If a prizefighter took the type of beating this free agent list has absorbed over the past couple days, his trainer would toss the towel and beg the ref to stop the fight.

The Florida Panthers re-signed all three to go for a threepeat. The Toronto Maple Leafs reached a verdict on half of their Core Four. And a whole bunch of old guys — John Tavares, Brad Marchand, Jamie Benn, Claude Giroux and Patrick Kane — are wise enough to know that moving is a pain in the butt.

Welcome, then, to Ehlers-a-Palooza, Boeser Bonanza and Gavrikov Gala.

It’s Pius Suter’s world. We’re just living in it. One refreshed Twitter timeline at a time.

July 1 is upon us. Free agency opens at noon ET.

Age: 29
Position: Right wing / Left wing
2024-25 salary cap hit: $6 million

The latest: While the Winnipeg Jets are maintaining communication with the dynamic winger, Ehlers is testing the market.

(The last-ditch pitch out of Manitoba: Does the idea of playing with centreman Jonathan Toews change his thinking? “Hopefully, it moved the needle,” GM Kevin Cheveldayoff said.)

Carolina — which swung and missed on both Mikko Rantanen and Mitch Marner, original projected members of this UFA class — is the consensus front-runner. 

But Washington, Anaheim and the Rangers are among those with reported interest.

The trouble with Winnipeg matching hefty outside offers is that Cheveldayoff must accommodate raises for Gabriel Vilardi (RFA), Dylan Samberg (RFA), Kyle Connor (UFA 2026) and captain Adam Lowry (UFA 2026). 

Age: 28
Position: Right wing
2024-25 salary cap hit: $6.65 million

The latest: GM Patrik Allvin had stated publicly that he wanted to decide on Boeser’s future before the trade deadline. Then he tried — and failed — to deal the sniper for a decent return. The Hurricanes were one club with some measure of interest.

“If I told you what I was offered for Brock Boeser, I think I would have to run out of here because you would not believe me,” Allvin said on March 7, when asked why he had hung on to the expiring asset.

The eight-year veteran was aware of Allvin’s comments — which are hardly flattering — but said he hadn’t processed the implications.

A rocky winter in Vancouver led to a coaching change, and now it feels like a longshot that the Canucks’ beloved sniper will stick around.

“Honestly, it’s unlikely at this point,” Boeser told Sportsnet’s Iain MacIntyre, when asked about a return to Vancouver next season. “It sucks, it’s unfortunate. I’m just trying to play good hockey, and then I’ll worry about everything after that. We all know it’s been a roller coaster of a year. There’s been a lot of different things.”

With Boeser essentially replaced in Vancouver by Evander Kane, the organization must wear some brutal asset management.

A long list of Boeser tire-kickers has emerged: Jets, Bruins, Kings, Sharks, Wild, Lightning, Ducks and Sabres.

The sniper now has options galore. 

The Oilers are the most fascinating rumoured landing spot now that Kane is a Canuck. But Edmonton must adhere to the salary cap like the rest of us.

Age: 29
Position: Defence
2024-25 salary cap hit: $5.875 million

The latest: New Los Angeles Kings GM Ken Holland has wasted no time engaging in contract extension talks with Gavrikov, who is coming off a fantastic 30-point, plus-26 campaign just as the cap spikes.

Gavrikov switched agents, to Pat Brisson, with whom Kings president Luc Robitaille has a strong relationship.

Robitaille is a big Gavrikov fan, and a nice raise originally felt like a smart bet.

But as the best D-man went unclaimed, Gavrikov will have plenty of suitors on July 1. An AAV nearing $8 million is not a crazy ask in this climate.

“It’s a hard question to answer right now, because you have to scout more around the league if you want to know when you’re going to be and a good fit for a team,” Gavrikov said after the Kings were eliminated. 

“I haven’t done it yet, but I have plenty of time to research with my agent, to see where we’re at. I think we have a good idea about it over the next few weeks or so.”

