Expect an NHL-wide spending frenzy for centers this offseason

May 23, 2025, 12:45 EDT

Credit: Apr 2, 2025; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Colorado Avalanche center Brock Nelson (11) waits for a faceoff during the second period against the Chicago Blackhawks at United Center. Mandatory Credit: Talia Sprague-Imagn Images

NHL Free Agency is always a crazy time of year. Annually on July 1 – save for the seasons that fell during the COVID-19 pandemic – teams trip over themselves to sign free agents hitting the market, oftentimes resulting in buyer’s remorse and regrettable contracts years away from their expiration. This coming Canada Day figures to bring much of the same, except for one major caveat: a significant rise in the NHL salary cap for the first time since 2019.

With the cap to raise $7.5 million, from $88 million to $95.5 million, teams are gearing up for the first “normal” jump in newly afforded cap space since pre-pandemic. There will surely still be unnecessary dollars spent, but with the cap expected to skyrocket to well north of $100 million in the coming three years, there is a lot more wiggle room for general managers to take risks on bigger swings for short-term benefit that will come with inherent long term risks.

Speaking with some teams around the NHL, one position in particular seems to be at the top of the list for those looking to take significant stabs in the market this summer: center.

Of all teams I’ve had communication with and/or assume are gearing up to take big swings at landing a pivot, I expect the Minnesota Wild to be among the most – if not the most – aggressive in doing so. Speaking with sources close to the team, expect GM Bill Guerin to be very aggressive this summer in his pursuit of a top-six center. With the desire of the club to insulate Joel Eriksson Ek and their lack of faith in Marco Rossi to do so, it would make total sense for the Wild to zero in on the top pivots on the market: Sam Bennett and Brock Nelson.

The Florida Panthers‘ Bennett, who will turn 29 next month, figures to be the biggest fish in the pond in the way of centers this coming July. Coming off of a career best 51 points and back to back (and en route to a third consecutive?) Stanley Cup appearances that includes a ring last year, Bennett has cemented himself as one of the most unique pivots in the NHL, one who raises his play when the chips are down. There is a belief that Bennett’s AAV could push upwards of $9 million and with a max term of seven years.

Nelson, 33, had a disappointing playoff performance with the Colorado Avalanche but still finished with 56 points between both the Avalanche and New York Islanders. The Wild were rumored to have heavy interest in Nelson leading up to the deadline, and Guerin did establish a relationship with the player with Team USA at the 4 Nations Faceoff. Given Nelson’s age, a three- or four-year term is likely in the cards, with a cap hit in the neighborhood to that of Claude Giroux’s ($6.5 million) with the Ottawa Senators for the past three seasons.

With the Wild set to finally be freed of the nuclear cap hits at the dual buyouts to both Zach Parise and Ryan Suter – though there will still be a very minimal penalty for some years to come – Guerin will have roughly $13 million in savings on said buyouts as he has had in years past. If I was a betting man, I’d say the Wild will land one of Bennett and Nelson because of their desire to push themselves into being Cup contenders and finally having the financial shackles off for the first time in five seasons.

The Philadelphia Flyers are in need of a shot in the arm down the middle, but this may not be the year the team looks to make a big splash. Speaking with a team source, don’t expect the Flyers to go big-game hunting due to the dead money owned for the buyout of Cam Atkinson along with the retained salary of Scott Laughton and Kevin Hayes on the books until 2026.

I am told the Flyers will look to add an NHL center to the fold to help insulate the returning group of Noah Cates (RFA), Sean Couturier and Ryan Poehling. While I haven’t heard these names specifically, a few that come to mind that could fit what the Flyers are looking for are Christian Dvorak, Adam Gaudette (who is a right shot, which the Flyers lack at center), Marcus Johansson and Pius Suter.

After trading J.T. Miller, the Vancouver Canucks are in desperate need of a second line pivot to help insulate Elias Petterson. With a little less than $17 million of cap space to work (17 players signed) and the Quinn Hughes extension on the horizon, it may be tough for president of hockey operations Jim Rutherford and his staff to go after top dogs like Bennett and Nelson.

Could Vancouver simply re-sign Suter and hope Filip Chytil takes a significant step? That is certainly an option, but knowing the pressure in Vancouver from ownership to be competitive, I think there could be an appetite to shoot higher. I doubt Dallas Stars center Matt Duchene will want to leave Texas to return back to Canada, but could John Tavares be an option should he not opt to re-sign with the Toronto Maple Leafs? That would require convincing him to move cross-continent after putting in roots with his family in his home market, however.

Speaking of the Leafs, you have to wonder if the tides are changing there after Thursday’s announcement that Brendan Shanahan would not return as team president and alternate governor. To say nothing of the Mitch Marner situation, Tavares’ future is relatively unclear, though his return to Ontario’s capital is more likely than the former’s.

Should Tavares return, could Joe Pavelski’s three-year, $21 million contract be the magic number? Maybe, but the Leafs will have to look at another middle-six (if not top-six) center to bump Tavares down a peg, whose age showed in the latter half of the series versus the Panthers. Max Domi is likely more of a winger on a Cup contender and Scott Laughton proved to not be the answer at 3C the team was hoping for; if Marner does leave, does that open up the financial flexibility to land Bennett?

Prior to the injury to Jack Hughes, the New Jersey Devils were on the lookout to bolster their center ice position. With Hughes and captain Nico Hischier holding down the top-six pivot positions, the Devils wanted upgrade their third line down the middle. Erik Haula was the guy to start the season but bounced around the lineup, while Dawson Mercer was also used in that role. According to team sources, the Devils showed interest in Laughton, Ryan O’Reilly of the Nashville Predators and Brayden Schenn of the St. Louis Blues. If they prefer the UFA market to the trade market, they could be players for Bennett, too.

The last team that comes to mind who needs a center is the Winnipeg Jets, who were on the lookout for one leading up to the NHL Trade Deadline but opted to stand pat down the middle given the prices and pieces available. Beyond Mark Scheifele, there is a steep drop off to the second and third line in terms of offensive impact for Winnipeg.

The Jets will always have issues attracting big name free agents, so players like Bennett and Nelson should be scratched off the list right away. Tavares could be an option but, again, is that where he would want to spend the twilight years of his career? Maybe the answer for the Jets is waiting for Brayden Yager to make the jump to the NHL, though who knows how far away he is from being a top-six center at the professional level.

July 1 is always a bonkers day in the hockey world, but the major jump in the salary cap could make this a unique one. With a decent number of teams in need of help down the middle and not a ton of bodies to go around, there could be bidding wars for the top pivots on the market that could set the stage for some major contracts handed out.

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Expect an NHL-wide spending frenzy for centers this offseason

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