Not everyone will agee with it, but here is our Top 25 NHL free agent list for 2012 unrestricted free agents. In creating this list we took into account a players age, position, and likelihood of re-signing with current team.
Teemu Selanne was not included as we assumed that they will re-sign with their current team or retire.
| Rk. | Player | ’11-’12 Team | Pos. | ’11-’12 Cap Hit | Notes |
| 1 | Zach Parise | NJ | LW | $6,000,000 | Signed with the Wild. 13 years, $98 million |
| 2 | Ryan Suter | NAS | D | $3,500,000 | Signed with the Wild. 13 years, $98 million |
| 3 | Alexander Semin | WAS | LW | $6,700,000 | Signed with the Hurricanes. 1 year, $7 million |
| 4 | Justin Schultz | ANA | D | – | Signed with the Oilers. 2 years, $7.55 million |
| 5 | Matt Carle | PHI | D | $3,438,000 | Signed with the Lightning. 6 years, $33 million |
| 6 | Jiri Hudler | DET | C | $2,875,000 | Signed with the Flames. 4 years, $16 million |
| 7 | Shane Doan | PHO | RW | $4,550,000 | Re-signed with the Coyotes. 4 years, $21.2 million. |
| 8 | P.A. Parenteau | NYI | RW | $1,250,000 | Signed with the Avalanche. 4 years, $16 million |
| 9 | Jason Garrison | FLA | D | $675,000 | Signed with the Canucks. 6 years, $26.7 million |
| 10 | Martin Brodeur | NJ | G | $5,200,000 | Re-signed with the Devils. 2 years, $9 million |
| 11 | Ray Whitney | PHO | LW | $3,000,000 | Signed with the Stars. 2 years, $9 million. |
| 12 | Paul Gaustad | NAS | C | $2,300,000 | Re-signed with the Predators. 4 years, $13 million |
| 13 | Brandon Prust | NYR | $800,000 | Signed with the Canadiens. 4 years, $10 million. | |
| 14 | Olli Jokinen | CAL | C | $3,000,000 | Signed with the Jets. 2 years, $9 million |
| 15 | Andrei Kostitsyn | NASH | LW | $3,250,000 | |
| 16 | Jaromir Jagr | PHI | RW | $3,300,000 | Signed with the Stars. 1 year, $4.5 million. |
| 17 | Dustin Penner | LA | LW | $4,250,000 | Re-signed with the Kings. 1 year, $3.25 million |
| 18 | Filip Kuba | OTT | D | $3,700,000 | Signed with the Panthers. 2 years, $8 million |
| 19 | Pavel Kubina | PHI | D | $3,850,000 | |
| 20 | Ryan Smyth | EDM | LW | $6,250,000 | Re-signed with the Oilers. 2 years, $4.5 milion |
| 21 | Bryce Salvador | NJ | D | $2,900,000 | Re-signed with the Devils. 3 years, $9.5 million |
| 22 | Bryan Allen | CAR | D | $2,900,000 | Signed with the Ducks. 3 years, $10.5 million |
| 23 | Carlo Colaiacovo | STL | D | $2,125,000 | Signed with the Red Wings. 2 years, $5 million. |
| 24 | Guillaume Latendresse | MIN | LW | $2,500,000 | Signed with the Senators. 1 year, $1.2 million |
| 25 | Sheldon Souray | DAL | D | $1,650,000 | Signed with the Ducks. 3 years, $11 million |
