The NHL’s free-agency kickoff date is less than 10 days away, and THN.com has been posting an ongoing series in which we analyze the key free agents who will be UFAs on July 1. We began the series with a breakdown of the top eight UFA defensemen. Then, we focused on the top seven available wingers. And most recently, we looked at the top six centers. 

Finally, in this file, we’re examining the NHL’s top eight UFA goaltenders. This is the thinnest class of players by position in this summer’s free-agent group, but the need for solid netminding has never been greater, so at least a couple of netminders are bound to be paid decently. 

Let’s break down the best goalies that are going to be playing for the highest bidder:

1. Jake Allen, New Jersey Devils

It is a measure of the dearth of quality goalies that Allen, who went 13-16-1 as a backup for Devils starter Jacob Markstrom last season, is considered the best UFA goalie option this summer. The 34-year-old Allen’s individual numbers (including a .908 save percentage and 2.66 goals-against average) indicate that he can still have a positive impact on a playoff-bound team, and Allen is sure to have multiple options for where he’ll play in 2025-26. But is Allen seen as a truly elite goalie and Grade-A difference-maker? No, he isn’t, and that will be reflected in his new deal.

Allen earned $3.85 million this past year, and while there will be teams that want goaltending help as a priority, we don’t see a bidding war breaking out for Allen or any other goalie. In a market where veteran netminder Anthony Stolarz had to settle for $2.5 million last summer, we don’t see Allen getting much more than that this year. Allen can certainly help a team, but nobody will be breaking the bank to get his signature on a contract.

2. Ilya Samsonov, Vegas Golden Knights

Samsonov’s inconsistent play is the chief reason he’s bounced between three teams in his six-year NHL career. The 28-year-old posted a 16-9-4 record with the Golden Knights this past season, as well as a 2.82 GAA and .891 SP. Those numbers weren’t bad for a guy making $1.8 million, but the fact Vegas hasn’t signed him to an extension is rather telling.

The lack of high-end goalies means Samsonov might be able to make slightly more than he earned last year, but anything more than $2 million per year will be seen as an overpayment – and anything more than a two-year contract will also be seen as overly-generous. Samsonov hasn’t shown he can be a consistently solid No. 1 option between the pipes, so he’ll likely be Plan B in a tandem on a team challenging for a playoff berth.

3. Alex Lyon, Detroit Red Wings

The 32-year-old Lyon has evolved into a journeyman goaltender, playing on four teams in his eight-year NHL career. He was an acceptable 14-9-1 with the Red Wings in 2024-25, earning a very reasonable $900,000 while putting up a 2.81 GAA and .896 SP.

That said, Lyon isn’t likely to be a starter wherever he decides to sign. But if a playoff team can bring him aboard at a contract with an average annual salary of less than $2 million to be part of a tandem where he plays 30-35 games, the team should be pleased with the investment they make in him.

4. Dan Vladar, Calgary Flames

At 27 years old, Vladar is one of the younger options available to teams seeking goalie depth. Given that he set a new career-high in appearances last year with 30 for the Flames, Vladar hasn’t shown the ability to be a workhorse at the NHL level. But in the right situation, he could be a solid backup option.

Vladar generated a .898 SP and 2.80 GAA and a 12-11-6 record in Calgary last season, and his salary of $2.2 million will likely be matched by one team or another. But if his next deal comes in under the $2 million threshold, it’ll be because he took less to play on a playoff-caliber group. The Flames weren’t that team in 2024-25, so a change of employer is probable for Vladar.

5. Vitek Vanecek, Florida Panthers

Vanecek won a Cup with the Panthers this year, but it wasn’t as if he played any kind of meaningful role with Florida. He didn’t play a single minute in the playoffs, and after coming over from San Jose in a trade, Vanecek had a 2-4-1 record, an .890 SP and 3.00 GAA as a Panther in the regular season. 

Consequently, nobody believes the 29-year-old can be a starter on an elite team, and he’s going to take a sizeable pay cut on the $3.4 million he earned last season. If Vanecek gets even half that amount, it’ll probably be on a team that isn’t considered a playoff lock. And Vanecek will have to prove his worth on what likely will be a one-year deal.

6. David Rittich, Los Angeles Kings

Rittich is the dictionary definition of a journeyman, playing on five teams in his nine-year NHL career. The 32-year-old had a 16-14-2 mark in 34 appearances for the Kings in 2025-26, posting a .887 SP and 2.84 GAA in that span. Nothing too tantalizing, but not a poor showing, either.

