Eeli Tolvanen, the Finnish forward who spent the last three seasons with the Seattle Kraken, entered unrestricted free agency on July 1 and has been actively shopping for a new NHL destination. His agent has confirmed conversations with several clubs, though the identities of those teams have not been disclosed.
Salary‑Cap Landscape
Tolvanen’s offensive production this season was modest by his standards, yielding 12 goals and 24 assists for a total of 36 points in 78 games, but his physical presence was notable; he delivered 187 hits, the highest among regular Kraken players, and logged 423 NHL appearances with 190 career points.
The Kraken have moved on without him, a shift underscored by the departure of veteran blueliner Jamie Oleksiak, who signed with the Vancouver Canucks as an unrestricted free agent. Meanwhile, Lane Lambert continues to steer the team as head coach, while the organization has begun to reconfigure its roster ahead of the upcoming campaign.
The broader market context adds another layer of intrigue. The NHL’s salary cap has risen to $104 million per club for the next season, yet a number of teams are already operating above that threshold, forcing difficult decisions on player contracts and roster construction.
Amid these developments, the Seattle Kraken’s front office has indicated that they are not among the clubs Tolvanen has discussed with his representatives, leaving the player to weigh his options as the free‑agency period progresses.