As we officially begin the year 2025 and we are halfway through the NHL season, we have to start looking at what the free agent market will offer for Kent Hughes and the Montreal Canadiens.
First, the CH CEO will enjoy unprecedented leeway over the team’s payroll as several contracts expire at the end of the season.
We think of Christian Dvorak (4.45M$), Joel Armia ($3.4M), Jake Evans ($1.7M), Michael Pezzetta (0.812M$) et David Savard ($3.5M).
In addition, the defender’s salary deductions Jeff Petry ($2.343M) and the guardian Jake Allen ($1.925M) will disappear from the organization’s books.
That’s more than $18 million that will suddenly become available in Hughes’ budget. Not to mention the expected salary cap increase in the NHL.
Here is the complete list of players who, as of today, will become an unrestricted free agent on July 1 and have still not signed a new contract with their respective team.
- GUARDIANS: Adin Hill (Golden Knights), Kevin Lankinen (Canucks), Alexander Georgiev (Sharks), Karel Vejmelka (Utah HC), David Rittich (Kings), Logan Thompson (Capitals), And Vladar (Flames), Charlie Lindgren (Capitals), Vitek Vanecek (Sharks), Alex Lyon (Red Wings), Jake Allen (Devils), Ilya Samsonov (Golden Knights), Jonathan Quick (Rangers), Anton Forsberg (Senators), Marc-Andre Fleury (Wild), James Reimer (Sabres), Jonas Johansson (Lightning), Frederik Andersen (Hurricanes), Jaxson Stauber (Utah HC) et Louis Domingue (Rangers).
- DEFENDERS: Neal Pionk (Jets), Jakob Chychrun (Capitals), Aaron Oakleaf (Panthers), Matt Grzelcyk (Penguins), Dmitry Orlov (Hurricanes), Vladislav Gavrikov (Kings), Ivan Provorov (Blue Jackets), Marcus Pettersson (Penguins), Brent Burns (Hurricanes), Johnathan Kovacevic (Devils), Declan Chisholm (Wild), Cody Ceci (Sharks), Ian Cole (Utah HC), Nicklaus Perbix (Lightning), Dante Fabbro (Blue Jackets), Nate Schmidt (Panthers) et Brian Dumoulin (Ducks).
- ATTACKERS: Mikko Rantanen (Avalanche), Mitch Marner (Maple Leafs), John Tavares (Maple Leafs), Mikael Granlund (Sharks), Matt Duchene (Stars), Nik Ehlers (Jets), Brad Marchand (Bruins), Sam Bennett (Panthers), Kyle Palmieri (Islanders), Jason Sugar (Sabres), Jamie Benn (Stars), Jack Roslovic (Hurricanes), Brock Boeser (Canucks), Claude Giroux (Senators), Ryan Donato (Blackhawks), Brock Nelson (Islanders), Eric Robinson (Hurricanes), Taylor Hall (Blackhawks), Pius Suter (Canucks), Vladislav Namestnikov (Jets), Frank Vatrano (Ducks), Connor Brown (Oilers), Adam Gaudette (Senators), Justin Brazeau (Bruins), Taylor Raddysh (Capitals), Patrick Kane (Red Wings), Yanni Gourde (Kraken), Evgenii Dadonov (Stars), Reilly Smith (Rangers), Luke Kunin (Sharks), Tanner Pearson (Golden Knights), Matthew Olivier (Blue Jackets), Mason Appleton (Jets), Marcus Johansson (Wild), Nic Dowd (Capitals), Gustav Nyquist (Predators), Brandon Tanev (Kraken), Sam Steel (Stars), Andrew Mangiapane (Capitals), Joel Kiviranta (Avalanche), Victor Olofsson (Golden Knights), Lars Eller (Capitals), Alexander Kerfoot (Utah HC), Anthony Beauvillier (Penguins), Jeff Skinner (Oilers), Kevin Labanc (Blue Jackets), Alex Iafallo (Jets), Drew O’Connor (Penguins), Max Pacioretty (Maple Leafs), Nick Cousins (Senators), Jakub Vrana (Capitals), Corey Perry (Oilers), Cole Koepke (Bruins), Zach Aston-Reese (Blue Jackets), Trent Frederic (Bruins), Robby Fabbri (Ducks), Andrei Kuzmenko (Flames), Craig Smith (Blackhawks), Nico Sturm (Sharks), Pat Maroon (Blackhawks), Michael Carcone (Utah HC), Sean Kuraly (Blue Jackets), James van Riemsdyk (Blue Jackets), Thomas Tatar (Devils), Jesse Puljujarvi (Penguins), Justin Danforth (Blue Jackets), Tanner Jeannot (Kings), Nick Bjugstad (Utah HC) et Anthony Mantha (Flames).
Obviously, some players will sign a contract extension with their respective team by the end of the season. However, it still gives a good idea of what the list of players available on July 1 could potentially look like.
Who on this list should the Canadian have in his sights to improve his training for next year?
Canada
