Predicting Landing Spots for the Top 15 Unsigned NHL Free Agents
Grant White
Host · Writer
The 2025-26 season is underway, but there are still a handful of NHL-caliber free agents left unsigned. Check out our list of the top five remaining unsigned free agents.
1. Robby Fabbri
Previous Team: Anaheim Ducks
Age: 29 | Position: Center
2024-25 Stats: 44 GP | 8 G | 8 A | 16 PTS
Career Stats: 442 GP | 106 G | 110 A | 216 PTS
A veteran of 442 NHL games, Robby Fabbri failed to crack the Pittsburgh Penguins‘ lineup out of training camp. Now back on the open market, Fabbri should pop up on a few teams’ radars as they scramble to add depth scoring down the middle.
Predicted Landing Spot: St. Louis Blues
2. Marc-Edouard Vlasic
Previous Team: San Jose Sharks
Age: 38 | Position: Defense
2024-25 Stats: 27 GP | 1 G | 2 A | 3 PTS
Career Stats: 1,323 GP | 84 G | 295 A | 379 PTS
Formerly one of the top shutdown defensemen in the league, Marc-Edouard Vlasic saw declining metrics over the past few seasons. Granted, he was a victim of a poor San Jose Sharks team that asked too much of him without surrounding him with the requisite talent. It could take until the new year, but Vlasic isn’t done with the NHL yet.
Predicted Landing Spot: Toronto Maple Leafs
3. Andreas Athanasiou
Previous Team: Chicago Blackhawks
Age: 31 | Position: Center
2024-25 Stats: 8 GP | 1 G | 0 A | 1 PTS
Career Stats: 495 GP | 128 G | 118 A | 246 PTS
Andreas Athanasiou spent most of last season in the minors, but he still flashed his scoring touch throughout the campaign. The veteran center recorded 11 goals in 30 AHL games, and would be a welcome addition to any team looking for speed up the middle.
Predicted Landing Spot: Minnesota Wild
4. T.J. Brodie
Previous Team: Chicago Blackhawks
Age: 35 | Position: Defense
2024-25 Stats: 54 GP | 2 G | 8 A | 10 PTS
Career Stats: 962 GP | 58 G | 300 A | 358 PTS
T.J. Brodie remains a competent defender with elite offensive instincts. While he only mustered ten points with the Chicago Blackhawks last season, Brodie is only one season removed from a 26-point campaign. He may be in his twilight years, but several teams would benefit from his veteran presence on the blue line.
Predicted Landing Spot: Buffalo Sabres
5. Nicklas Backstrom
Previous Team: Washington Capitals
Age: 37 | Position: Center
2024-25 Stats: 0 GP | 0 G | 0 A | 0 PTS
Career Stats: 1105 GP | 271 G | 762 A | 1033 PTS
After missing the entire 2024-25 campaign, Nicklas Backstrom signed in Sweden in an attempt to regain his NHL touch. The 1,000-point man has a proven track record, but injuries have prevented him from completing more than 61 games since 2018-19. A reunion with his former squad could be the only play he’s trying to make.
Predicted Landing Spot: Washington Capitals
6. Brock McGinn
Previous Team: Anaheim Ducks
Age: 31 | Position: Left Wing
2024-25 Stats: 26 GP | 4 G | 4 A | 8 PTS
Career Stats: 534 GP | 80 G | 78 A | 158 PTS
A veteran of 10 NHL seasons, Brock McGinn was used more sparingly over the past couple of seasons. The left winger appeared in just 26 games last season, bringing his two-year total up to 50. A former 16-goal scorer, several teams could be looking for his depth scoring abilities as the season progresses.
Predicted Landing Spot: Minnesota Wild
7. Ilya Samsonov
Team: Vegas Golden Knights
Age: 28 | Position: Goaltender
2024-25 Stats: 29 GP | 16 W | 9 L | 2 SO | 2.82 GAA | 89.1 SV%
Career Stats: 200 GP | 118 W | 48 L | 15 SO | 2.77 GAA | 90.2 SV%
Formerly a premier starting goalie, Ilya Samsonov has seen deteriorating metrics over the past couple of seasons. In 2024-25, he appeared in 29 games for the Golden Knights, but only produced an 89.1% save percentage. There are some teams in desperate need of goaltending help, and Samsonov could be one of the first netminders they turn to.
