A Look at the Top 5 RFAs for 2025

After the shocking dual offer sheet drama this past summer that saw the St. Louis Blues poach Philip Broberg and Dylan Holloway from the Edmonton Oilers, perhaps teams may have to think twice about letting their pending unrestricted free agents get too far into the coming offseason without a new deal.

With that as the backdrop, with the help of Sportsnet's Luke Fox, we take an early look at the Top 5 RFAs for next summer, and what their futures might hold.

Evan Bouchard, Edmonton Oilers

There's not much doubt what Bouchard's future holds: a whole lot of money. Recent reports suggest that the Oilers might have to go to a $10.5 million AAV on a long-term deal to secure their superstar defenseman. The team was busy locking up Leon Draisaitl to his huge deal this past summer, but between Bouchard and the extension-eligible Connor McDavid, it's going to be another very costly offseason for Edmonton.

Noah Dobson, NY Islanders

Surprisingly, suggests Fox, there's "uncertainty in the air" about Dobson's next contract on the Island. He notes that in the recent past, GM Lou Lamoriello has been proactive on his biggest RFAs, re-signing forward Mathew Barzal and goaltender Ilya Sorokin to long-term deals before it got to this point. Fox figures Dobson, who led all pending UFAs in ice time last season with 24:30, could be in line for an 8-year deal with an $8M AAV.

Wyatt Johnston, Dallas Stars

At just 21, Johnston is already a major "play driver" for the Cup-contending Stars, says Fox, but the team will have to balance their budget with a slew of other young core players in need of an extension a year from now, including Jason Robertson, Thomas Harley and Logan Stankoven.

Luke Hughes, New Jersey Devils

The comp for the next Hughes who is set to land a big extension with the Devils is the recent signing of Brock Faber in Minnesota for eight years x $8.5M. That would put him at a shade over big bro Jack's $8M AAV.

JJ Peterka, Buffalo Sabres

Fox figures a bridge deal might be coming for Peterka, unless a long-term package with an AAV north of $7M can be worked out.