA TODAY Sports
Age: 32
2023-24 salary cap hit: $4.25 million
2024-24 production: 33 goals, 55 points (79 games)
Update: The San Jose Sharks have signed Toffoli to a four-year deal.
10
D Brady Skjei, Carolina Hurricanes
Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images
Age: 30
2023-24 salary cap hit: $5.25 million
2024-24 production: 13 goals, 47 points (80 games)
Update: The Nashville Predators have signed Skjei to a seven-year deal.
11
F Chandler Stephenson, Vegas Golden Knights
Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports
Age: 30
2023-24 salary cap hit: $2.75 million
2024-24 production: 16 goals, 51 points (75 games)
Update: The Seattle Kraken have signed Stephenson to a seven-year deal.
12
F Teuvo Teräväinen, Carolina Hurricanes
Bruce Bennett/Getty Images
Age: 24
2023-24 salary cap hit: $2.68 million
2024-24 production: 25 goals, 53 points (76 games)
Update: The Chicago Blackhawks have signed Teräväinen to a three-year deal.
13
F Vladimir Tarasenko, Florida Panthers
Bruce Bennett/Getty Images
Age: 32
2023-24 salary cap hit: $5 million
2024-24 production: 23 goals, 55 points (76 games)
14
F Jake DeBrusk, Boston Bruins
Sam Navarro-USA TODAY Sports
Age: 27
2023-24 salary cap hit: $4 million
2024-24 production: 19 goals, 40 points (80 games)
Update: The Vancouver Canucks have signed DeBrusk to a seven-year deal.
15
D Shayne Gostisbehere, Detroit Red Wings
Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images
Age: 31
2023-24 salary cap hit: $4.13 million
2024-24 production: 10 goals, 56 points (81 games)
16
D Matt Roy, Los Angeles Kings
Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images
Age: 29
2023-24 salary cap hit: $3.15 million
2024-24 production: Five goals, 25 points (81 games)
Update: The Washington Capitals have signed Matt Roy to a seven-year deal.
17
F Patrick Kane, Detroit Red Wings
Timothy T. Ludwig-USA TODAY Sports
Age: 35
2023-24 salary cap hit: $2.75 million
2024-24 production: 20 goals, 47 points (50 games)
Update: The Red Wings have re-signed Kane to a one-year deal.
18
F Max Domi, Toronto Maple Leafs
Maddie Meyer/Getty Images
Age: 29
2023-24 salary cap hit: $3 million
2024-24 production: Nine goals, 47 points (80 games)
19
F Anthony Mantha, Vegas Golden Knights
Steph Chambers/Getty Images
Age: 29
2023-24 salary cap hit: $5.7 million
2024-24 production: 23 goals, 44 points (74 games)
Update: The Calgary Flames have signed Mantha to a one-year deal.
20
F Tyler Johnson, Chicago Blackhawks
Bruce Bennett/Getty Images
Age: 33
2023-24 salary cap hit: $5 million
2024-24 production: 17 goals, 31 assists (67 games)
