This week, we will look at the salary cap space for each team in the West and look at the UFAs leaving and the RFAs who need to be re-signed.

From the surface, it feels like there is far more cap space available for teams to sign free agents this off season than has been for the past two or three years. The salary cap for 2024-2025 is $87.7 million.

Could this drive prices a little higher in free agency? Or will teams use their cap space wisely and hold teams accountable who don't?

Anaheim Ducks – $33.00 million 2024-2025 Cap Space

UFA

Jakob Silfverberg (F) (Retired) $5.25 million, Ben Meyers (F) $775k, William Lagesson (D) $775k, Alex Stalock (G) $800k

RFA

Isac Lundestrom (F) $1.8 million, Max Jones (F) $1.295 million, Brett Leason (F) $775k, Bo Groulx (F) $775k, Gustav Lindstrom (D) $925k, Jackson LaCombe (D) $925k, Urho Vaakanainen (D) $850k.

The Ducks spent about $11 million dollars in free agency on July 1st, 2023 adding Alex Killorn, Radko Gudas which was a little surprising for this young roster.

They have two roster spots to replace in losing Silfverberg and Lagesson, but those are of a fourth liner and a sixth or seventh defender, so shouldn't cost them more than $2 or 3 million AAV.

Their RFAs are all fairly inexpensive to re-sign at this point and shouldn't exceed another $7 or 8 million AAV as not all the above will be rostered.

The Ducks could be a major player in free agency or bringing in salary via trade, if they feel they are a year or two out from the playoffs.

I'd prefer them to keep the cap space and weaponize it for more draft picks as they are still two or three years out in my mind.

Arizona Coyotes (now Utah) – $43.26 million available

UFA

Liam O'Brien (F) $775k, Josh Brown (D) $1.275 million, Travis Dermott (D) $800k, Jakub Voracek (F) Retiring $8.25 million, Bryan Little (F) Retiring $5.29 million, Travis Boyd $1.75 million

RFA

Barrett Hayton (F) $1.775 million, Sean Durzi (D) $1.7 million, Juuso Valimaki (D) $1 million, J.J. Moser (D) $887k

With the move to Utah, this team, which was already on the rise, has a real chance to grow and improve this roster instantly. I think free agents will be a lot more willing to go to Salt Lake City than they were to head to Phoenix in the past few years.

To replace their unrestricted free agents, they are looking to replace two fourth liners and two sixth or seventh defenders. They should be able to replace those four for under $5 or $6 million if they upgrade.

Hayton didn't do himself any favors for a big raise from $1.775 million AAV and will be fortunate to get much more than he is making already. Valimaki and Moser could get somewhere between $2 and 2.5 million unless Utah wants to lock them up longer term. Durzi played himself into a salary range above $4 million AAV, but will Utah think he is the long-term guy on the power play?

This club should have $25-35 million available for free agency if they choose.

Calgary Flames – $19.82 million available

UFA

A.J. Greer (F) $762k, Oliver Kylington (D) $2.5 million, Dennis Gilbert (D) $762k

RFA

Nikita Okhotiuk (D) $789k

The Flames don't have many players to re-sign and should have an opportunity to upgrade at a few positions via free agency or trade.

They could bring Kylington back but probably not at $2.5 million AAV.

They should have $18 to 20 million available.

Chicago Blackhawks – $33.84 million available

UFA

Tyler Johnson (F) $5 million, Colin Blackwell (F) $1.2 million, Nikita Zaitsev (D) $4.5 million,  Jarred Tinordi (D) $1.25 million, Jaycob Megna (D) 762k

RFA

Mackenzie Entwistle (F) $800k, Reese Johnson (F) $800k, Joey Anderson (F) $800k, Taylor Raddysh (F) $758k

Chicago still has $2 million retained in 2024-25 for Jake McCabe and $1.17 million in dead cap for Josh Bailey.

