There is an abundance of free agents this summer who will come with a team-friendly price tag while still offering plenty of talent, so NHL clubs should not let them go unnoticed when July 1 rolls around.
It's important to remember that the salary cap is increasing for the 2025-26 season, so clubs have more money to play around with. With that, the average NHL contract is going to increase in value, too.
But amidst the giant offers being prepared for UFAs like Nikolaj Ehlers and Mitch Marner, there are also those who are flying under the radar and could be a strong offseason addition for the right team.
Connor Brown
Connor Brown is likely to draw a contract in the range of $2 million annually, and for that price, he brings a lot of skill to the table. He has hit the 20-goal plateau twice in his career, and after debilitating surgery just two years ago, has shown the resilience to return to his top form this season.
The 31-year-old is best suited to a middle-six type of role, but has the flexibility to fill any gaps in the lineup. He totalled 13 goals and 30 points in an average of 14:01 TOI during the regular season, while also recording eight points in 19 playoff games for the Edmonton Oilers so far.
He won't produce flashy goals or highlight-reel plays, but Brown gets the job done with his effective play on both sides of the puck. During the regular season, the Oilers had a +27 differential in scoring chances and +45 in high-danger chances when he was on the ice, showing that Brown can limit the opponent and also get the puck moving in the right direction.
Any team in need of a third-line winger should be considering Brown thanks to his work ethic, competitive mindset, and ability to challenge the opponent's puck carriers to win possession for his team.
"Connor Brown is a really good two-way player, whether we put him out there as a shutdown (defenseman) or part of a shutdown line. He's a guy who can move up and down in the lineup and is so valuable in so many different situations."Oilers coach Kris Knoblauch, to NHL.com
Pius Suter
Center Pius Suter enjoyed a breakout season with the Vancouver Canucks this year, and at age 29, he did it at the perfect time. He recorded his first 25-goal season, with a personal best of 46 points in 81 games.
Suter has emerged as an all-situations player for the Canucks, becoming a fixture on the top unit of the penalty kill and also logging power play time. He even had a stint as the team's first-line center when Elias Pettersson went down with an injury.
Estimations place Suter's next contract somewhere around $3 million annually, which is an affordable cost for a guy who topped 20 minutes of ice time in 10 of the final 13 games this year. He tallied five goals and 12 points during that span of increased minutes.
The Switzerland native has developed into a Swiss Army knife type of skater that can compete in whatever role he is needed for that game. His 200-foot play has improved significantly as well as his offensive production, and Suter has the ability to provide some scoring as well as reliable play on the defensive side.
If he can find a team that needs him in that second-line center position, or even take a gamble and run him on the top line, Suter is certainly capable of providing 30-plus goals in a season. That's a steady rate for the amount of money he's probably going to receive.
Nate Schmidt
Nate Schmidt is playing his way into a pay raise. He signed a one-year, $800,000 deal with Florida before this season after having some struggles in previous years, including a buyout by the Winnipeg Jets, but he's likely looking at a new deal around $2.5 million per year.
Until the halfway point of the season, Schmidt was playing just 15:10 TOI on average. As soon as the calendar flipped to 2025, that total jumped to 17:36 per game.
During the current playoff run, Schmidt has looked rejuvenated to say the least. He has been a driving factor in Florida's depth scoring, recording five assists in the first three games of the Stanley Cup Final. That gives him a total of 3 goals and 12 points across 22 playoff games this year.
"He just built his game over the course of the season. The back half of the season, he had adjusted to how to we play. It’s been very effective. And he falls into that category of veteran player that appreciates, that enjoys the playoffs at a really high level. "Panthers coach Paul Maurice to NHL.com
Schmidt's good offensive instincts and skating have been on display as he accurately hits clean passes from long range, and even jumps in on the rush to provide support to Florida's forwards. He is a two-way defenseman who is still capable of logging second-pair minutes, though he's mostly been relegated to Florida's third pairing.
When Schmidt is on the ice at five-on-five in the playoffs, the Panthers have a Corsi for of 55.5% and a +9 goal differential. He is willing to take shots and effectively move the puck, while also playing the body.
There's still a chance that Schmidt re-signs with the Panthers, as he is outspoken about his appreciation for coach Paul Maurice. But Schmidt will certainly be getting a few calls from around the league after bouncing back this season and proving himself to be a worthy fixture in a team's bottom four.