NHL’s top UFAs of 2026: Latest rumours, reports

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 Mattias Ekholm, Mike Matheson, Ryan McDonagh and Cam Fowler. 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 rising by another $8.5 million — to $104 million in 2026-27 — those spendthrift general managers now 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 with July 1 fast approaching, plus the latest buzz circulating about their future.

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 Jeff Skinner’s buyout charge ($6.44 million) and RFA Zach Benson’s raise set to eat cap space but 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 cooled during Buffalo’s thrilling playoff run, but mutual interest on a long-term commitment remains.

Jarmo Kekalainen said on March 6 that he’s “not concerned at all” and is hopeful to lock in an extension before July 1. The GM doubled down at the May exit meeting, telling Tuch he wants to keep him in blue and gold.

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.

The sides re-engaged in negotiations in late June. This one could slide either way.

“I have no idea. I wish I could tell you the future,” said Tuch, who expressed his love for the city and his team, and who also understands his market value. “I’m going to do whatever is best for myself and my family.

“I don’t know how the talks are going to proceed. I don’t know what they are going to say. I don’t know the future. But my main priority is my family.”

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 budget. GM Kelly McCrimmon has $4.6 million in cap space for 2026-27, and that’s without Andersson — or offer-sheet candidate Pavel Dorofeyev — on the books.

Most believe Vegas and Andersson intend to extend, but some roster surgery would be necessary. 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.

“I’ve loved everything about Vegas, and I’ve really enjoyed being here,” Andersson told reporters last week. “I would love to come back, and I would love to work with (McCrimmon) and find a solution. Being back here would be awesome. We were this close to winning.”

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: 36
Position: Defence
2025-26 salary cap hit: $8 million

The latest: 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.

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, but all signs point to a return to the Eastern Conference.

Carlson described his time in Anaheim as a thrill, but he’ll consider what’s best for his wife and family.

“I certainly loved it here,” Carlson said upon elimination (via The Athletic). “It’s a special place here for sure, with some extraordinary talent and a really bright future. That certainly is attractive to anyone, not just myself.”

The way Carlson performed in Anaheim’s encouraging two-round playoff run, we don’t see a pay cut coming yet. 

Does a big-money, two-year deal make the most sense?

Snatching Carlsson for that role and adding him to a dangerous power-play makes a ton of sense. 

2025-26 salary cap hit: $8 million

The latest: Outside of the recently locked-in Jackson LaCombe, the future of the Anaheim Ducks’ blue line 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 logged big minutes into the playoffs alongside LaCombe.

“This year the step he took is pretty impressive. He’d be a great guy to play with for years to come,” Trouba said in May. “That doesn’t necessarily mean that’s going to be a partner if you’re here. Things change, obviously. Whoever gets the opportunity to play (with) him is in a very good spot.”

Trouba said extension talks with Verbeek around trade deadline “didn’t get very far.”

Ever patient, Verbeek described Trouba as a “quality” player but notes the Ducks have “a lot of quality players in our system.” 

The executive’s plan was to play out the season, evaluate Trouba, then decide on roster changes.

“At some point, I got to look to see how we can improve the team,” Verbeek told reporters, following elimination. “It’s obvious we’re not quite good enough to get to the third round, so we’ve got some more work to do. But I think there’s going to be certain things. There’ll be maturity amongst our younger guys; they got another year under their belt. Can expect another step from them and just kind of keep growing it.”

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, 33 — perhaps you should be the one negotiating his next contract.

Dubas bought low on the power forward and was rewarded with a healthy contributor who registered a career-high 64 points and became the Penguins’ Masterton nominee.

Mantha hired a mental coach, avoided injury, and took full 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.

One buyer-beware note: Mantha’s ridiculous 21.7 shooting percentage this season dwarfs his career average of 13.8.

“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.”

Dubas met with Mantha about the forward’s future and told reporters that Mantha was “clear with his plans.”

Reading between the lines: This is the injury-prone veteran’s best crack at term and money. 

Mantha will capitalize on his impressive breakout somewhere else on July 1.

Age on July 1: 33
Position: Centre
2025-26 salary cap hit: $3.75 million

With Jenner’s teammate, Charlie Coyle, and future Hall of Famer Evgeni Malkin re-upping with their respective clubs following elimination, Jenner could be the most attractive centre available in a weakening class featuring Jason Dickinson and Scott Laughton.

The middle-six veteran produced a respectable 38 points in 67 games while providing leadership and penalty-kill prowess. On a solid roster, he slots in at 3C.

Jenner’s injury history is worth noting; he hasn’t reached the 70 games played mark since 2020-21.

The $36-million commitment GM Don Waddell made to Coyle, combined with the need for raises to RFAs Adam Fantilli and Jet Greaves, puts Jenner’s 15-year run with the organization in doubt. 

Jenner holds the Jackets’ record for games played (808). As he seeks term and Columbus seeks culture change and youth, Game 809 now feels like a long shot.

Edmonton’s recent five-year, $20-millon extension with Jason Dickinson could serve as a comparable.

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. (Sergei Bobrovsky and Frederik Andersen are a couple of wily vets looking for new deals.)

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 remained a Penguin and registered a fourth consecutive season of 50-plus starts and 20-plus wins.

He already has 53 games of playoff experience under his belt and got the nod early in Round 1 for his new team before losing his net to Arturs Silovs.