Other than Blackwell, I don't see the team bringing back any of the UFAs above, so they will need to replace a top six forward, a bottom six forward and three depth defenders. None of the RFAs should get anything more than $1 or 1.2 million AAV, if Chicago brings them back.

Chicago could do well in free agency as I can imagine players wanting a chance to play with Connor Bedard for a few years. It might be a year or two early for the Blackhawks to spend to the limit.

Colorado Avalanche – $9.79 million available

UFA

Yakov Trenin (F) $1.7 million, Brandon Duhaime (F) $1.1 million, Andrew Cogliano (F) $825k, Jonathan Drouin (F) $825k, Zach Parise (F) $825k, Joel Kiviranta (F) $775k, Sean Walker (D) $2.65 million, Jack Johnson (D) $775k, Caleb Jones (D) $775k, Arvid Holm (G) $775k, Pavel Francouz (G) Retiring $2 million

RFA

Casey Mittelstadt (F) $2.5 million

Colorado still has to see how they do in the playoffs, which will influence what they do next year. As it stands, they might need $4.5 to 5.5 million AAV to sign Mittelstadt. After that they need to replace four or five starting forwards and two starting defenders.

The math doesn't add up to pay Mittelstadt and fill up the roster, so something will need to give, regardless how they do.

Dallas Stars – $15.95 million available

UFA

Joe Pavelski (F) $3.5 million, Matt Duchene (F) $3 million, Craig Smith (F) $1 million, Jani Hakanpaa (D) $1.5 million, Chris Tanev (D) $4.5 million, Scott Wedgewood (G) $1 million

RFA

Ty Dellandrea (F) $900k, Sam Steel (F) $850k, Nils Lundkvist (D) $925k, Thomas Harley (D) $863k.

Harley is a priority to re-sign and they could lock up long-term or bridge him. If they bridge, I think it would be north of $4 million AAV and if they go long-term it could be north of $5.5 million AAV.

I'm sure the team would love to bring back Pavelski, Duchene and Tanev, but they won't get Duchene at $3 million AAV.

After the dust settles, they should be right up against the cap if they bring back who they want above. The future of Dellandrea, Steel, and Lundkvist in Dallas should be interesting as I wouldn't be surprised if they are moved.

Edmonton Oilers – $9.83 million available

UFA

Warren Foegele (F) $2.75 million, Adam Henrique (F) $5.825 million, Mattias Janmark (F) $1 million,

Connor Brown (F) $775k, Sam Gagner (F) $775k, Corey Perry (F) $775k, Sam Carrick (F) $850k,

Troy Stecher (D) $1.1 million, Calvin Pickard (G) $762k

RFA

Dylan Holloway (F) $925k, Philip Broberg (D) $863k

The players I can see Edmonton bringing back out of their listed UFAs are Foegele, Janmark, Brown and Pickard. I don't think Foegele is worth more than $3 to 3.5 million AAV for them, so if another team is willing to pay more, he could be gone. The others would have to be around $1 million AAV or cheaper to bring back.

Signing Holloway is a given, but signing Broberg isn't. Broberg will require waivers to be sent down in 2024-2025.

Los Angeles Kings – $20.9 million available

UFA

Viktor Arvidsson (F) $4.25 million, Trevor Lewis (F) $775k, Matt Roy (D) $3.15 million, Cam Talbot (G) $1 million, David Rittich (G) $875k

RFA

Blake Lizotte (F) $1.675 million, Carl Grundstrom (F) $1.3 million, Quinton Byfield (F) $894k, Arthur Kaliyev (F) $894k, Jordan Spence (D) $820k

With the Kings getting knocked out in the first round of the playoffs, they will look to get two goalies signed or dealt for next season. They aren't going to win the lottery spending $1.875 million on two goalies like Talbot and Rittich and get the return they received again.

It will be interesting to see if Arvidsson or Matt Roy will return.

I'm not convinced the team will offer Lizotte or Grundstrom qualifying deals, but the team has a big raise coming for Byfield, whether they choose to bridge or go long-term.

