Awaken the morning after the madness, and you’ll see that the NHL’s general managers signed a whopping 166 contracts on July 1, committing an eye-popping $950 million to the league’s talent on the opening of free agency.
And still: quite a few contract-worthy players are left hanging around unemployed on Day 2 of the open market.
Tell your favourite executive not to hang the GONE FISHIN’ sign just yet.
Here’s the latest buzz on the best of the rest:
Age: 31Position: Right wing / left wing2025-26 salary cap hit: $2.5 million
If you can make sense of Mantha’s goal totals over the past eight seasons — 24, 25, 16, 15, 9, 11, 23, 4, 33 — perhaps you should be the one negotiating his next contract.
Pittsburgh GM Kyle Dubas bought low on the power forward and was rewarded with a healthy contributor who registered a career-high 64 points and became the Penguins’ Masterton nominee.
Mantha hired a mental coach, avoided injury and took full advantage of a more prominent role under coach Dan Muse.
“It’s confidence, the trust level from the team, teammates, coaches, my work I put in mentally, physically,” Mantha said (via NHL.com). “Good things are happening.”
Considering the player’s history of injury and inconsistency, we’d hesitate to give Mantha a long-term deal.
One buyer-beware note: Mantha’s ridiculous 21.7 shooting percentage this season dwarfs his career average of 13.8.
Still, this is the injury-prone veteran’s best crack at term and money.
Montreal, Buffalo, St. Louis and Winnipeg are still in the market for wingers.
Age: 37Position: Right wing2025-26 salary cap hit: $3 million
No UFA left standing racked up more assists (41) last season than the future first-ballot Hall of Famer. Kane still has game and can improve a power play.
Despite the Red Wings’ pitch to keep the playmaker in Detroit, Kane appears ready to join his fourth team. His next deal sounds like it’ll bring him full circle.
The Buffalo native is reportedly working on contract with his hometown Sabres. Cool way to finish, if true.
Age: 28Position: Defence2025-26 salary cap hit: $1.25 million
The youngest D-man on this list, Stanley is a monster on the back end: six-foot-seven, 231 pounds. That his offensive breakout (nine goals, 26 points) aligned with his contract year is good fortune.
Winnipeg rented Stanley to Buffalo at the trade deadline, but Jets GM Kevin Cheveldayoff could still circle back and make an offer to bring the lefty back to Manitoba. He’d make a nice replacement for big Jamie Oleksiak in Seattle, too.
Stanley is still weighing his options, and he has plenty.
The Waterloo, Ont., native is asking for as much as $25 million on a four- or five-year pact, according to Frank Seravalli.
Age: 27Position: Right wing2025-26 salary cap hit: $3.475 million
One of a handful of wingers who has filtered through Seattle lately, Tolvanen’s skill and relatively young age make him an intriguing bet.
The Finnish first-rounder failed to build on 2024-25’s 23-goal showing and saw his goal total dip to 12 last season. He also posted a career-worst minus-18 rating.
Properly slotted in a middle six and given power-play time, he could play a nice role on a deeper roster. Tolvanen is reportedly seeking term.
Age: 34Position: Right wing2025-26 salary cap hit: $4.75 million
Switching agents to Dan Milstein, shooter-for-hire Tarasenko should still attract some decent offers even as he enters his mid-30s.
The Russian played 75 games and ripped 23 goals for the Minnesota Wild this past season despite modest power-play usage.
Teams in need of scoring off the wings should kick tires on a short-term deal.
Age: 38Position: Right wing2025-26 salary cap hit: $2 million
Perhaps more impressive than veteran Giroux’s ability to produce offence deep into his 30s (49 points in 2025-26) is that the winger played all 82 games for Ottawa.
He’s durable and still has passion for the game.
The Senators are leaving the door open to a re-signing, but Giroux has reportedly received interest from Colorado, Montreal and his beloved Flyers.
“We’ve stated how much we want him back. We’ve been unwavering in our message to him, offered him a contract as far back as before the trade deadline, and he wanted to take a look around in free agency, but hasn’t closed the door to come back to Ottawa,” Sens GM Steve Staios said on July 1.
“I mean, for us, there’s also a reason why I’m not active today. Obviously, that spot is reserved for him, and I’m eagerly anticipating, waiting to have a conversation with him.”
Age: 33Position: Defence2025-26 salary cap hit: $2 million
As the San Jose Sharks drastically overhaul their blueline, the veteran Klingberg finds himself back in a familiar place: wandering teamless.
The right-shooting playmaker can still work a power play and add offence from the back end, but he’s had a rough time finding security since he left Dallas in search of a payday in his prime.
Klingberg scored 10 goals in just 56 games for the Teal last season, his best showing in years. But he was also a minus-13 and his defensive deficiencies aren’t going anywhere.
Boston and Philadelphia are two teams still eager to boost the right side of their D.
Age: 28Position: Left wing2025-26 salary cap hit: $8.7 million
One of the more confounding talents of his generation, the sharp-shooting Laine is a second-overall pick poised to join his fourth team before his 29th birthday.
Laine can still rip it from a power-play flank. He endeared himself to Montreal Canadiens fans early in his 2024-25 season. But healthy and unhealthy scratches piled up, and his too-rich contract made him untradeable.
Laine did not score last season. He played only five times. A massive pay cut is coming.
Still, the Islanders, Kings, Lightning, Flames and Wild are all reportedly considering taking him on as a project.
Age: 38Position: Goaltender2025-26 salary cap hit: $2.5 million
Among the goaltenders without a chair as the carousel slows on July 2, Talbot played more games (34) than anyone last season. Accustomed to bouncing around the league, the veteran could serve in a mentorship-slash-backup role.
Talbot’s save percentage dropped to .883 last season in Detroit. A down year behind a disappointing squad? Or is Father Time rearing its ugly head?
Age: 40Position: Left wing2025-26 salary cap hit: $9.5 million
The lone member of the 900-goal club may have just skated out his final season in the National Hockey League and — having now fulfilled his duties and crushed his records — could well take his talents to Moscow or hang ’em up entirely.
But we’d be remiss not to include the game’s greatest goal scorer on the list, just in case he wants to re-up in D.C. and keep the ticker going to 1,000.
Noticeably slowing, Ovechkin’s production and defensive usage dipped compared to 2024-25’s chase year.
That he started a ridiculous 90.2 per cent of his shifts in the O-zone and essentially played the entirety of every Capitals power play is both hilarious and telling.
“I don’t know if it’s the end or not,” Ovechkin said. “I’m still enjoy(ing) it. I’m still hav(ing) fun. I’m still happy to be with the boys.
“It’s just healthwise, you know? If I was 35 or 25, it’s one thing. But when you’re 40, you have to think for future.”
GM Chris Patrick has kept the lines of communication open, and the team is reportedly open to a one-year extension.
Ovechkin has been working out and suggests an announcement will arrive in July. Meanwhile, the Capitals have bolstered their wings by adding Alex Tuch and Jordan Kyrou.
“I think we can do something that would work for Alex. There are ways to get him the money he needs because of his age and the kind of contracts you can do,” Patrick told ESPN’s Greg Wyshynski on July 1.
More notable UFAs: Michael Bunting, Jamie Benn, Reilly Smith, Evander Kane, Andrew Peeke, David Perron, Adam Henrique, Kevin Hayes, Petr Mrazek, Erik Gudbranson, Matt Murray, David Rittich, James Reimer, Jonathan Drouin, Danton Heinen, Brandon Saad, Ryan Reaves, Philipp Kurashev, David Kämpf, James van Riemsdyk, Matt Grzelcyk, Adam Erne
