Top NHL restricted free agents: Lafreniere, Zegras unsigned

With the NHL free agent signing period beginning July 1, NHL.com is taking a closer look at the top restricted free agents (listed in alphabetical order by position). Most restricted free agents are eligible to receive an offer sheet from another team. His team can then match the offer sheet or receive draft-pick compensation based on its value.

Ross Colton, Colorado Avalanche

The 26-year-old forward had 32 points (16 goals, 16 assists) in 81 regular-season games for the Tampa Bay Lightning this season and four points (one goal, three assists) in six Stanley Cup Playoff games. He was traded to the Avalanche on June 28 for a second-round pick in the 2023 NHL Draft. Colton scored the Stanley Cup-clinching goal for the Lightning against the Montreal Canadiens in 2021. Selected by Tampa Bay in the fourth round (No. 118) of the 2016 NHL Draft, he has 83 points (47 goals, 36 assists) in 190 regular-season games and 19 points (10 goals, nine assists) in 53 playoff games.

Tanner Jeannot, Tampa Bay Lightning

Jeannot had 18 points (six goals, 12 assists) and 107 penalty minutes in 76 regular-season games for the Lightning and Nashville Predators this season, including four points (one goal, three assists) in 20 games after he was acquired in a trade with Nashville on Feb. 26 for defenseman Cal Foote and five future NHL Draft picks. The 26-year-old left wing, who was sixth in the NHL in hits this season (290), has 66 points (35 goals, 31 assists) in 172 regular-season games for the Lightning and Predators and two assists in 12 playoff games. He led NHL rookies in goals with 24 and was eighth with 41 points in 2021-22.

Alexis Lafreniere, New York Rangers

The 21-year-old left wing had an NHL career-high 39 points (16 goals, 23 assists) in 81 regular-season games for the Rangers this season and no points in seven playoff games. The No. 1 pick in the 2020 NHL Draft, Lafreniere has 91 points (47 goals, 44 assists) in 216 regular-season games and nine points (two goals, seven assists) in 27 playoff games.

Matias Maccelli, Arizona Coyotes

The 22-year-old left wing had 49 points (11 goals, 38 assists) in 64 games for the Coyotes this season, leading NHL rookies in assists and finishing second in points behind Matty Beniers of the Seattle Kraken (57). Selected by Arizona in the fourth round (No. 98) of the 2019 NHL Draft, Maccelli has 55 points (12 goals, 43 assists) in 87 games.

Troy Terry, Anaheim Ducks

The 25-year-old right wing had 61 points (23 goals, 38 assists) in 70 games for the Ducks this season. Terry, who set NHL career highs in goals (37) and points (67) in 2021-22, has played in the NHL All-Star Game each of the past two seasons. Selected by Anaheim in the fifth round (No. 148) of the 2015 NHL Draft, Terry has 176 points (75 goals, 101 assists) in 274 regular-season games.

Gabriel Vilardi, Winnipeg Jets

The 23-year-old right wing set NHL career highs in goals (23), assists (18) and points (41) in 63 games for the Los Angeles Kings this season, and four points (two goals, two assists) in five playoff games. He was traded to the Jets, along with forwards Alex Iafallo, Rasmus Kupari and a second-round pick in the 2024 NHL Draft, on June 27 for forward Pierre-Luc Dubois. Selected by Los Angeles in the first round (No. 11) of the 2017 NHL Draft, Vilardi has 78 points (41 goals, 37 assists) in 152 regular-season games, and four points in seven playoff games.

Trevor Zegras, Anaheim Ducks

The 22-year-old center tied his NHL career high in goals (23) and set his NHL career best in assists (42) and points (65) for the Ducks this season. Zegras was a finalist for the Calder Trophy, given to the NHL Rookie of the Year, in 2021-22 when he had 61 points (23 goals, 38 assists) in 75 games. The No. 9 pick by Anaheim in the 2019 draft, Zegras has 139 points (49 goals, 90 assists) in 180 regular-season games.

DEFENSEMEN

Evan Bouchard, Edmonton Oilers

The 23-year-old had 40 points (eight goals, 32 assists) in 82 regular-season games for the Oilers this season and 17 points (four goals, 13 assists) in 12 playoff games. Selected by Edmonton in the first round (No. 10) of the 2018 NHL Draft, Bouchard has 89 points (23 goals, 65 assists) in 184 regular-season games and 26 points (seven goals, 19 assists) in 28 playoff games.

Jamie Drysdale, Anaheim Ducks

Drysdale was expected to build on his solid rookie season (32 points in 81 games in 2021-22) but had no points in eight games for the Ducks this season before having season-ending shoulder surgery in October. Selected by Anaheim in the first round (No. 6) of the 2020 draft, Drysdale has 40 points (seven goals, 33 assists) in 113 NHL games.

Vince Dunn, Seattle Kraken

The 26-year-old set NHL career highs in goals (14), assists (50), points (64), plus-minus (plus-28) and power-play points (15) in 81 regular-season games for the Kraken this season. Dunn had seven points (one goal, six assists) in 14 playoff games to help Seattle qualify for the playoffs in its second NHL season. Selected by the St. Louis Blues in the second round (No. 56) of the 2015 draft, Dunn has 201 points (53 goals, 148 assists) in 421 regular-season games for the Kraken and Blues and 18 points (three goals, 15 assists) in 43 playoff games.

GOALIES

Filip Gustavsson, Minnesota Wild

The 25-year-old was 22-9-7 with NHL career highs in wins and GAA (2.10) and had a .931 save percentage and three shutouts in 39 games (37 starts) for the Wild this season. He was 2-3 with a 2.33 GAA and .921 save percentage in five playoff games. Selected by the Pittsburgh Penguins in the second round (No. 55) of the 2016 NHL Draft, Gustavsson is 32-22-10 with a 2.51 GAA, .920 save percentage and three shutouts in 66 games (60 starts) for the Wild and Senators.

Ilya Samsonov, Toronto Maple Leafs

The 26-year-old was 27-10-5 with a 2.33 GAA, .919 save percentage and four shutouts in 42 regular-season games (40 starts) for the Maple Leafs this season and 4-4 with a 3.13 GAA and .898 save percentage in nine playoff games. Selected by the Washington Capitals in the first round (No. 22) of the 2015 draft, Samsonov is 79-32-13 with a 2.65 GAA, .908 save percentage and 10 shutouts in 131 regular-season games (119 starts) for the Capitals and Maple Leafs and 5-10 with a 3.06 GAA and .902 save percentage in the playoffs. After not receiving a qualifying offer from Washington last season, he became a UFA and signed with Toronto on July 13, 2022.

Jeremy Swayman, Boston Bruins

The 24-year-old was 24-6-4 with a 2.27 GAA, .920 save percentage and four shutouts in 37 games (33 starts) for the Bruins this season, helping them set NHL records for wins (65) and points (135) in a single season. Swayman was 0-1 with a 3.34 GAA and .875 save percentage in two playoff games. Selected by Boston in the fourth round (No. 111) of the 2017 NHL Draft, Swayman is 54-23-7 with a 2.24 GAA, .920 save percentage and nine shutouts in 88 regular-season games (82 starts) and 3-4 with a 2.79 GAA and .901 save percentage in eight playoff games (six starts).