Rittich made an even $1 million last year, and it’s hard to imagine he’ll make much more than that on his next contract. He’s going to be a backup netminder, and the only question will be which team brings him on in a supporting role.

7. Anton Forsberg, Ottawa Senators

Fosrberg was the understudy of Linus Ullmark in Ottawa last season, and his individual numbers have been fairly consistent from year to year. He appeared in 30 games in 2024-25 – and he’s played no more than 30 games in each of the past three seasons. Meanwhile, Forsberg put up a .901 SP and 2.72 GAA last season. However, the 32-year-old had a record of 11-12-3 with the Senators, and that means his salary last season of $2.75 million is likely to be cut in half, and that could be generous. 

Forsberg is still an NHL-caliber netminder, but he’ll almost assuredly be playing for $1 million or so as a backup option. And it probably won’t be with the Sens, who’ll be moving in a different direction to find Ullmark’s backup.

8. James Reimer, Buffalo Sabres

Father Time has been kind to the 37-year-old Reimer, who posted a 10-8-2 record, a .901 SP and a 2.90 GAA on a sub-par Sabres team last season. Reimer’s salary of $1 million may be cut by a quarter on his next contract, which will likely be his final contract. And that’s if Reimer gets a contract at all.

Reimer hasn’t yet announced his retirement, but he battled his way to 525 career games-played, and he should be proud of his longevity. But teams aren’t giving out contracts based on past glory, so Reimer will have to take whatever he can get if he wants to extend his career. Still, as a league-minimum-salary player, he could be worth taking a gamble on to improve a team’s net depth.

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The Detroit Red Wings have inquired about New York Islanders pending restricted free agent defenseman Noah Dobson.

Reporter Bob Duff cites that Elliotte Friedman stated that Detroit's offer includes forwards J.T. Compher and Jonatan Berggren, with draft picks also likely being part of the discussion. 

Compher, 30, recorded 32 points (11 goals, 21 assists) in 76 games this past season. He primarily centered the Red Wings' third line and has three years left on his deal at $5.1 million annually. 

Berggren, 23, recorded 24 points (12 goals, 12 assists) in 76 games. He is a restricted free agent and played as Compher's right winger, but he is also capable of playing on both sides. 

The Red Wings own the 13th pick in the upcoming 2025 NHL Draft. 

There's no question the Islanders could use some shoring up of their bottom six, and with Jean-Gabriel Pageau garnering interest, getting a centerman so that Cal Ritchie doesn't have to be rushed into a second-line center role -- will see if Mathew Barzal stays on the wing or not -- Compfer is a solid addition. 

The Islanders need wingers, and getting a young one wouldn't hurt. 

But given Dobson's potential output -- he already has a 70-point season under his belt -- the Islanders can likely get much stronger pieces or draft assets from other teams. 

Dobson, a 25-year-old who will be a restricted free agent on July 1, was rumored to be asking for $11 million annually on his next deal. While that may not be accurate — the number is likely closer to $10 million — Islanders general manager Mathieu Darche has to make a decision.

The #Isles have Dobson’s price. And if they can’t meet it, they’ll have to move him.

Clarity & possibilities @TheElmontershttps://t.co/P3MCeahZsi

— Stefen Rosner (@stefen_rosner) June 21, 2025

Dobson is arbirtationg eligible and is one season away from being an unrestricted free agent. 

Stay updated with the most interesting Islanders stories, analysis, breaking news and more! Tap the star to add us to your favorites on Google News to never miss a story.

D-man who ‘could end up being a trophy winner' has compelling combo for Flyers originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

The 2025 NHL draft is a huge one for the Flyers’ rebuild.

Not only does Danny Briere have a lot of high-round picks at his disposal, but he also could be creative in how he uses them.

“There are all kinds of possibilities here,” the Flyers’ general manager said in April. “I think it’s really exciting going into it. It’s powerful to have so many picks like that. I think a lot of teams will be wanting to have discussions with us to make some things happen — teams that don’t have picks or teams that want to tweak things.”

So it’s a busy time for the Flyers leading up to the draft, which will be held June 27-28. The first round is Friday at 7 p.m. ET, while Rounds 2-7 are Saturday starting at noon ET.

“There are really good players in this draft,” TSN director of scouting Craig Button said May 27 in a phone interview with NBC Sports Philadelphia. “Maybe people say it’s not a good draft; I’m not buying it. I think this draft has got lots of good players.”

The Flyers are slotted to make 11 picks, including three first-rounders and four second-rounders. Their first-round selections will come at No. 6 (own pick), No. 22 (Sean Walker trade) and No. 31 (Oilers trade).

