When the NHL’s free agency opened on July 1, the league’s general managers committed a whopping $778 million to 176 players within the first 48 hours.

With the salary cap on the rise, 27 teams are still under the 2025-26 ceiling after the madness of opening frenzy, so there is still budget to burn and flyers to take.

Here’s the best of the 2025 UFA crop still hunting for jobs.

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

While the Winnipeg Jets are maintaining communication with the dynamic winger, Ehlers is exploring multiple options.

(The last-ditch pitch out of Manitoba: Does the idea of playing with centre 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 and has already shown its aggressiveness in the K’Andre Miller trade-and-sign.

Washington, Anaheim and Tampa Bay are among others 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).

As we enter Day 3 of Ehlers’ courtship, an announcement could come at any moment.

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

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

Canes GM Eric Tulsky said he doesn’t anticipate Orlov returning, although “that could change with one phone call.”

Top-four, two-way defencemen with 13 years of experience are hard to find. Now that 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 include Winnipeg, San Jose, and Washington — where Orlov played his best hockey.

One more year with Alex Ovechkin?

Age: 28
Position: Centre
2024-25 salary cap hit: $2.8 million

The right shot enjoyed a productive regular season in Carolina, posting 22 goals and 39 points in 81 games, but he fell out of the lineup when it mattered and got scratched for some playoff games.

The speedy, versatile Roslovic (he plays wing too) battles inconsistency but can make an impact when on his game.

Not many forwards under age 30 on the market. The best backup option for teams who were interested in Pius Suter.

San Jose and Buffalo need NHLers.

Age: 29
Position: Left wing
2024-25 salary cap hit: $1.075 million

A smart value buy, Olofsson finds himself one of the odd men out in cap-crunched Vegas after scoring 15 goals and 29 points in 56 games.

Olofsson is a power-play weapon who can fire the puck (career shooting percentage: 13.5) and has three 20-goal campaigns on his resume. 

Don’t bet on him to play physical or rely on him for too many D-zone starts.

Age: 31
Position: Defence
2024-25 salary cap hit: $2.75 million

Originally a Bruin, Grzelcyk played all 82 games for the Penguins this past season and told reporters that he was hoping to ink an extension in Pittsburgh.

The Penguins, however, signed defencemen Parker Wotherspoon and Caleb Jones to two-year deals on July 1 and are going in a different direction.

The left-shot, undersized Grzelcyk (five-foot-10, 180 pounds) notched a career-best 40 points in 2024-25 and boasts 527 games of experience, plus another 66 in the playoffs.

Age: 28
Position: Goaltender
2024-25 salary cap hit: $1.8 million

No goaltender who turned into a UFA on July 1 had a better record in 2024-25 than the Russian’s 16-9-4 mark in Vegas.

The Golden Knights feel set with No. 1 Adin Hill, 29, and Akira Schmid, 25, under contract at a combined $7.125 million, and Samsonov wants a change of scenery.

Samsonov posted a 2.82 goals-against average and a .891 save percentage. He did not see action during the Knights’ post-season.

With the goalie market particularly thin this summer, and John Gibson finally traded, Samsonov is the most intriguing option.

Landing spots are limited, though, and he may need to lower his asking price.

Age: 36
Position: Left wing
2024-25 salary cap hit: $873,770

Author of the Maple Leafs’ series-clinching goal over the Senators, the veteran winger elevated his performance at the most critical time (eight points in 11 playoff games) and turned his Toronto tryout into what may be a noble final act.

Pacioretty’s arduous battles with injury are well-documented, and the father of five is still weighing all options — including retirement.

The former sniper has wisely adopted a more physical style.

If he wishes to keep playing, he can contribute on a one-year deal. Just don’t bet on Pacioretty being available for all 82 games.

Leafs GM Brad Treliving says the door is still open in Toronto.

Age: 33
Position: Left wing
2024-25 salary cap hit: $3 million

While GM Stan Bowman overpaid for Skinner, an occasional scratch in Edmonton, the 1,078-game winger still has some goals in his stick.

He’d certainly need to accept a pay cut to remain an Oiler, but lesser teams in search of a power-play threat or secondary scoring could take a look on a short-term commitment.

Age: 28
Position: Left wing
2024-25 salary cap hit: $1.25 million

Islanders fans still hold Beauvillier and his contributions through seven seasons and three post-seasons dear.

Since the versatile forward (who can play some centre in a pinch) left in 2023, though, Beauvillier has been a man without an address, bouncing to Vancouver, Chicago, Nashville, Pittsburgh, and Washington.

His footspeed and forechecking prowess can create scoring opportunities — he tied for the Capitals’ lead in five-on-five scoring in the 2025 post-season.

In the right situation and for a modest salary, there is still a 15-goal middle-six forward here.

Age: 27
Position: Centre
2024-25 salary cap hit: $2.75 million

Moved by San Jose to Columbus as a trade deadline rental, the right-shot depth centreman failed to gain any traction with his latest club (zero points, minus-4 in 12 appearances).

The veteran changed agents, to Craig Oster, and should have no problem bringing his hard-hitting 434 games of experience to a fifth team’s lineup.

Kunin’s offence peaked with Minnesota in 2019-20, when he scored 15 goals and 33 points in 63 games. He can still check.

More UFAs still on the market: Alexander Georgiev, Ryan Suter, Joel Kiviranta, Robby Fabbri, Jon Merrill, Oliver Kylington, James Reimer, Chris Dreidger, Nikolaj Kovalenko, Michael Carcone, Brett Leason, Jan Rutta, Craig Smith, Luke Glendening, Klim Kostin