Five Veteran UFAs That Can Help Teams Level Up

As NHL free agency approaches, there are veterans in need of new deals who could provide great value on low-cost contracts. In no particular order, here are five experienced, above-average UFA players who could help a team next season:

The 29-year-old Teravainen quietly goes about his business as a regular 20-goals-plus scorer, and while his most recent salary cap hit of $5.4 million is not insignificant, the Finnish winger could and should land a solid, multi-season deal this summer. The Hurricanes may look in another direction and let Teravainen move on, and if he does, Teravainen will be a terrific addition to a playoff-contending team’s top-six group of forwards. Teravainen will be seeking a lot of term in his next contract, but if the per-season money number is right, we can see him agreeing to a three-or-four-year contract with no-trade protection.

Stephenson’s offense took a bit of a dip this past season, with his assist total dropping to 35 from 49 in the 2022-23 campaign. However, the 30-year-old’s Stanley Cup championship pedigree means he’s going to get a significant raise on the $2.75-million salary he earned with Vegas in 2023-24. Stephenson may re-sign with the Golden Knights, but Vegas doesn’t have a wealth of cap space, and they may have no choice but to let Stephenson walk in free agency. There are many teams seeking what Stephenson brings to the table – speed and smarts, mainly – and Vegas GM Kelly McCrimmon could be outlasted in a bidding war for his services.

Playing in the final year of a contract that carried a $4-million cap hit, DeBrusk had a sub-par season on offense, but he still put together a 19-goal, 40-point season for the Bruins. He may choose to remain in Boston, but DeBrusk’s skill set makes him a highly-valued winger who will have no shortage of suitors. A team that has legitimate Cup aspirations will pay DeBrusk at least $4 million per year – more likely, he’ll come in at between $5-6 million per season – and being on a strong team will be a priority for the 27-year-old. DeBrusk will be hotly pursued, and if Boston doesn’t bring him back, he’ll be a nice catch for the team that does sign him.

The market for defensemen is going to be white-hot this summer, and Skjei will be one of the most pursued blueliners. At age 30, Skjei will get a major bump-up in pay from the $5.25 million he earned with the Hurricanes this past season. Carolina has a lot of cap space, but they probably can't bring back both Skjei and teammate Brett Pesce. Any Cup front-runner would be happy to pay Skjei $7-8 million per season, and it really comes down to Skjei’s personal preference of his next employer. A bidding war is almost assuredly going to take place with Skjei, and the team that wins it will be getting a D-man in his prime, so there’s no question Skjei will be a hot commodity.

The 28-year-old Duclair is somewhat of a journeyman, and he split last season between the San Jose Sharks and Lightning, producing 24 goals and 42 points in 73 games while earning $3 million per season. Duclair is three seasons removed from a 31-goal, 58-point year, and if a playoff front-runner signs him to a deal in the same area of what he made last season – likely on a one-or-two-year deal – Duclair could provide much-needed offense. Duclair is a gun-for-hire at this stage of his NHL career, and the team that wins the battle for his services will likely be very pleased at the results he delivers.