Before the draft arrives, we’re breaking down first-round targets for the Flyers.

Next up:

Kashawn Aitcheson

Position: Defenseman
Height: 6-foot-2
Weight: 199
Shoots: Left
Team: Barrie

Scouting report

NHL teams are going to love Aitcheson because he plays with a serious swagger. He defends his teammates, he’ll flatten opponents with heavy hits and, oh, he can score a little, too.

After a big goal or fight, he likes to play to the crowd.

“He’s one of my favorite players in this draft class,” Dan Marr, the vice president of NHL Central Scouting, said June 11 in a phone interview with NBC Sports Philadelphia. “We moved him up to make a statement on our final list. This guy could end up being a trophy winner down the road.”

Aitcheson is the ninth-ranked North American skater by NHL Central Scouting, climbing six spots from his No. 15 midterm mark.

“This is a guy that you want to have on your team,” Marr, who worked in scouting and player development for over 20 years, said. “I think he’s a consummate team player. He has got the game, the punch skills, the hockey sense and just the intuition. Because he knows when it’s time to up his physical game, he knows when the game’s on the line and you need a goal or you’re protecting a lead, how to make those plays or generate those chances. I just like the way he reads the game.”

This season, the 18-year-old was third among OHL defensemen with 26 goals, behind only 2024 ninth overall pick Zayne Parekh (33) and 2024 11th overall pick Sam Dickinson (29). Aitcheson finished with 59 points, 88 penalty minutes and a plus-6 rating in 64 regular-season games for the 2024-25 Colts. He added 12 points (six goals, six assists) in 16 playoff games.

It’s fair to wonder if Aitcheson’s offensive production will translate to the NHL level, but his intangibles and style of defense definitely should. Button has Aitcheson as the 15th-best player in the draft, while EliteProspects.com has him at No. 18.

“I don’t know that he’s mean, but he plays with a purpose, there’s a lot of conviction to his game,” Marr said. “Everyone likes that physical element because the forwards know coming against him, you need to keep your head up. And in a 1-on-1 battle, he’s likely going to come out on top, so it really makes the opposing team adjust their game when they’re coming up against him.”

Fit with Flyers

There’s a lot to like about Aitcheson’s makeup and how he could fit in Philadelphia.

Cam York and Emil Andrae, two of the Flyers’ young lefty shots, are not big defensemen, so Aitcheson would add some size on that side. He’d have the chance to possibly play alongside 2023 first-rounder Oliver Bonk in the future.

If the Flyers were to draft Aitcheson, he’d be the second Colt they’ve taken in the first round over the last six years, joining Tyson Foerster (2020 — 23rd overall).

The problem is Aitcheson would be a reach for the Flyers at No. 6 and it doesn’t look like he’ll be around come the 22nd pick. If he’s available within that range, the Flyers could trade up to take him.

More targets

• Hagens is ‘Matt Duchene type of player’ who could be on Flyers’ radar at No. 6

• Flyers would probably love if Barkov-like prospect is available at No. 6

• ‘Fascinating,’ 6-foot-5 center has tons of intrigue for Flyers at No. 6

• Younger brother of Flyers prospect is ‘complete’ center and option at No. 6

• ‘David Krejci-like’ center with plenty of upside would give Flyers good decision

• Could a 6-foot-6, ‘just blossoming’ defenseman be a fit for Flyers at No. 6?

• Will Flyers grab prospect with ‘really, really unique’ combination at No. 6?

• Reschny’s performance vs. 2024 top prospect should have Flyers’ eye in first round

• Flyers could have three shots at ‘dynamic, explosive skater’ on the wing

• Finding another Foerster? Flyers may have one if they draft Bear in first round

• Martone would offer Flyers ‘pretty complete package’ if he’s there at No. 6

• Flyers’ future power play QB? 6-foot-4 defenseman has ‘offensive punch’

• ‘That’s how tight it is’ — Eklund could interest Flyers among international prospects

• A center with ‘really, really strong’ upside could be first-round sleeper for Flyers

• Big winger with ‘really good top-end speed’ might be around Flyers at No. 22

Slovak defenseman Branislav Mezei, 44, has signed a one-year contract extension with his hometown club, HK Nitra, to play what will be his 26th season of professional hockey, the Slovak Extraliga club announced on Saturday.

“Throughout (last) season, I had in my mind that it wasn’t the last season,” said Mezei. “So it wasn’t a decision that was made at the end, but throughout the season, depending on how I felt and how much fun I had with my teammates. I was more or less determined during the season to continue.

