What's every NHL team's toughest decision during 2025 free agency?

The 2025 NHL Draft is over, and we are just two days away from the start of free agency.

Before the free-agent frenzy begins on July 1, The Athletic asked its NHL staff to identify the toughest decision for all 32 teams.

Here is what they said.

Anaheim Ducks General manager Pat Verbeek has $38 million of cap space burning in his pocket.

Large chunks figure to go toward re-signing Mason McTavish and Lukas Dostal, but there is enough to land a talent such as Marner.

Until they become a playoff team and contender, the Ducks may have to overpay to entice a top-shelf free agent to Anaheim.

Are they willing to spend $14 million AAV to grab a 100-point player? Eric Stephens Advertisement Boston Bruins Mitch Marner would check multiple boxes.

But even if Marner becomes available, the cost would eat up too much of the Bruins free cash.

Their more efficient avenue would be to chase several less expensive alternatives.

Fluto Shinzawa Buffalo Sabres Sabres GM Kevyn Adams said hes open to trading defenseman Bowen Byram, who is a restricted free agent after setting a career high in points.

But if the trade market isnt there, the Sabres will look to sign him.

Hes a big piece of their blue line and could net a decent return.

So this feels like the most impactful decision Adams has to make.

Matthew Fairburn Calgary Flames Rasmus Andersson isnt a free agent this year, but he is Calgarys biggest trade chip available.

And depending on how teams look at the free-agent class of available defensemen, maybe teams take that as an opportunity to make a run at Andersson via trade.

Julian McKenzie Carolina Hurricanes This years free-agent class isnt great.

So while the Hurricanes are loaded with cap space, it may be wise to wait for several big names to potentially hit the market next summer, or become available during the 2025-26 season due to their impending free agency.

Exploring the trade market, either this offseason or later, might be Carolinas best play.

Cory Lavalette Chicago Blackhawks The Blackhawks will have more cap space than almost any team entering free agency.

They could probably sign a few players by simply being the highest bidder.

The Blackhawks wont do that, though.

Theyre mindful of the future contracts they have ahead for Connor Bedard, Frank Nazar and so on.

But maybe theres a happy medium for the Blackhawks where they can still explore free agency.

Well see.

Scott Powers Advertisement Colorado Avalanche Colorado has $9 million in cap space to work with after trading Charlie Coyle to Columbus , leaving an interesting decision when free agency opens.

The Avs have space to add a top player if they choose via signing or a trade but that would leave little to fill out the lineup.

The other option is spreading that money across several solid depth forwards to strengthen the bottom six.

Jesse Granger Columbus Blue Jackets The Blue Jackets have two prominent UFA defensemen in Ivan Provorov and Dante Fabbro.

Talks have gone better with Fabbro than Provorov, but neither has signed, giving GM Don Waddell a bit of stress heading into July 1.

Hed like to reshape his defense they were in on Noah Dobson but signing Provorov and Fabbro doesnt represent a change.

And letting them walk is a huge risk if he cant replace them.

Aaron Portzline Dallas Stars What to do with Jason Robertson The Stars have already made tough decisions on keeping Matt Duchene and jettisoning Mason Marchment .

But if they want to make a run at Mitch Marner or another free agent, they might have to move 25-year-old star Jason Robertson to do it.

Its still a long shot to happen, but Robertson is due a massive raise next summer, so its not out of the realm of possibility.

Mark Lazerus Detroit Red Wings Detroit has lingered outside the playoffs for long enough now that its not exactly a destination.

That may take the team out of the running for some top names.

At that point, Steve Yzerman has to decide where the line is to just walk away.

Thats much easier said than done for a team that wants to improve, but the Red Wings have been burned on overpayments to middle-of-the-lineup players in recent years.

Max Bultman Edmonton Oilers The Oilers have retained Trent Frederic on an eight-year contract , leaving them with five forwards eligible for unrestricted free agency.