Holland has the cap space and positional need to accommodate, so talks continued right until the 11th hour. 

But Gavrikov’s price wasn’t met and he is peeking behind the curtain.

Eager to remodel their blueline, the Rangers have strong interest in partnering Gavrikov with Adam Fox.

Age: 33
Position: Centre
2024-25 salary cap hit: $5 million

The latest: Dealt from lottery-bound San Jose to contending Dallas at the deadline, the 2010 top-10 pick relished in his first taste of playoff action in three years and longest run to date.

The 900-game veteran made the transition seamlessly, producing well as a member of the Stars’ Finnish Mafia, and looking every bit like another smart rental for GM Jim Nill.

Nill has interest in making Granlund more than just a rental, but the major issue in Big D is little cap space.

The organization already dumped Mason Marchment’s salary to re-sign Matt Duchene and Mavrik Bourque. Nill also retained captain Jamie Benn and is gauging Jason Robertson’s trade value.

Any serious effort to bring back Granlund requires further roster surgery.

“He is a very efficient player,” said Nill, who noted Granlund’s connection with Duchene in Nashville. 

“Very versatile, can play any forward position, centre, wing. Very effective on the power play. He’s a very good penalty killer, and he takes draws. He can play up and down the lineup. Great connection with the players here, that was another big part of it.”

The Blues, Sharks and Hurricanes join the cap-crunched Stars as teams with interest here.

Age: 28
Position: Centre
2024-25 salary cap hit: $1.6 million

The latest: As with the decision to hang on to Boeser at the trade deadline, hanging on to the expiring Suter amid a career year and potential offensive peak — 25 goals, 46 points — was met with derision in the market.

“Not a whole lot of market on our players,” Allvin said at the time.

Suter’s situation is an interesting one.

Now that the Canucks have dealt away J.T. Miller, and Filip Chytil’s durability is of concern, the roster needs a centreman who can find the net.

Are they able to re-sign Suter? They’re taking a stab at it.

But with the clock ticking, it appears the undrafted, underpaid Swiss player could explore the market.

This is his best chance to get (over?)paid, especially with the cap spiking and so few centres available.

With RFA pivot Morgan Geekie re-upping in Boston for six years at a $5.5-million AAV, Suter’s paycheques could well triple.

Age: 34
Position: Goaltender
2024-25 salary cap hit: $3.85 million

The latest: Posting his best save percentage (.908) in five seasons, Allen is the most in-demand goaltender testing a thin market for UFAs in masks. 

The reliable, veteran No. 2 has appeared in at least 30 games in each of his past four seasons, but the New Jersey Devils aren’t sure if they can afford to keep Allen in the fold.

“We’re trying to figure out where some of the holes are in our group and how do we fill those holes with the funds we have and who’s available via trade or unrestricted free agency,” GM Tom Fitzgerald told NHL.com in mid-June. 

“I’d say the back end is probably the safest place where we feel very comfortable. As far as goaltending, Jake Allen is one of the better ones on the market. His camp tells me he would like to stay. He really enjoyed his time here. We’re trying to figure out what that number is, and then does it work for us?”

Rumoured to be seeking an AAV in the ballpark of $5 million, Allen should have interest from Utah, Buffalo, Edmonton, San Jose and Philadelphia. (Count Detroit out of the running now that the Red Wings traded for John Gibson.)

But Fitzgerald is making one last push to keep Allen in Jersey.

Age: 33
Position: Defence
2024-25 salary cap hit: $7.75 million

The latest: The Carolina Hurricanes took a giant swing at Orlov two years ago and weren’t thrilled with how things ended in the post-season, so he’ll be seeking work elsewhere — likely at a reduced salary.

Top-four two-way defencemen with 13 years of experience are hard to find, though. Once Gavrikov and Provorov are spoken for, interest in this veteran Russian will rise.