“I haven’t even had the thought of ending my career yet, but of course, it also depends on the club whether they are still interested in bringing me back,” he continued. “Management said yes, so that also made the decision easier for me.”

Nitra, a city of about 80,000 people located approximately 100 km northeast of Bratislava, is where Mezei was born and raised until age 16, when he went overseas to play junior hockey for the OHL’s Belleville Bulls, who no longer exist.

His junior career included an OHL championship and an appearance in the 1999 Memorial Cup, which also included Roberto Luongo, Francois Beauchemin, Brad Stuart, Nick Boynton, Brian Campbell and teammate Jonathan Cheecho. He also played in that year’s World Junior Championship, where Slovakia won its first-ever IIHF medal – a bronze. His teammates included Ladislav Nagy and Marián Gáborik. Other players in the tournament included Luongo, Brian Gionta, Simon Gagné, Nikolai Antropov and Daniel and Henrik Sedin.

Brett Ritchie Moves From Slovakia To Germany – Nitra Club President Blames Slovak RefsCanadian right winger Brett Ritchie, 31, has been released from his contract with Slovak Extraliga club HK Nitra and has signed to play the remainder of the current season with the Schwenninger Wild Wings, the German DEL club announced on Wednesday.

Mezei was chosen in the first round, 10th overall, by the New York Islanders in the 1999 NHL Entry Draft. The Islanders had acquired the pick from the Montreal Canadiens in exchange for Trevor Linden.

Between 2000 and 2008, Mezei played 527 NHL games for the Islanders and Florida Panthers, recording 24 points and 311 penalty minutes.

Mezei split the 2004-05 lockout season between Oceláři Třinec in the Czech Extraliga and Dukla Trenčín in Slovakia, where his teammates included Radek Bonk, Pavol Demitra, Marián Hossa and Gáborik. Between 2008 and 2014, he played for eight different clubs in the KHL, Czechia and Finland before returning to Nitra in October 2014. He’s remained there ever since.

Highlights since his return to Nitra over a decade ago include national titles in 2016 and 2024. Along the way he mentored young defenseman Šimon Nemec, who now plays for the New Jersey Devils.

“I’m home, I’m playing for my hometown, that’s always extra motivation,” said Mezei. “My son also plays hockey, so I’m glad that I can still be there and I can be a role model for him, so it all came together somehow.”

Photo © Lou Capozzola-Imagn Images: Branislav Mezei playing for the Florida Panthers in the 2005-06 season. 

8th-seeded Nitra improbably wins Slovak titleRather improbably, HK Nitra is the champion of the Slovak Extraliga. After finishing eighth out of 12 teams during the regular season, Nitra barely survived a play-in series against Dukla Trenčín, but then eliminated, in succession first-seeded HK Poprad in the quarterfinals, second-seeded Dukla Michalovce in the semifinals, and then swept third-seeded HK Spišská Nová Ves in the finals.

EDMONTON – It’s one of the busiest times of the year.

The Edmonton Oilers certainly have some work ahead of themselves.

Bookmark The Hockey News Edmonton Oilers team site to never miss the latest news, game-day coverage, and more. 

NHL teams are engaging in contract extensions with free agents about to hit the market. The scouting staff is finalizing their draft lists. And to top it all off, the Florida Panthers are in the heart of their Stanley Cup celebrations.

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One of the ways that teams can improve their team is via signing free agents. These conversations and discussions will be the topic of rumors for the next 12 days. 

Yesterday, The Fourth Period published their list of the Top 40 UFAs for this offseason. Here are the two free agents that the Oilers are connected to, who didn’t play for the team in 2024-25.

Jake Allen

Previous Contract: $3.85 million

Number 14 on the list of the top 40 UFAs is New Jersey Devils goaltender Jake Allen. Allen is a 34-year-old veteran who has played for three teams throughout his 13-year NHL career. He has also played for the St. Louis Blues and Montreal Canadiens.

Allen had a record of 13-16-1 in 29 starts for the Devils. He posted a 2.66 goals against average, a .908 save percentage, four shutouts, and a Goals Saved Above Expected of 18.4. Allen has also been connected to the San Jose Sharks and Philadelphia Flyers.

Ryan Lindgren

Previous Contract: $4.5 million

Number 18 on the list is defenseman Ryan Lindgren. The left-handed defender split his 2024-25 season between the New York Rangers and Colorado Avalanche. He plays a more rugged style and is only 27 years old.

