We won’t sugarcoat it, folks.
The NHL’s 2026 free agent class has taken a Marty Supreme–like public beating since training camp opened.
Consider the long list of star talent who had the option of going to the highest bidder on Canada Day but instead elected to re-up with their current team. Connor McDavid, Kirill Kaprizov, Jack Eichel, Kyle Connor, Martin Necas, Artemi Panarin, Nick Schmaltz and Adrian Kempe all extended their stays. Same goes for reliable veteran defencemen like Matias Ekholm, Mike Matheson, Ryan McDonagh and Cam Fowler. While starting goalies Filip Gustavsson, Anthony Stolarz, Jacob Markstrom, Brandon Bussi and Scott Wedgewood all chose not to stray from their crease.
Yet, even with most of the best players off the board, a bunch of established and emerging talent is still trending toward joblessness on July 1. Stanley Cup champions, team captains, starting goalies, top-four blueliners, and game-breaking scorers may all be available to eager GMs.
And with the salary cap projected to rise by at least another $8.5 million — to $104 million in 2026-27 — those spendthrift general managers should have even more budget to splash the pot on the next all-star to tread in open waters.
Here’s a rundown and ranking of hockey’s best impending unrestricted free agents now that the threat of a midseason trade has passed, plus the latest buzz circulating about their future.
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Age on July 1: 30
Position: Right wing
2025-26 salary cap hit: $4.75 million
The latest: The Buffalo Sabres find themselves in a fascinating predicament with one of Western New York’s own.
By waiting to commit to his hometown squad, the heart-on-sleeve Tuch has done himself a great service financially, as several clubs are seeking dependable scorers capable of 36 goals and 70-plus points.
The Sabres have cap space and can ill afford to let talent walk out the door. Not to mention Tuch’s intangible value to the dressing room, culture, and community. (He’s also held up as proof that the Eichel trade wasn’t entirely a waste.)
And yet, Tuch’s most productive seasons may well be in the rearview and his next deal is going to be a whopper.
The player’s asking price should begin with eight digits, but Buffalo’s initial offer reportedly began with an 8 on an AAV. The Sabres aren’t willing to go that far yet. Talks have cooled for now, but there is open communication and mutual interest on a long-term commitment.
That interest should only intensify as the Sabres snap their 14-year playoff drought and play into spring.
GM Jarmo Kekalainen said on March 6 that he’s “not concerned at all” and is hopeful to lock in an extension before July 1.
As the best forward standing, Tuch might fetch more than, say, Kempe’s $10.625 million if his sole objective is to maximize his money. But something special is brewing in Buffalo these days.
Another wrinkle here is that Buffalo, like Winnipeg, has been reluctant to incentivize with juicy signing bonuses. If they want to keep the player, the Sabres may have to bend that policy. The Jets did for Connor.
Age on July 1: 29
Position: Defence
2025-26 salary cap hit: $4.55 million
The latest: In the trade everyone saw coming, Andersson was dealt from rebuilding Calgary to go-for-it Vegas in January. Curiously, though, the move did not come with a contract extension in place.
Talented, minute-munching, edgy, right-shot defencemen with leadership skills are too rare in this league, so Andersson’s value is high.
The suspected holdup here is that the spendy Golden Knights are very much challenged by cap space. GM Kelly McCrimmon has less than $4 million in cap space for 2026-27, and that’s without Andersson on the books.
Most believe Vegas and Andersson intend to extend at some point, but some roster surgery will be necessary to accommodate. Looming over this situation is the uncertainty of fellow right-shot Alex Pietrangelo’s future.
The blueline stalwart is on LTIR this season but has one more year on his deal at $8.8 million.
“You look at this lineup, and this is a real contender,” Andersson said after settling in Vegas. “And that’s what I wanted to go to.”
Should something go sideways here, Andersson would have suitors aplenty on July 1. The Boston Bruins and Toronto Maple Leafs are just two teams that were poking around for a trade earlier.
