NHL free agency opens on July 1, and UFAs will be in high demand.
To that end, THN.com has been chronicling the free agents who will be available if they don’t sign with their current clubs. We began with the top defensemen on the market, followed by the top wingers available, the top centers and the top goalies.
We now turn our attention to the other best 10 depth forwards who will be playing for the highest bidder next year. Let’s get to it, in alphabetical order:
Anthony Beauvillier, C, Washington Capitals
The 28-year-old Beauvillier is a journeyman now, playing for five teams in the past three seasons alone. He’s capable of providing 10 to 15 goals in a full season, but his 2024-25 salary of $1.25 million won’t be increased by much, if at all, making him a second- or third-tier option for teams seeking scoring depth in their bottom six forwards.
Connor Brown, RW, Edmonton Oilers
Brown was terrific for the Oilers this past season, generating 13 goals and 30 points in 82 games and another five goals and nine points in 20 playoff games while earning just $1 million. Edmonton no doubt wants the 31-year-old back, but there could be a minor bidding war for Brown’s services, and he may choose to depart for a team that offers him more money.
Jonathan Drouin, LW, Colorado Avalanche
Drouin was injured and limited to 43 games for the Avalanche, but he still managed to produce 11 goals and 37 points after putting up 19 goals and 56 points in 79 games in 2023-24. Thus, Drouin is in a position to get a raise on the $2.5 million he earned last year. The 30-year-old has a lot of solid hockey left in him, and on the right team and line, he can have a massive impact on the scoresheet.
Joel Kiviranta, LW, Colorado Avalanche
Kiviranta posted 16 goals in 79 games this past season, a career high for the 29-year-old Finn while making only $775,000. He won’t break the bank by any means on his next contract, but a team looking for a bargain investment could do much worse than signing Kiviranta, who will almost assuredly get at least $1 million next season.
Steven Lorentz, LW, Toronto Maple Leafs
The 29-year-old Lorentz won a Stanley Cup with the Florida Panthers in 2023-24, and he followed that up with a very solid eight goals and 19 points in 80 games with the Leafs this past year. But you’re not signing Lorentz for his offense. Rather, it’s his physical play and abilities on defense that make him valuable, and that will give him a healthy raise on the $775,000 he earned last season.
Andrew Mangiapane, LW, Washington Capitals
In 2021-22, Mangiapane amassed 35 goals and 55 points for the Calgary Flames, setting himself up for the $5.8-million cap hit he’s earned for the past three seasons. Unfortunately, he hasn’t put up more than 17 goals in those three years, so while he still has potential be an effective depth scorer on Washington or elsewhere, Mangiapane’s asking price on a new contract will fall considerably. He may need to sign a prove-it deal.
Victor Olofsson, LW, Vegas Golden Knights
The Golden Knights are famous for churning and burning through talent, and the 29-year-old Olofsson, who generated 15 goals and 29 points in 56 games last season, could be moving on. Olofsson made only $1.075 million last year, but some teams will look at his offensive production with the Buffalo Sabres, for whom he posted a combined 48 goals and 89 points in two seasons from 2021-23, and give him a better payday than what he settled for with Vegas.
Brandon Saad, LW, Vegas Golden Knights
Saad was cut loose by the St. Louis Blues halfway through the 2024-25 campaign, but he signed with the Golden Knights for a pro-rated $1.5-million cap hit, and he amassed six goals and 14 points in 29 regular-season games. At 32 years old, Saad is in the back nine of his NHL career, but any team seeking depth on the wing will take a look at him and potentially offer him the same amount of money on a one- or two-year deal.
James van Riemsdyk, LW, Columbus Blue Jackets
The 36-year-old van Riemsdyk is one of the elder statesmen of the NHL, and he’s bounced between three teams – the Philadelphia Flyers, Boston Bruins, and Blue Jackets – in the past three seasons. That said, van Riemsdyk put up a respectable 16 goals in 71 games with Columbus last year, and his salary of $900,000 likely won’t increase. He can still offer a decent-enough net-front presence and above-average finishing skills.
Brandon Tanev, LW, Winnipeg Jets
Tanev had a combined 10 goals and 22 points split between the Seattle Kraken and Jets this past year at a salary of $3.5 million. The 33-year-old is a bottom-six winger who can add grit and snarl to a team, but his salary is certainly going to drop. He may ultimately choose a team that gives him his best shot at a Cup rather than choosing a team based on the money he’s offered.
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