Eeli Tolvanen is still waiting for his next NHL deal, and the list of teams at least checking in keeps growing.
More than seven weeks into free agency, the former Seattle Kraken winger remains unsigned, but his camp has reportedly been in touch with several clubs about a possible contract. According to Pacific North Hockey's Rob Simpson, those conversations have not advanced far enough to get a deal done.
Seattle does not appear to be one of the teams involved. The Kraken moved in a different direction this offseason, bringing in forwards Mackie Samoskevich and Curtis Douglas while also seeming to expect more from RFA winger Jacob Melanson. That could matter because Melanson offers the kind of physical edge Seattle may want after Tolvanen averaged 211 hits per season over the last three years.
There is, however, no shortage of outside interest. The Hockey News has also heard rumblings tying Tolvanen to the Toronto Maple Leafs, Vancouver Canucks and even the Montreal Canadiens. So the interest is there - but with training camps only a few weeks away, the fact that he is still without a contract is hardly a great sign.
Tolvanen, 27, put up at least 30 points in each of his three seasons with the Kraken. Last season was his quietest offensively, as he finished with 12 goals and 36 points in 78 games. Even so, his 24 assists were just one shy of the career high he set the year before.
Not long ago, he looked like a strong middle-six fit. He scored 23 goals in 2024-25 and has shown he can chip in offense while still bringing a physical style, even if he is a bit undersized.
That blend still makes him an appealing name for teams trying to flesh out their roster. A one-year contract could be the cleanest path forward, giving Tolvanen another chance to boost his numbers and head back into free agency next summer with more leverage.
For now, though, he remains on the market, and the clock is ticking on finding the kind of deal he was probably hoping for.
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