Age on July 1: 30
Position: Defence
2025-26 salary cap hit: $975,000
The latest: The timing of the Tampa Bay Lightning defenceman’s offensive breakout couldn’t be better, what with the salary cap spiking and right-shot blueliners at a premium.
By mid-March, the undrafted Raddysh was the most productive of all the 2026 UFAs still unsigned, racking up 58 points through 58 games from the back end, with a plus-20 rating and five game-winning goals to boot.
The Toronto native’s career year has been bolstered by increased usage on the power play and five-on-five, as he is averaging more than 22 minutes per night.
“He’s just playing with a lot of confidence, a lot of swag, and it’s paying off,” coach Jon Cooper told reporters. “His shot, it’s lethal.”
The Lightning will explore extending Raddysh, who has never earned so much as a $1 million salary and could be looking for a deal nearing that of partner J.J. Moser’s four-year pact at $6.75 million.
Tampa has a projected $15.2 million in 2026-27 cap space and must make decisions on UFA forwards Oliver Bjorkstrand and Corey Perry, keeping in mind that MVP Nikita Kucherov (UFA 2027) is eligible to sign a monster extension as early as July 1.
Age on July 1: 36
Position: Defence
2025-26 salary cap hit: $8 million
The latest: We’re wading into tricky territory here, because there is a chance some of the aging but effective stars on this list could opt for retirement instead of another contract.
“No, that’s not a thought,” said John Carlson, who is still logging excellent, top-pair minutes.
While it was difficult to imagine the Stanley Cup champ and one of the best D-men of his era in anything but a Capitals sweater, Washington didn’t rush to re-sign Carlson and then shipped him to Anaheim in a trade deadline stunner.
The idea of Carlson circling back and re-upping in D.C. has been floated, but Ducks GM Pat Verbeek gave up a first- and third-round pick for the stud right shot. He’d rather Carlson not be a pure rental.
“Exciting time for me. I think we got a great team. There’s a lot of top-end talent on this team, and I’m looking forward to playing with them,” Carlson told reporters this week, ahead of his Ducks debut.
“I think I’ve got a lot left in the tank. Mentally, I’m better than ever. Obviously I’ve been out a few games here, and that kind of stinks, but this season, I felt like I played some of my best hockey. My body has felt some of the best it’s felt in four or five years.
The way he’s performing, we don’t see a pay cut coming just yet.
Does a two-year deal, perhaps with performance bonuses, keep him in Orange County?
Age on July 1: 39
Position: Centre
2025-26 salary cap hit: $6.1 million
The latest: Watched Malkin play hockey lately?
The man looks as engaged in Year 20 as he was in his prime, even if that means going overboard. And as the Pittsburgh Penguins look to quench their playoff drought and shock the hockey world, they’re leaning on him.
But will the no-brainer Hall of Famer be back in 2026-27?
“It depends on how the season is going,” Malkin told reporters at camp. “If we play great, and I play great, and I feel confident and show my game — why not one more year? The season is huge for me, my team, myself.
Penguins GM Kyle Dubas is in an interesting spot with vets like Malkin, and the two sides have met multiple times to discuss the player’s expiring deal.
“I don’t think it benefits Geno or really benefits the Pittsburgh Penguins for us to lay all that out publicly, as much as the public may have an interest in it,” Dubas told reporters at the deadline.
Dubas is keeping discussions with Malkin’s agent, J.P. Barry, close to the vest. In March, the executive described Malkin’s future with the club as a “private matter.”
Malkin told reporters in March that the plan is to delay talks until after the season is over, but has often reminded that he’d prefer to retire a Penguin. A one-year contract would keep him on the team through Sidney Crosby’s deal.
“I’m just playing,” Malkin said. “It’s not my job to talk to Kyle or somebody. I just play my game and just wait.”
Age on July 1: 34
Position: Centre / Right wing
2025-26 salary cap hit: $5.25 million
The latest: Traded from Boston to Colorado in 2024-25, Coyle endured a downturn in production, falling from career highs of 25 goals and 60 points to 17 and 35.
