Free agency is now less than a month away, and teams are looking ahead to when it opens. Even with the UFA crop being thinned out in recent months, there will be some quality veterans set to hit the open market in July, while many teams also have key restricted free agents to re-sign. We continue our look around the NHL with an overview of the free agent situation for the Kraken.

Key Restricted Free Agents

F Jacob Melanson – Only one of Seattle’s restricted free agents spent the bulk of his time on the NHL roster. Melanson fought his way onto the Kraken fourth-line this season after making his NHL debut in March 2025. He totaled five points, 32 penalty minutes, and a team-leading 188 hits in just 36 games played. That physical role underlined Melanson’s impact, as did his ability to keep up with speed and play aggressive against any opponent. He also found his streak as a passer in the minor-leagues – netting 24 points in 39 games between the regular-season and playoffs this year. His NHL role could grow if that playmaking comes along in his second season. Melanson should have more-than-earned a stay in Seattle and should represent a nice bit of potential at a cheap price.

F Logan Morrison – Morrison will stand out in a shallow RFA poll after leading the Coachella Valley Firebirds in scoring with 29 goals and 61 points in 68 games. His ability to drive the puck with speed pushed Morrison into a feature role and career-year with the Firebirds. He is blocked on the depth chart by high-value prospects like Jagger Firkus, Jani Nyman, and Oscar Fisker Molgaard – but still provides immense value to the Coachella Valley lineup. A new deal would extend his stay on top of the Firebirds offense, while offering a glimmer of NHL-lineup upside. Morrison debuted in the NHL during the 2023-24 season but managed no scoring and a minus-one in four games.

Other RFAs: F Jon-Randall Avon, F Lleyton Roed, D Ville Ottavainen, D Peetro Seppala, G Victor Ostman

Key Unrestricted Free Agents

F Jaden Schwartz – The toughest question of Seattle’s off-season could focus on veteran winger Jaden Schwartz. The 33 year old sustained a lower-body injury that sidelined him for six weeks and 20 games in November. He then missed a chunk of games in March after taking a skate to the face from a tumbling Nick Cousins. That injury held Schwartz out of an additional 11 games, effectively limiting his season to just 50 appearances. He still turned in a strong year, netting 26 points and maintaining his role on the Kraken second-line. Schwartz’s hopes of returning could hinge on if other long-term pros, like Jordan Eberle and Bobby McMann, stick with the team through the 2026-27 season.

F Eeli Tolvanen – Seattle will also have to think through Tolvanen’s role coming off a two-year, $7MM contract. He scored 12 goals and 24 assists in 78 games this season, nearly an exact mirror of his 2024-25 campaign when he notched 23 goals and 12 assists. He also ranked second on the club with 187 hits. Tolvanen settled into an middle-six role and found his step as a puck-mover when his scoring dried up this season. He brings clear impacts to the lineup, though through hot-and-cold stretches. Seattle should be able to secure Tolvanen on a slight upgrade from his previous $3.5MM cap hit, though they could first search for a bigger spark on the open market.

F Bobby McMann – Rounding out Seattle’s names to consider on offense is McMann, who joined the Kraken in a Trade Deadline move that returned a second-round and fourth-round pick to the Toronto Maple Leafs. He brought an immediate spark, scoring 10 goals and 14 points in 18 games. McMann fit right into Seattle’s top-six. But he also recorded a 17.7 shooting percentage, over four percent higher than his career-average 13.1 percent. That could suggest a slowdown is due for the 30-year-old winger, coming off his second season cresting the 20-goal mark. Given his age and mere 218 games of NHL experience, McMann could end up with a short-term and affordable contract – which should be tempting to Seattle after dealing multiple assets for him.

D Jamie Oleksiak – The Kraken will face less of a head-scratcher on defense. Oleksiak continued to provide a shutdown role on Seattle’s blue line – though his spot fell down a rung, to the third-pair. He ended the year with just 15 points in 78 games. Oleksiak is an original Kraken and has offered year-over-year reliability since joining the team, typically rivaling 15 assists and top penalty-killing minutes. He also stands in the way of prospects Ryker Evans and Ty Nelson. Seattle could secure a reliable lineup piece, and their first expansion draft pick to retire with the club, by extending Oleksiak. They could also prioritize prospect development by leaving him on the open market. The chosen path could be a sign of Jason Botterill’s direction for the team.

Other UFAs: G Matt Murray, F Mitchell Stephens, D Gustav Olofsson

Salary Cap Outlook

The Kraken will have plenty of cap space to build out their roster after a front office shakeup. They hold a projected $28.34MM in cap space per PuckPedia. They have enough space to re-sign each of their notable free agents while still having room to add. Seattle could be a prime location for impactful free agents like Alex Tuch, Jack Roslovic, or Andrei Kuzmenko. With four first-round picks across the 2026 and 2027 drafts, Seattle could also be a contender to pull of the brazen offer sheet in an attempt to land a true difference-maker.

Photo courtesy of Neville E. Guard-USA TODAY Sports.