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NHL Analyst Links Winnipeg Jets to Three Remaining Unrestricted Free Agents

Originally posted on Hockey Latest | By Daniel Lucente | Last updated Jul 12, 2025 10:40 AM ET

NHL analyst Declan Schroeder of 'The Hockey Writers' has linked three unrestricted free agents to the Winnipeg Jets over the next few weeks.

Now that the free-agent mania has subsided and top names are largely signed, a few effective forwards are still out there, men who would otherwise shore up depth and secondary scoring.

The Winnipeg Jets, still reeling from losing Nikolaj Ehlers to the Carolina Hurricanes on July 3, are forced to hit the market.

General manager Kevin Cheveldayoff missed out on Brock Boeser, and while signing Gustav Nyquist to a one-year deal is a positive move, it doesn't entirely replace Nikolaj Ehlers' scoring prowess.

Kevin Cheveldayoff has around $19.8 million in cap space. Still having to sign RFAs Morgan Barron, Dylan Samberg, and Gabriel Vilardi, maybe for around $15 million altogether, there's room to sign players still.

The Jets must spend all the way to the salary cap ceiling to remain competitive

And for a team just having clinched the Presidents' Trophy, going to the cap is standard in an actual win-now period.

One fascinating UFA, per NHL analyst Declan Schroeder, is Nikolai Kovalenko, with a 20-point season in 57 games last year for Colorado and San Jose combined.

The Sharks didn't make a qualifying offer, which allowed the 25-year-old winger to become a free agent.

Victor Olofsson is also a good bet. The 29-year-old suffered a poor debut in Vegas due to injury but managed 15 goals and 29 points through 56 games.

His underlying numbers, good possession numbers, and a 9.4 expected goals above replacement suggest he can bounce back in a bigger role.

A veteran presence, Jack Roslovic, could also return. Drafted by Winnipeg in 2015, he's now a reliable middle-sixer with five straight 30+ point seasons. He had 39 points with Carolina last year and has 260 points in 526 career games.

With cap space to spend and a competitive roster, the Jets can't stand still.

This article first appeared on Hockey Latest and was syndicated with permission.

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