Orlov’s agent, Shumi Babaev, is on record saying his client has no intention of departing for the KHL. Babaev told Match TV’s Vladimir Pushkarev that Orlov will be hunting another NHL contract.

Potential landing spots should include Los Angeles (if Gavrikov leaves) and Washington — where Orlov played his best hockey. One more year with Alex Ovechkin?

Age: 27
Position: Defence
2024-25 salary cap hit: $4.5 million

The latest: Acquired by Colorado from the Rangers at the trade deadline, Lindgren is not re-signing with the Avalanche and will be testing the market. 

With Aaron Ekblad taking a discount in Florida, Lindgren is arguably the best rugged, right-shot defenceman available on Canada Day. And though he’s coming off a mediocre season, he’s still well under 30.

The Red Wings, Bruins and Blue Jackets are among teams with interest.

Age: 29
Position: Left wing
2024-25 salary cap hit: $5.8 million

The latest: A one-time 35-goal, 55-point winger in Calgary, Mangiapane is sliding under the radar after a healthy but not-so-productive campaign in Washington (14 goals, 28 points).

The bet would be that, given a top-six role and change of scenery, Mangiapane could rediscover his scoring touch.

The Maple Leafs, Kraken and Oilers — who are busy tweaking their cast of depth wingers — are smart fits.

Age: 33
Position: Defence
2024-25 salary cap hit: $800,000

The latest: When we spoke to Schmidt on the shredded Amerant Bank Arena ice, he was still riding the high of lifting the Stanley Cup — straight from the hands of Panthers captain Aleksander Barkov, no less.

In that adrenaline-fuelled moment, Schmidt professed his desire to remain in South Florida.

Now that GM Bill Zito spent all the money on the three UFAs ahead of Schmidt on the priority list, however, the rejuvenated left shot is likely to get his raise elsewhere.

Much like Oliver Ekman-Larsson before him, Schmidt can turn third-pair money and minutes in Sunrise into a second-pair contract with a worse team.

The Islanders just lost an offensive D-man in Noah Dobson. Would they consider Schmidt as a more cost-friendly replacement?

Age: 30
Position: Left wing
2024-25 salary cap hit: $2.5 million

The latest: After four disappointing seasons in Montreal, the playmaking Drouin rediscovered some love for the game in Denver alongside old pal Nathan MacKinnon.

The hope now is that Drouin can carry some of that momentum into his next stop, as agent Allan Walsh announced days in advance of free agency that his client was going to market.

Buyers should be prepared for bouts of injury and inconsistency.

But at his best, and on a short-term deal, Drouin could provide secondary scoring at a nice value. Which is why teams such as Ottawa and Edmonton are said to be taking a look here.

Age: 40
Position: Right wing
2024-25 salary cap hit: $1.15 million

The latest: There is mutual interest in keeping the ageless Perry in an Oilers uniform, but the winger’s contributions (19 regular-season goals, plus 10 more in the playoffs) far exceeded his paycheques in 2024-25 — and Edmonton must count its pennies now that Evan Bouchard is making $10.5 million.

Elliotte Friedman reported interest from the Philadelphia Flyers. That would be a curious spot for a guy desperately chasing another Cup, though Philly could flip Perry to a contender at the deadline.

The Maple Leafs, Kings and Stars (again) are among other teams suggested to have interest in the wily vet.

More notable UFAs in 2025: Jack Roslovic, Ilya Samsonov, Brent Burns, Gustav Nyquist, Dan Vladar, Brandon Tanev, Anthony Mantha, Ryan Johansen, Jeff Petry, Max Pacioretty, Tanner Jeannot, Jeff Skinner, Alexander Georgiev, Tony DeAngelo, Victor Olofsson, Ryan Suter, John Klingberg, Christian Dvorak, Joel Armia, Nick Bjugstad, Cody Ceci, Nick Perbix, Radek Faksa, Cole Koepke, Mikey Eyssimont, Anthony Beauvillier