Ranking the NHL's top pending UFAs

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.

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

1. Mitch Marner

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

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

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

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

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

There are admittedly 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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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. John Tavares

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

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.

9. Brad Marchand

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

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.

10. Dmitry Orlov

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

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

11. Mikael Granlund

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

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.

12. Patrick Kane

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

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.

13. Claude Giroux

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

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.

14. Brent Burns

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

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

15. Jonathan Drouin

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

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

16. Pius Suter

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

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

17. Ryan Lindgren

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

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.

18. Jake Allen

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

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.

19. Andrew Mangiapane

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

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

20. Andrei Kuzmenko

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

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.

21. Jack Roslovic

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

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.

22. Nate Schmidt

Position: LD/RD
Age: 33
Last team: Panthers
2022-23 cap hit: $800K

Schmidt was stellar enough as the Panthers' No. 6 defenseman that he might convince another team he's capable of being a No. 4 or No. 5 again. The veteran had a strong postseason with three goals and nine assists in 23 games.

(Analytics source: Evolving-Hockey)