Lindgren played 72 games, recording 22 points, 62 shots, blocking 128 shots, and throwing 80 hits while playing 19:42 per game. The report also links him to the Columbus Blue Jackets, Boston Bruins, and Detroit Red Wings.

There is plenty of time between now and the start of next year’s preseason. But the next couple of weeks will be busy, with both of these free agents likely signing with a new team.

Time will tell if either of them signs with the Oilers.

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The Ottawa Senators are set to pick 21st overall in the first round of the NHL Draft this Friday in Los Angeles. After a 2024 draft class where they leaned into size and physicality, many expect them to stick with that approach, especially with the Florida Panthers winning back-to-back Stanley Cups the way they just did. The Panthers have a skilled roster, uniquely bolstered by size and toughness.

It's literally a copy cats league right now.

But true skill is a lot harder to find than size, and one player who might be available when the Senators step up to the podium is Cullen Potter, a skilled forward who’s one of the best skaters available in the draft.

After putting up 46 points in 54 games with the U.S. National Team Development Program’s U17 squad, he jumped to the NCAA a year early last season. Playing as a 17-year-old freshman, Potter scored 13 goals in 35 games, which is almost unheard of for a player his age.

Potter has serious wheels with and without the puck. He has the kind of speed that tends to get opposing defensemen on their heels, backing up faster and deeper than they’d like so they don’t get burned wide. That often gives Potter the room he needs to claim the blue line and make them pay with his puck skill and quick release.

However, at 5-foot-10, 172 pounds, Potter isn’t the biggest guy, which can affect his ability to win or engage in puck battles. So the league’s be-more-like-the-Florida-Panthers trend may be working against him in the rankings, as it may with Calgary Hitmen forward Ben Kindel, whom we profiled earlier.

Potential First-Round Draft Targets For The Ottawa Senators: Maybe Another Calgary Hitman? Leading up to the 2025 NHL Draft, we’ll examine some of the young players that the draft experts think might be available to the Ottawa Senators when they step up to the podium to make the evening’s 21st overall selection.

Scouts have also suggested that Potter’s two-way game needs some work, but that’s true of most 18-year-olds. What you got away with in your draft year won’t fly in the NHL. But adding a little more emphasis on defence is a hell of a lot more teachable than speed and skill.

So TSN’s Craig Button has him ranked at #50, though his opinion on the player is a major outlier. Almost everyone has him going in the top 30. The Hockey News’ Tony Ferrari even has him going as high as #10.

Ferrari: “Potter is a superb transition presence, moving the puck up ice with excellent crossovers and puck handling as he weaves through traffic. His processing of what is happening on the ice when the puck is on his stick is ahead of most players at his age, and he can exploit passing and shooting lanes with precision. There may not be a player in this draft class who has been more snake-bitten by his teammates than Cullen Potter. From pucks bouncing off their sticks or being shot wide when they have an awning cage, these kinds of things won’t happen forever, and Potter will be the beneficiary.”

-

His linemates didn't finish enough? Now that’s the kind of info that can turn a player into a fine sleeper pick. From a consensus standpoint, there’s a good chance he’s still on the board when Steve Staios announces Ottawa’s pick.

Speed and skill are the rarest of commodities and will always be intriguing, no matter what the frame looks like. Ask the Montreal Canadiens if they’re interested in trading Cole Caufield or Lane Hutson right now. Even with all the bigs around him, five-foot-nine Brad Marchand was unreal for the Panthers in the playoffs. Those players are all smaller than Potter.

Potter had 8 points in 7 games at the World-U18 Championships. He had 8 points in 9 games for the US-NTDP U18s and then 13 goals and 22 points in 35 games for Arizona State.

He also has excellent hockey bloodlines. His mom is Jenny Schmidgall-Potter, former Team USA captain who played in 10 World Championships and four Olympic Games over her international career. 

If Cullen is still on the board when the Senators make their pick at 21, he could give Ottawa something they’re missing in their prospect pipeline: a fast, creative forward who can make plays at high speed. Big players are nice, but if their skill isn’t elite at the amateur level, it’s not likely to improve in the NHL. If they are highly skilled, then they’re a unicorn and almost always taken before the 21st selection.

There’s always an element of hope and luck at 21, but if you play your cards right, skill and speed are always worth betting on. It may run contrary to the Senators' draft philosophy, but sometimes good things do come in smaller packages.

Steve Warne
The Hockey News Ottawa
(Banner image credit: Michael Augello, The Hockey News)

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