Predicted Landing Spot: Edmonton Oilers
8. Klim Kostin
Previous Team: San Jose Sharks
Age: 26 | Position: Center
2024-25 Stats: 35 GP | 1 G | 6 A | 7 PTS
Career Stats: 190 GP | 25 G | 28 A | 53 PTS
Klim Kostin’s best season was way back in 2022-23 with the Oilers. The centerman registered 11 goals and 21 points in 57 games, while benefitting from Edmonton’s elite offensive production. If paired with the right forwards, he could emerge as a solid depth scoring option in the middle-to-bottom six.
Predicted Landing Spot: Carolina Hurricanes
9. Oliver Kylington
Previous Team: Anaheim Ducks
Age: 28 | Position: Defense
2024-25 Stats: 6 GP | 0 G | 1 A | 1 PTS
Career Stats: 220 GP | 18 G | 42 A | 60 PTS
Failing to crack the Hurricanes’ roster out of training camp, Oliver Kylington returned to his native Sweden to start the 2025-26 campaign. Still, he could prove to be a valuable addition to a team’s backend. Kylington has a career rating of +60 and has shown flashes of offense throughout his career. Several playoff teams will likely be keeping an eye on him throughout the season.
Predicted Landing Spot: Vancouver Canucks
10. Jan Rutta
Previous Team: San Jose Sharks
Age: 35 | Position: Defense
2024-25 Stats: 54 GP | 3 G | 6 A | 9 PTS
Career Stats: 417 GP | 23 G | 75 A | 98 PTS
Jan Rutta may be getting older, but he’s not ready to hang up his skates just yet. The veteran defenseman signed overseas, but could receive a call from an NHL team sooner rather than later. While his defensive metrics fell off with the San Jose Sharks, he could be a valuable asset on the backend of a contending team.
Predicted Landing Spot: Washington Capitals
11. Jon Merrill
Previous Team: Minnesota Wild
Age: 33 | Position: Defense
2024-25 Stats: 70 GP | 2 G | 4 A | 6 PTS
Career Stats: 682 GP | 24 G | 91 A | 115 PTS
Jon Merrill is another NHL-caliber defenseman looking for a new home. He remains unsigned, but has proven to be a valuable contributor at both ends of the ice. Merrill’s offensive abilities are trumped by his defensive play, which was perfectly suited for the Minnesota Wild’s system. When injuries arise, Merrill will be called upon.
Predicted Landing Spot: Minnesota Wild
12. James Reimer
Team: Buffalo Sabres
Age: 37 | Position: Goaltender
2024-25 Stats: 24 GP | 10 W | 10 L | 1 SO | 3.04 GAA | 89.6 SV%
Career Stats: 525 GP | 225 W | 187 L | 31 SO | 2.89 GAA | 91.0 SV%
Age may have slowed down James Reimer, but his NHL career might not be at a stop yet. Reimer showed that he remains a competent backup, posting ten wins across two teams last season. Goaltending remains an issue for several contending teams, and Reimer would be a depth option, if needed.
Predicted Landing Spot: Toronto Maple Leafs
13. Brendan Smith
Previous Team: Dallas Stars
Age: 36 | Position: Defense
2024-25 Stats: 32 GP | 1 G | 5 A | 6 PTS
Career Stats: 726 GP | 39 G | 105 A | 144 PTS
Last season, Brendan Smith continued to log minutes against opponents’ top offensive contributors, without sacrificing his defensive play. The Ontario native finished the season with a sub-optimal -9 rating, still putting together a respectable analytics profile. Any team needing a shutdown defenseman should look his way.
Predicted Landing Spot: Nashville Predators
14. Craig Smith
Previous Team: Detroit Red Wings
Age: 36 | Position: Center
2024-25 Stats: 59 GP | 9 G | 9 A | 18 PTS
Career Stats: 987 GP | 220 G | 232 A | 452 PTS
Needing just 13 games to crack the 1,000-game plateau, Craig Smith would likely answer the call from any team. After getting traded ahead of the deadline, Smith never found his rhythm with the Detroit Red Wings. Still, his scoring potential remains promising without compromising play in the defensive zone.
Predicted Landing Spot: Chicago Blackhawks
15. Tucker Poolman
Previous Team: Colorado Avalanche
Age: 32 | Position: Defense
2024-25 Stats: 0 GP | 0 G | 0 A | 0 PTS
Career Stats: 163 GP | 6 G | 17 A | 23 PTS
Migraine issues have forced Tucker Poolman to the sidelines, but he could be a solid defensive depth option should his injuries resolve. Poolman has played the prototypical shutdown role throughout his career, often lining up against other teams’ premier scorers. If he gets a clean bill of health, several teams could inquire about his services.
Predicted Landing Spot: Chicago Blackhawks
Stay ahead of the game and elevate your sports betting experience with SportsGrid.