Well, good news for both Coyle’s bankroll and the Columbus Blue Jackets: The centre has rebounded nicely in his contract campaign, already surpassing the 50-point plateau and becoming one of new coach Rick Bowness’s more dependable assets in a late playoff push.
Not only did Don Waddell resist trading Coyle at a deadline hungry for centremen, but the GM is also willing to see if there is a path to keep Coyle and fellow pending UFA Mason Marchment in Ohio beyond July 1.
“They have the right to go unrestricted. So, we haven’t gotten into any real negotiations with anybody,” Waddell told RG on Feb. 1.
“If players want to be here and we want ’em here, we’ll find a way to get it done. We did it last year, and we’ll do it again this year. So, it’s a two-way street. Obviously, money and terms are always the big things, but if a player says they want to be a Blue Jacket, usually we find a way to get a deal done.”
Cap space isn’t a huge concern for Columbus, but decisions must be made on veterans Bonne Jenner and Erik Gudbranson as well.
Coyle has been a fine fit here. Is that enough to commit to his fourth team? Or does he try to parlay his bounce-back into a bigging war?
2025-26 salary cap hit: $8 million
The latest: Outside of the recently locked-in Jackson LaCombe, the future of the Anaheim Ducks’ blueline is wide open.
Trouba joins Carlson and captain Radko Gudas in the category of rugged, mid-30s, right-shot defencemen without a deal in place for 2026-27. GM Verbeek also has three pending RFAs — righty Ian Moore and lefties Pavel Mintyukov and Olen Zellweger — at the position.
Trouba has fit in nicely in Orange County since his messy December 2024 divorce from the Rangers and is logging big minutes.
Ever patient, Verbeek describes Trouba as a “quality” player but notes the Ducks have “a lot of quality players in our system.”
The executive told reporters he will watch Trouba and “take in the whole course of the season to decide where we go.”
How the Ducks’ D-men, young and old, perform in this long-awaited return to the postseason could impact his decisions.
Age on July 1: 27
Position: Goaltender
2025-26 salary cap hit: $2.5 million
The latest: The 2026 UFA goaltending market is like Charlie Bucket’s Grandpa Joe: thin and old.
The best option under age 30, far and away, is Skinner, whose inconsistencies have been well documented.
Still, workhorse goalies with a career save percentage safely above league average and back-to-back Cup Final appearances are hard to find.
Much like the Oilers, Skinner got off to a rough start. The Edmonton native was packaged and dealt to Pittsburgh in what most believe was a lateral move, at best, for the Oil.
Skinner had been rumoured as a flip candidate at the deadline but remains a Penguin and has registered a fourth consecutive season of 50-plus appearances and 20-plus wins.
Skinner already has 103 games of playoff experience under his belt, and he should add to that total in Pennsylvania.
If Dubas lets the veteran walk and goes with the young tandem of Arturs Silvos and Sergei Murashov next season, Skinner will have no problem finding employment elsewhere.
There is simply not enough supply for the demand for saves.
Age on July 1: 31
Position: Right wing / Left wing
2025-26 salary cap hit: $2.5 million
The latest: If you can make sense of Mantha’s goal totals over the past eight seasons — 24, 25, 16, 15, 9, 11, 23, 4, 25 and counting — perhaps you should be the one negotiating his next contract.
Penguins GM Kyle Dubas bought low on the power forward and has been rewarded with a healthy contributor in the throes of his first 50-point campaign.
He’s hired a mental coach, avoided injury, and taken advantage of a more prominent role under coach Dan Muse.
“It’s confidence, the trust level from the team, teammates, coaches, my work I put in mentally, physically,” Mantha said (via NHL.com). “Good things are happening.”
Considering the player’s history of injury and inconsistency, we may hesitate to give Mantha a long-term deal, but he’s positioned himself to be a major attraction on July 1.
“For a guy his size, he’s been moving lately, you know?” Muse said. “He’s just able to be a real threat, whether it’s off the rush or in zone. He’s shown he can play either wing. He’s a guy who’s shown that he can kind of move in and play with some different guys and adapt pretty quickly. And so, that’s a credit to him.”