Jeff Skinner and Derek Ryan wont return, but Connor Brown, Corey Perry and Kasperi Kapanen were all useful contributors on cheap contracts this past season.

GM Stan Bowman wants to change the forward mix.

Can he accomplish that if he brings them all back? Daniel Nugent-Bowman Advertisement Florida Panthers Aaron Ekblad is a lifelong Panther, after being taken first overall in 2014, during the bad old days for the franchise.

Hes been a big part of back-to-back Cups, but with his body battered and cap space tight, can Florida compromise and find a deal to extend him? Or does he cash in on the open market, where a lot of teams are ready to pounce with huge offers? James Mirtle Los Angeles Kings The Kings want to re-sign their shutdown ace.

Vladislav Gavrikov found a home with Los Angeles, but wants to get paid.

It feels like a tough decision, but maybe it isnt so much if they determine that an AAV approaching $8 million in worth spending on a 29-year-old for eight years.

GM Ken Holland has already alluded to the need to pivot and address the blue line if he and Gavrikov cant meet on an extension.

Eric Stephens Minnesota Wild The Wild want to add some scoring punch to the top six, and hometown guy Brock Boeser is sitting there waiting to be plucked.

The Wild have shown interest in him on the trade market many times, but with only $17.7 million in cap space and the desire not to tie up too much term when they want to pursue stars in the future, they may only have interest in Boeser if the term is three or four years.

Michael Russo Montreal Canadiens Dvorak was the Canadiens top faceoff guy and played on their second penalty-killing unit.

He just had by far his best season in four years in a Canadiens uniform.

His departure as an unrestricted free agent would leave a big hole, but the lack of centers available on the market probably means Dvorak could make more elsewhere than the Canadiens would be willing to offer to keep him off the market.

Arpon Basu Nashville Predators GM Barry Trotzs public comments suggest he believes the Preds can pull off a massive reversal and be competitive next season, and theres really no other way to feel not after last summers spending spree, including the eight-year extension for Juuse Saros that kicks in this season.

But can he add instant help while avoiding more players in their mid-30s? Aaron Ekblad is a worthy target in this regard.

Joe Rexrode New Jersey Devils Mercer could be a trade candidate if the Devils want to open up more cap space.

He has two years left on his deal at a $4 million average annual value.

Mercer has proven himself as an NHL regular and one of the most durable players in the league, but he has yet to replicate his 56-point 2022-23 campaign.

Peter Baugh New York Islanders The Islanders likely already made their toughest decision of the summer by making the bold move to trade Noah Dobson to the Canadiens .

With three first-rounders in 2025, theres clearly an eye on the future.

Now management has to decide the direction of the rest of the roster in the near future how many other mainstays will get subtracted this summer, and just how much should the roster get torn down? Shayna Goldman Advertisement New York Rangers KAndre Millers name has been in trade speculation.

New York has to decide whether to pay him as a restricted free agent or move on.

If the team signs someone such as Vladislav Gavrikov in unrestricted free agency, it likely wont have room to pay both top RFAs, Will Cuylle and Miller.

Peter Baugh Ottawa Senators The Senators say theyre waiting on Claude Giroux to respond to their latest contract offer.

Depending on whatever number they re-sign him to, if he comes back, that will greatly affect the amount of money left for them to spend in free agency.

As of now, the Sens have $9.25 million according to PuckPedia.

Though it could be up to $10 million, depending on which players they have on their active roster.

Julian McKenzie Philadelphia Flyers Even after acquiring Trevor Zegras (and making it clear theyre going to give him a chance to play center again), finding another pivot is still on their agenda.

They also need another goalie, which, in this years market, might not be easy.

At the same time, the Flyers want to be careful not to eat too much into their cap space for 2026, when they will be prepared to spend big again.

Kevin Kurz Pittsburgh Penguins It must be tempting to spend money this summer for Kyle Dubas.

He has cap room.

But now really isnt the time to get aggressive as the Penguins wait for their prospects to marinate.