The Kings will need to replace a top-six forward, a top four defender and both goalies for under $12 or 13 million AAV.

Minnesota Wild – $5.92 million available

UFA

Jacob Lucchini (F) $775k, Alex Goligoski (D) $2 million, Dakota Mermis (D) $775k

RFA

Mason Shaw (F) $775k, Declan Chisholm (D) $775k

The Wild still have $14.74 million in dead cap in 2024-25 for Zach Parise and Ryan Suter.

Minnesota needed the salary cap increase as it hurt their ability to improve their roster in 2023-2024 even with the potential to use LTIR on Jared Spurgeon. They are losing depth only and should have the space available to improve a little.

Nashville Predators – $18.52 million available

UFA

Jason Zucker (F) $5.3 million, Anthony Beauvillier (F) $4.15 million, Kiefer Sherwood (F) $775k, Tyson Barrie (D) $4.5 million, Alexandre Carrier (D) $2.5 million, Kevin Lankinen (G) $2 million

RFA

Juuso Parssinen (F) $850k, Jaret Anderson-Dolan (F) $775k, Spencer Stastney (D)$925k

The Predators will have $7.55 million in dead cap space in 2024-2025 for Matt Duchene and Kyle Turris.

Out of the UFAs that Nashville has pending, I would think that Carrier and Sherwood would be welcome back at similar contracts. I don't think the team is in a place to bring back Zucker, Beauvillier, Barrie, or Lankinen, with the prospects that they have in the AHL.

They are in a tough spot because Roman Josi and Filip Forsberg don't have time to wait on young players to develop over two or three years. I think the Predators will be medium buyers in free agency and try to add two top-six forwards and a top-four defender.

San Jose Sharks – $38.17 million available

UFA

Kevin Labanc (F) $4.725 million, Mike Hoffman (F) $4.5 million, Alexander Barabanov (F) $2.5 million,

Justin Bailey (F) $775k, Ryan Carpenter (F)$775k, Jacob MacDonald (D) $762k, Devin Cooley (G) $775k

RFA

Luke Kunin (F)$2.75 million, Filip Zadina (F) $1.1 million, Thomas Bordeleau (F) $917k, Jack Studnicka (F) $762k, Henry Thrun (D) $912k, Calen Addison (D) $825k, Ty Emberson (D) $775k

The Sharks are a mess, but have a lot of salary cap space opening up. Unless they overpay substantially, I'm not sure they are going to attract the type of player who can turn this ship around in two or three years in free agency. Much like Anaheim, I truly believe they are better off with another season of pain, and weaponizing their cap space for additional draft picks and prospects. Their cupboard is bare now of blue-chip veterans.

I don't think they will qualify Kunin, Studnicka, Zadina or Addison.

They will need to spend to the salary cap floor which is spending $13 or 14 million from where they are now.

Seattle Kraken – $23.12 million available

UFA

Tomas Tatar (F) $1.5 million, Pierre-Edouard Bellemare (F) $775k, Justin Schultz (D) $3 million, Chris Driedger (G) $2.35 million

RFA

Kailer Yamamoto (F) $1.5 million, Eeli Tolvanen (F) $1.45 million, Matthew Beniers (F) $897k

The Kraken have some potential big raises for Tolvanen and Beniers if they choose to go longer term.

I think they might with Beniers but he has more value than he showed last year and could want $6 or 6.5 million AAV for six or more years.

Tolvanen deserves a raise as well, but he was picked up on waivers and it's rare for a player who is acquired in that manner to get more than $3.5 to 4 million AAV, which is where he might be at.

I don't think they qualify Yamamoto.

The Kraken will need to replace two or three bottom six forwards and a top four defender for $12-14 million AAV.