Age on July 1: 29
Position: Left wing
2025-26 salary cap hit: $1.5 million
The latest: The late-blooming McMann never had a burst of offence in Toronto like the one he enjoyed in his first foray as a member of the Seattle Kraken: four goals and six points in three games.
The speedy middle-six winger said he would be open to re-signing with the Leafs, but lottery-bound Toronto balked at the type of contract extension he could command. That would be something in the ballpark of the five-year, $28.75-million pact the San Jose Sharks gave to his nearest comparable, Keifer Sherwood.
Seattle gets a motivated winger for second- and fourth-round picks, and McMann gets a chance to return to the postseason and see if he enjoys life in the Pacific Northwest.
“Someone who can play in our top nine. We look at Bobby as a player that brings speed to our lineup, gets pucks to the net, gets to the net, and I think can complement the rest of our group very well,” Seattle GM Jason Botterill said.
“It’s a situation of seeing how he fits in with our group and making sure that he likes Seattle, he likes his role here, and then we’ll see where it goes in the off-season.”
Age on July 1: 34
Position: Left wing
2025-26 salary cap hit: $5.5 million
The latest: The Seattle Kraken forward still has plenty of pop in his game and is one of the most dependable scorers on a roster desperate to return to the postseason, but he has also battled multiple injuries in this contract campaign.
None scarier than the skate he took to the face in early March that has him sidelined indefinitely.
Heading into the season, Schwartz was just one of Botterill’s important contributors on an expiring contract. Botterill is working down the list. He re-upped captain Jordan Eberle and traded Marchment away midseason.
Decisions still await on Schwartz, Eeli Tolvanen, and Jamie Oleksiak.
Is McMann filling in for Schwartz temporarily or permanently?
File this one under wait-and-see.
Age on July 1: 40
Position: Left wing
2025-26 salary cap hit: $9.5 million
The latest: The lone member of the 900 Goal Club may be playing out his final season in the National Hockey League and — having now fulfilled his duties and crushed his records — could well take his talents to Moscow.
But we’d be remiss not to include the game’s greatest goal scorer on the list, just in case he wants to re-up in D.C. and keep the ticker going to 1,000.
Ovechkin is a little banged-up and his production has dipped considerably compared to 2024-25’s chase year.
That he starts a ridiculous 91.3 per cent of his shifts in the O-zone and essentially plays the entirety of every Capitals power play is both hilarious and telling.
Ovechkin took the Carlson trade hard, and the retooling Caps are now in tough to make the playoffs.
Asked how the Carlson trade impacts his own future in Washington, Ovechkin said: “I don’t know. I’m still here, so we’ll see. We’ll see what’s going to happen. It’s a hard one.”
GM Chris Patrick hasn’t dived into extension talks with the face of his franchise just yet.
“We talked a little bit about where the team is and what he feels we need and what I feel we need, but it didn’t really get too much into his future outside of this year,” Patrick told reporters at the deadline.
“He seems very focused on just the short term here and this team trying to get into the playoffs and have another shot at winning the Stanley Cup. So, yeah, you guys are going to continue to have to wait on that.”
Our take: If Ovechkin wants to remain in the NHL, owner Ted Leonsis will make sure he remains a Capital. If not? Dynamo’s ticket sales are about to spike.
More notable UFAs in 2026: Mason Marchment, Victor Olofsson, Sergei Bobrovsky, Boone Jenner, Eeli Tolvanen, Patrick Kane, Patrik Laine, Anders Lee, Oliver Bjorkstrand, Claude Giroux, Mats Zuccarello, Jamie Benn, Reilly Smith, Corey Perry, Jack Roslovic, Michael Bunting, Ilya Mikheyev, Cam Talbot, Frederik Andersen, Evander Kane, Brent Burns, Erik Haula, Marcus Johansson, Mario Ferraro, A.J. Greer, Radko Gudas
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