Josh Yohe San Jose Sharks No team has more cap room than the Sharks, and theyre up to $44 million available after the buyout of Marc-Edouard Vlasic .

But with the rebuild firmly on, GM Mike Grier has signaled that he wont blow all of that to fast-track their improvement.

While its more likely theyll hand out four-year deals or shorter than a max-term contract, they could target someone such as Bowen Byram in a trade.

Eric Stephens Seattle Kraken Seattle spent big on July 1 last year, breaking the bank for Chandler Stephenson and Brandon Montour in the free-agent frenzy.

Montour was a great fit, but the pricey additions didnt move the needle enough.

Seattle fired head coach Dan Bylsma after just one season and changed GMs following this campaign.

Will the Kraken be willing to be big spenders again this summer? Thomas Drance St.

Louis Blues They really dont have a difficult decision because their only UFAs are Radek Faksa and Ryan Suter, and while they want Faksa back, they wont lose any sleep.

If they do have a tough decision to make, its not overpaying a middle-six center in a pricey free-agent market.

They mightve been forced to decide whether to match an offer sheet to pending RFA goalie Joel Hofer, but thats not a concern anymore after he signed a two-year, $6.8 million extension Saturday .

Jeremy Rutherford Advertisement Tampa Bay Lightning If the Lightning want to go bigger than their current financial situation, management has to once again make the tough decision to cut salary.

Its a pretty familiar position for Julien BriseBois, but its not easy.

One contract to look at is Erik Cernaks; if management can find a cheaper replacement for the second pair this year (such as Rasmus Andersson).

Shayna Goldman Toronto Maple Leafs Brad Marchand is a good fit for the Leafs in a variety of ways.

The problem is going to be the contract hell demand as an in-demand free agent who will be 38 when the next postseason rolls.

The Leafs probably wont love the price ($8 million? $9 million?) or term (four years?), but may decide the fit makes Marchand worth the risk.

Jonas Siegel Utah Mammoth GM Bill Armstrong didnt have an update when reporters asked about the status of goaltender Connor Ingram, who entered the NHL/NHLPA player assistance program in March .

Will the Mammoth enter the bidding competition in a thin, potentially expensive goaltending market? Or will they wait until closer to camp to examine options once they have more clarity on Ingram? Harman Dayal Vancouver Canucks Having struck out on trading for an NHL center using their 2025 first-round pick, will the Canucks circle back to pending unrestricted free agent Pius Suter and cave to his camps contractual demands? Now that just about every notable unrestricted free-agent center has signed with their original team, forgoing the open market, Suters marketability is at its absolute apex.

Will Vancouver go there? Thomas Drance Vegas Golden Knights Vegas has committed a lot of money to the blue line with Alex Pietrangelo, Brayden McNabb and Zach Whitecloud under contract for two to three more years, and Noah Hanifin, Shea Theodore signed through 2032.

Hague has been a key cog in one of the best defensive groups in the NHL over the last six years, but cap space is tight.

Does Vegas sign him, trade him or could he be an offer-sheet candidate? Jesse Granger Washington Capitals Last summer will be a tough act to follow for Washington.

Pierre-Luc Dubois, Logan Thompson and Jakob Chychrun all were high-profile additions, and all performed quite well.

The end result was the best record in the East.

This time around, outside of third-line center, there are no glaring holes.

The Caps could use another game-breaker up front, though.

Is it worth messing with success? Sean Gentille Winnipeg Jets Winnipeg could look to approach out-of-market UFAs such as Brock Boeser, Andrew Mangiapane and more in search of Nikolaj Ehlers replacement.

The Jets are an older team with stars Mark Scheifele, Connor Hellebuyck and Josh Morrissey all over the age of 30.

Is that urgency really worth paying UFA prices, plus Winnipeg tax, with the cap going up? Murat Ates (Top photos of Vladislav Gavrikov and Bowen Byram: Ronald Martinez / Getty Images and David Kirouac / Imagn Images).

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