NHL Free-Agency Rumors: Buy or Sell Teams in on Brock Boeser

When it comes to the NHL’s 2025 free-agent class, there is a big drop-off in impact forward talent once you get beyond the Toronto Maple Leafs duo of Mitch Marner and John Tavares. But one of the more intriguing names, and perhaps most impactful players, to hit the open market is likely to be Vancouver Canucks forward Brock Boeser.

The Canucks have already said they intend to let him test the open market, while they're open to a return if he does not get the type of offer he wants.

That seems unlikely given what spending might look like this offseason with an increasing salary cap.

Even though Boeser may never again match his 40-goal season from a year ago, he is still an established 25- to 30-goal scorer. He will only be 28 years old to start next season, but he should be a top player in a thin free-agent class for finishers.

So, let’s examine some potential options for him in free agency and buy or sell them as a realistic landing spot.

After a seventh consecutive non-playoff season, there is going to be pressure for the Ducks to make a big move toward the playoffs, and general manager Pat Verbeek already said he intends to be aggressive this offseason in an effort to make that happen.

The Ducks have an extremely promising young core and some rapidly improving players, but they were still only 30th in the NHL in goals scored this season.

They are also entering the offseason with more than $38 million in salary cap space, the third-highest amount in the league. They are well-positioned to make some big splashes if they want.

Buy or sell: Buy. It remains to be seen how aggressive the Ducks are going to be this offseason (do they get aggressive and go after somebody like Marner?), but given their goal-scoring needs, Boeser’s ability to finish and the rest of the players available on the free-agent market, this would figure to be another good potential match.

The Hurricanes always have one of the NHL’s best and deepest teams with almost no flaws on their roster. The two things that could put them in the market for a free agent like Boeser are the need for another player with top-line finishing ability, as well as the fact that they have several pending unrestricted free agents in a few months. That list includes Taylor Hall, Jack Roslovic and other depth players.

Buy or sell: Buy. Even with a good, deep team, Carolina still has plenty of salary cap flexibility this offseason and has a need for more players who can finish and help turn their territorial dominance into more goal-scoring dominance.

The concerning thing for the Blackhawks is that in year two of the Connor Bedard era, they won fewer games than they did in the year they gutted their roster and tanked for a chance to acquire him. That is not how it is supposed to work.

Even though Chicago has plenty of first-round draft picks making their way to the NHL, there is no guarantee they will all pan out. There is also no guarantee they will be good enough this season.

Bottom line: this team needs more good players.

Chicago could use more finishers, and there is almost nobody in the NHL with more salary cap flexibility than the Blackhawks. They could be in the market for pretty much any player they want.

Buy or sell: Sell. There is a need and the cash flexibility to make it work, but the issue might be more centered around why Boeser would want to go to a team that is still this bad and so far away. Sure, money talks. But he can probably get good money from better teams. 

Speaking of teams under pressure to make the playoffs. The Detroit Red Wings are now on nine consecutive playoff seasons, including six under general manager Steve Yzerman.

Even worse, team captain Dylan Larkin said on Monday that the locker room was a little disappointed over the team’s inactivity at the trade deadline. Pressure is starting to build here, and the losing can no longer be accepted.

They had a brief surge following the coaching change and decision to hire Todd McLellan to replace Derek Lalonde, but that surge was mostly power-play driven, as the team did not really improve any of its key areas.

With veterans like Patrick Kane and Craig Smith also headed to unrestricted free agency, as well as the team only being a mediocre offensive team during 5-on-5 play, there is a big need for more scoring help.

Buy or sell: Sell. Even though there is a need, Yzerman has not really shown much urgency in improving his roster, and if he does so this offseason, he should put more focus on prioritizing the team’s biggest weakness — defensive play and goal prevention.

This could be an interesting offseason for the Wild because for the first time in years they are going to be positioned to have a real offseason.

Not only is the salary cap set to increase significantly, but the worst of the Zach Parise and Ryan Suter buyouts are going to finally be behind them. They are set to enter the summer with more than $20 million in salary cap space and will have a need for another finisher on their roster.

They have not been able to build the type of team they have wanted in recent years, and depth has been a concern. They have finished lower than 20th in goals scored in each of the past three seasons, and Boeser could add another finishing element to their roster.

Buy or sell: Buy. Not only because of the fit offensively, and with Minnesota having money to spend, but Boeser is also from Minnesota. It is a good potential match, and the Wild could make the money work if they want to spend it.

After trying to significantly upgrade its defense before the 2024-25 season with the trades for Mikhail Sergachev and John Marino, Utah needs to make a similar investment in its forward group this offseason.

Utah has a couple of really good young scorers in Logan Cooley and Dylan Guenther, along with a nice collection of veterans (Clayton Keller, Nick Schmaltz).

It just needs more of them.

With already 19 players under contract for next season, Utah still has over $22 million in salary cap space to work with. That is some major flexibility.

Buy or sell: Buy. Utah is trying to build a fan base in a new market, while the organization has some real ownership that can make a serious effort to win. We already saw some big spending in the team’s first year in Utah, and the opportunity is there for more this offseason. Boeser would be a solid fit with the current core group of players, while also still leaving enough salary cap flexibility for more help elsewhere.