St. Louis Blues – $14.77 million available

UFA

Kasperi Kapanen (F) $3.2 million, Samuel Blais (F) $1 million, Marco Scandella (D) $3.275 million, Jakub Vrana (F)$5.75 million

RFA

Nikita Alexandrov (F) $816k,  Scott Perunovich (D)$775k

The Blues are in good shape heading into the off season as their roster is relatively intact and they have some money to play with.

They might bring back Blais for similar money and re-sign Alexandrov and Perunovich as well.

They could have $12-13 million available to upgrade in other areas.

Vancouver Canucks – $24.78 million available

UFA

Elias Lindholm (F) $4.85 million, Teddy Blueger (F) $1.9 million, Sam Lafferty (F) $1.15 million, Dakota Joshua (F) $825k, Tyler Myers (D) $6 million, Nikita Zadorov (D) $3.75 million, Ian Cole (D) $3 million, Mark Friedman (D) $775k, Casey DeSmith (G) $1.8 million

RFA

Filip Hronek (D)$4.4 million, Arturs Silovs (G) $786k

The Canucks should be in a position to re-sign Hronek to $5.5 million AAV as the rumor was that his camp wanted $6.5 million or more. He kind of played himself out of that price range as the second half progressed and that is two years in a row where his second half has faltered significantly.

Silovs' value will be determined by how things go the rest of the playoffs for him. I think he has played himself into a new one-way contract which shouldn't be expensive for the team (unless he rides this whole thing out).

I think the team would love to have Blueger back at similar money, but the market probably gives him $2.5 to 3 million AAV.

They will make an effort to bring back Joshua but he should get offers close to $3.5 million AAV, while Lindholm is looking in the ballpark of $6 million AAV plus, which is too rich for Vancouver.

Myers at $3 to 3.5 million for two or three years is palpable, while the temptation to overpay on Zadorov is real. I'm convinced someone will give him four years at $5 million AAV.

I don't think the Canucks have any interest in bringing back Lafferty, Cole, Friedman or DeSmith.

Vegas Golden Knights – $897k available

UFA

Jonathan Marchessault (F) $5 million, Anthony Mantha (F) $5.7 million, Chandler Stephenson (F) $2.75 million, William Carrier (F) $1.4 million, Alec Martinez (D) $5.25 million

RFA

Pavel Dorofeyev (F) $825k

This just got real tonight with their elimination from the playoffs at the hands of the Dallas Stars.

The departure of Marchessault, Stephenson, Carrier and Martinez is a real blow to this roster and for the first time in their existence, the Golden Knights don't have an obvious fix to their problem.

They will need to replace two top-six forwards, a bottom six forward, and a top-four defender from within or via trade, but Vegas has no cap space until Mark Stone is put on LTIR again next year.

Winnipeg Jets – $13.35 million available

UFA

Tyler Toffoli (F) $4.25 million, Sean Monahan (F) $1.985 million, Brenden Dillon (D) $3.9 million, Dylan DeMelo (D) $3 million, Colin Miller (D) $1.85 million, Laurent Brossoit (G) $1.75 million

RFA

Cole Perfetti (F) $894k, David Gustafsson (F) $775k, Logan Stanley (D) $1 million

The Jets should re-sign Perfetti and Gustafsson, but we will see if they do the same for Stanley.

I'm sure the Jets would love to bring back Dillon, DeMelo and Brossoit at similar money, but the market might be after all three of these players.

Toffoli has scored 30 goals in each of the past two seasons and he should get $5 million AAV or more, but it's tough to pinpoint but there is something missing from his game that keeps him from getting over that magic number.

Monahan proved he is back to a level at much higher than his $1.985 million AAV from this past year and should see multiple offers north of $4 million AAV in free agency if not more.

The departures of Dillon, DeMelo and Brossoit will hurt this roster more than the others, if the Jets can't bring them back.

The club has about $12 million for two top four defenders, a backup goalie and two top-nine forwards.

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Thanks for reading and if you have any questions or players you'd like me to look at please message or follow me on Twitter @gampbler15.