If Dubas lets the veteran walk and goes with the young tandem of Silovs and Sergei Murashov next season, Skinner will have no problem finding employment elsewhere.

There is simply not enough supply for the demand for saves.

“I’ve got two kids that I’m taking care of and a wife to take care of,” Skinner told TribLive.com in April. “I’m not too worried about what the contract’s going to look like or anything like that.”

The Ottawa Senators, who finished 29th in team save percentage, are interested in the goaltender, according to NHL insider Kevin Weekes.

Age on July 1: 34
Position: Left wing
2025-26 salary cap hit: $5.5 million

The latest: The 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 post-season in 2027, but he also battled multiple injuries in this contract campaign. 

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, traded Marchment away midseason and brought in speedster Bobby McMann.

While Botterill shelled out $34.5 million to keep McMann in town for six more seasons, decisions still await on Schwartz, Eeli Tolvanen and Jamie Oleksiak.

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. Schwartz shares the organization’s frustration with missing the playoffs three years running.

“I love it here in Seattle. Really grateful and thankful that I got the opportunity to come here. I don’t know what’s going to happen going forward,” Schwartz said at locker cleanout. 

“I’m certainly interested in coming back here and helping this group, but we’ll know more in the weeks going forward.”

Certainly, locking up the younger, healthier McMann makes Schwartz more expendable.

Age on July 1: 31
Position: Left wing
2025-26 salary cap hit: 4.5 million

The latest: Marchment has suited up for three NHL franchises over the past two seasons and a total of five since his 2019-20 debut. Now, the two-time 22-goal scorer has a chance to pick a sixth.

With impact forwards scarce and Marchment a gritty, 40-plus-point guy, expect multiple teams to be lining up offers, including the Penguins, whose GM regrets trading Marchment to Florida before his breakout.

Columbus GM Don Waddell — who rented Marchment for 39 games and saw his effectiveness spike during the Blue Jackets’ failed playoff push — has interest in re-signing the middle-six winger, naturally.

But Waddell already spent a wad ($36 million) to retain fellow pending UFA Charlie Coyle and must save dollars for RFAs Adam Fantilli and Jet Greaves.

The undrafted, late-blooming player holds all the cards here, and the sense right now is that Marchment will be heading to a market eager to pay for middle-six wingers with edge.

Age on July 1: 37
Position: Goaltender
2025-26 salary cap hit: $10 million

The latest: Following dramatic dip in 2025-26 for both the Florida Panthers and their beloved Bobrovsky, the goaltender was reportedly seeking a six-year extension worth $42 million. The Brad Marchand model: Save on cap space but pay me till I’m ancient.

GM Bill Zito finds himself at a stalemate with the future Hall of Famer who backstopped the Cats to three consecutive Stanley Cup finals. 

And while Goalie Bob is known for his commitment and conditioning, his numbers fell off a cliff this past season: his .877 save percentage and minus-23 goals saved above expected are both career worsts.

Opposing teams won’t want to match his term, but the idea of a two-year pact for big bucks has enticed some executives. The man has played 50-plus games in five straight seasons, and workhorse No. 1s are hard to find.

The Toronto Maple Leafs, who traded away Joseph Woll, are one team interested, reported Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman.

Age on July 1: 33
Position: Left wing
2025-26 salary cap hit: $4 million

The latest: The speedball winger was a fine fit with the Boston Bruins, and both parties enjoyed a rejuvenation this past season. 

Arvidsson returned to 25-goal, 50-point form and posted a career-best plus-20. Not bad considering he cost GM Don Sweeney only a fifth-rounder. The Bruins aren’t the deepest team up front, so losing Arvidsson without finding a suitable replacement could hurt.

“I had so much fun, and it was a great year. And I’m happy to talk to Sweens about coming back,” Arvidsson told reporters in May. “It’s just a lot of areas that need to be figured out with my family and stuff like that. You got to think about that, too. Like I said, I had fun, and I really like it here, so I’m open to it.”

Arvidsson’s agent, Kurt Overhardt, is remaining in touch with Sweeney as July 1 nears. Both sides are interested in an extension, but the veteran may demand more term than Sweeney is willing to give.

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 have just skated 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 or hang ’em up entirely.

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.

Noticeably slowing, Ovechkin’s production and defensive usage dipped compared to 2024-25’s chase year.

That he started a ridiculous 90.2 per cent of his shifts in the O-zone and essentially played the entirety of every Capitals power play is both hilarious and telling.

Ovechkin took the Carlson trade hard, and the retooling Caps missed the playoffs.

“I don’t know if it’s the end or not,” Ovechkin said. “I’m still enjoy it. I’m still have fun. I’m still happy to be with the boys.

“It’s just healthwise, you know? If I was 35 or 25, it’s one thing. But when you’re 40, you have to think for future.”

GM Chris Patrick has kept the lines of communication open, and the team is reportedly open to a one-year extension.

“We’re giving him some time here to get away from the season a little bit and think things through and talk to his family. And then he’ll meet with both (president Brian MacLellan) and I, and we’ll continue to support him in however his decision process plays out,” Patrick said.

“We’ll be able to have a plan with or without him. It’s no different than really any offseason where you have some players that are expiring, and you can go down different paths depending on what happens with them. So, same thing with him, even though he’s the greatest goal scorer of all time.”

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: Victor Olofsson, 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