NHL free agency opens on July 1, and UFAs will be in high demand. To that end, THN.com [http://thn.com] has been chronicling the free agents who will be available if they don’t sign with their current clubs. We began with the top defensemen on the market [https://thehockeynews.com/news/latest-news/nhl-free-agency-top-eight-pending-ufa-defenseman], followed by the top wingers available [https://thehockeynews.com/news/latest-news/nhl-free-agency-top-seven-pending-ufa-wingers], the top centers [https://thehockeynews.com/news/latest-news/nhl-free-agency-top-six-pending-ufa-centers] and the top goalies [https://thehockeynews.com/news/latest-news/nhl-free-agency-top-eight-pending-ufa-goalies]. We now turn our attention to the other best 10 depth forwards who will be playing for the highest bidder next year. Let’s get to it, in alphabetical order: ANTHONY BEAUVILLIER, C, WASHINGTON CAPITALS The 28-year-old Beauvillier is a journeyman now, playing for five teams in the past three seasons alone. He’s capable of providing 10 to 15 goals in a full season, but his 2024-25 salary of $1.25 million [https://puckpedia.com/player/anthony-beauvillier] won’t be increased by much, if at all, making him a second- or third-tier option for teams seeking scoring depth in their bottom six forwards. CONNOR BROWN, RW, EDMONTON OILERS Brown was terrific for the Oilers [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/edmonton-oilers] this past season, generating 13 goals and 30 points in 82 games and another five goals and nine points in 20 playoff games while earning just $1 million [https://puckpedia.com/player/connor-brown]. Edmonton no doubt wants the 31-year-old back, but there could be a minor bidding war for Brown’s services, and he may choose to depart for a team that offers him more money. Connor Brown (Sergei Belski-Imagn Images) [https://deweb-519a7.b-cdn.net/post-images/897bfe63-fa67-4e9e-bcc0-c8f0f8f573f4.jpeg] Connor Brown (Sergei Belski-Imagn Images) JONATHAN DROUIN, LW, COLORADO AVALANCHE Drouin was injured and limited to 43 games for the Avalanche [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/colorado-avalanche], but he still managed to produce 11 goals and 37 points after putting up 19 goals and 56 points in 79 games in 2023-24. Thus, Drouin is in a position to get a raise on the $2.5 million he earned last year [https://puckpedia.com/player/jonathan-drouin]. The 30-year-old has a lot of solid hockey left in him, and on the right team and line, he can have a massive impact on the scoresheet. JOEL KIVIRANTA, LW, COLORADO AVALANCHE Kiviranta posted 16 goals in 79 games this past season, a career high for the 29-year-old Finn while making only $775,000 [https://puckpedia.com/player/joel-kiviranta]. He won’t break the bank by any means on his next contract, but a team looking for a bargain investment could do much worse than signing Kiviranta, who will almost assuredly get at least $1 million next season. STEVEN LORENTZ, LW, TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS The 29-year-old Lorentz won a Stanley Cup with the Florida Panthers [http://thn.com/florida] in 2023-24, and he followed that up with a very solid eight goals and 19 points in 80 games with the Leafs [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/toronto-maple-leafs] this past year. But you’re not signing Lorentz for his offense. Rather, it’s his physical play and abilities on defense that make him valuable, and that will give him a healthy raise on the $775,000 he earned last season [https://puckpedia.com/player/steven-lorentz]. ANDREW MANGIAPANE, LW, WASHINGTON CAPITALS In 2021-22, Mangiapane amassed 35 goals and 55 points for the Calgary Flames [http://thn.com/calgary], setting himself up for the $5.8-million cap hit he’s earned for the past three seasons [https://puckpedia.com/player/andrew-mangiapane]. Unfortunately, he hasn’t put up more than 17 goals in those three years, so while he still has potential be an effective depth scorer on Washington [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/washington-capitals] or elsewhere, Mangiapane’s asking price on a new contract will fall considerably. He may need to sign a prove-it deal. VICTOR OLOFSSON, LW, VEGAS GOLDEN KNIGHTS The Golden Knights [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/vegas-golden-knights] are famous for churning and burning through talent, and the 29-year-old Olofsson, who generated 15 goals and 29 points in 56 games last season, could be moving on. Olofsson made only $1.075 million last year [https://puckpedia.com/player/victor-olofsson], but some teams will look at his offensive production with the Buffalo Sabres [http://thn.com/buffalo], for whom he posted a combined 48 goals and 89 points in two seasons from 2021-23, and give him a better payday than what he settled for with Vegas. BRANDON SAAD, LW, VEGAS GOLDEN KNIGHTS Saad was cut loose by the St. Louis Blues [http://thn.com/stlouis] halfway through the 2024-25 campaign, but he signed with the Golden Knights for a pro-rated $1.5-million cap hit [https://puckpedia.com/player/brandon-saad], and he amassed six goals and 14 points in 29 regular-season games. At 32 years old, Saad is in the back nine of his NHL career, but any team seeking depth on the wing will take a look at him and potentially offer him the same amount of money on a one- or two-year deal. JAMES VAN RIEMSDYK, LW, COLUMBUS BLUE JACKETS The 36-year-old van Riemsdyk is one of the elder statesmen of the NHL, and he’s bounced between three teams – the Philadelphia Flyers [http://thn.com/philadelphia], Boston Bruins [http://thn.com/boston], and Blue Jackets [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/columbus-blue-jackets] – in the past three seasons. That said, van Riemsdyk put up a respectable 16 goals in 71 games with Columbus last year, and his salary of $900,000 [https://puckpedia.com/player/james-vanriemsdyk] likely won’t increase. He can still offer a decent-enough net-front presence and above-average finishing skills. BRANDON TANEV, LW, WINNIPEG JETS Tanev had a combined 10 goals and 22 points split between the Seattle Kraken [http://thn.com/seattle] and Jets [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/winnipeg-jets] this past year at a salary of $3.5 million [https://puckpedia.com/player/brandon-tanev]. The 33-year-old is a bottom-six winger who can add grit and snarl to a team, but his salary is certainly going to drop. He may ultimately choose a team that gives him his best shot at a Cup rather than choosing a team based on the money he’s offered. Get the latest news and trending stories by following The Hockey News on Google News [https://news.google.com/publications/CAAqBwgKMK-q0gsw7sXpAw?hl=en-CA&gl=CA&ceid=CA%3Aen] and by subscribing to The Hockey News newsletter here [http://eepurl.com/i7OC4I]. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com.
