Party on Fifth Ave.

[Captain Canada]

Mitch Marner the crowned jewel of veteran-laden free agency class

By Josh Yohe
July 1, 2025

While Canada celebrates their Independence Day, the NHL officially sees the opening of its 2025 free agency period. The immediate cream of the crop is star winger Mitch Marner after not being able to come to an agreement with the team that drafted him, the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Marner, after trying (and failing) to lead the Maple Leafs to the promised land as part of a nucleus that features captain and superstar Auston Matthews, former first overall pick John Tavares, and Swedish star William Nylander, sees his tumultuous time as part of the NHL's most famous franchise come to an end. He scored 35 goals and 102 points - both career-highs - in his contract year, but another down season from the team sees their need to blow things up. Marner, 28-years-old, could ask for one of the biggest contracts in NHL history for a franchise with deep pockets and desperate need for a superstar.

Following in behind Marner includes top Edmonton Oilers defenseman Evan Bouchard, New Jersey Devils young star Luke Hughes, and New York Islanders defenseman Noah Dobson as a trio of top-tier defenseman that can shift the look of a competitive team's depth corps quickly. Hughes, playing with his superstar brother Jack, is expected to either return to New Jersey or join his other brother, Quinn, in Vancouver.

Teams looking for a veteran presence can find it quickly in this class, with the likes of forwards Brad Marchand, Matt Duchene, and Brent Burns all available as older guys who can still put up some serious productivity.

Frederik Andersen, Jake Allen, and the controversial Carter Hart highlight the goaltending options for teams this summer.

Forwards
Mitch Marner
Brad Marchand
Matt Duchene
Mikael Granlund
J.J. Peterka
Kyle Palmieri
Reilly Smith
Jonathan Drouin
Gustav Nyquist
Pius Suter

Defensemen
Evan Bouchard
Noah Dobson
Luke Hughes
Brent Burns
Matt Grzelcyk
Ethan Bear
Ryker Evans
K'Andre Miller
Ryan Lindgren
Nate Schmidt

Goaltenders
Frederik Andersen
Carter Hart
Jake Allen
Devon Levi
Ilya Samsonov
Chris Driedger
Martin Jones
Vitek Vanecek
Anton Forsberg
Malcolm Subban

[djp73]

Anyone on your wish list?

[Captain Canada]

Anyone on your wish list?

With how our cap situation has worked out, feels like getting Brock Boeser back in the resigning period was our big catch. I want to rework some of the money that we have on our books right now with a few trades, but the way things are looking entering free agency, it feels like we're just signing a couple roster fits and moving on with our day.

[djp73]

Roster continuity ain’t a bad thing coming off a championship

[ShireNiner]

I know nothing of hockey so no idea who the players are but bringing back a winning team is never a bad thing for one more run. Really like the layout, looks clean.

[Agent]

Can you afford any of these guys?

[Captain Canada]

Roster continuity ain’t a bad thing coming off a championship

This is true, but need to trim some fat off the roster, that's for sure.

I know nothing of hockey so no idea who the players are but bringing back a winning team is never a bad thing for one more run. Really like the layout, looks clean.

Inspired by you, my boy. I appreciate you coming and checking in.

Can you afford any of these guys?

Top of the line guys? Nope. Not without doing some contractual gymnastics. However, we don't really need any of the stars, we're top-heavy as is.

[Captain Canada]

Penguins put emphasis on depth and youth, sign Mantha and Tanev, trade for Kindel

By Josh Yohe
July 1, 2025

The defending Stanley Cup champion Pittsburgh Penguins have started off their season of reign by reeling in some reinforcements to shore up their bottom six, signing veteran forwards Brandon Tanev and Anthony Mantha to one-year deals. At the same time, they make a push towards the future, trading forward Connor Dewar to division-rival New Jersey Devils for 2025 NHL draftee Benjamin Kindel.

Tanev signed a one-year contract worth $2.1 million while Mantha fetched a contract of equal length, but with a richer $3 million price tag.

Tanev, a 33-year-old forward who scored 10 goals and 26 points in 82 games last season for the Winnipeg Jets, returns to Pittsburgh for his second stint with the team. He last played for the Penguins for two seasons from 2020 until 2022, when he made his way to his breakout campaign with the Seattle Kraken. Tanev brings speed and intensity to the bottom three, regarded as one of the ultimate character guys that the dressing room feeds off of. Tanev figures to slot into the bottom six with the likes of Philip Tomasino, Emil Bemstrom, and Samuel Poulin.

Mantha, 30 years old, suffered through an injury-plagued season operating with the struggle bus that was the Calgary Flames. He scored seven goals and 16 points through a tough 46 games. Recent history shows that Mantha has struggled with injuries, not having played more than 70 games since his 2017-18 campaign with the Detroit Red Wings, back when he was a perennial 20-goal scorer.

As a former first round pick - drafted 20th overall in the 2013 NHL Draft by the Detroit Red Wings - Mantha hopes to get his career back on track, and hopes to get his scoring touch and health back in a lower role with the likes of Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin around to take the scoring pressure off of Mantha.

Lastly, the team sent off Connor Dewar to the Devils for prospect Kindel. The team was looking to select him during the draft where he was selected in the second round, 48th overall, but he was snagged just three picks ahead of the Penguins. His elite skating and beautiful playmaking touch figures to be of unique interest for the team going forward, as he is widely expected to return to the WHL for another season with the Red Deer Rebels.