The 7 Best NHL Players Slated for Free Agency in 2026

The 2025 NHL free-agent market opened Tuesday. There was the usual frenzy of signings as teams moved quickly to snap up the best talent in this year's unrestricted free-agent market.

With the current pool of UFA talent significantly drained, we're casting an eye ahead toward next summer to see which notable stars could be available.

Many of the top players eligible for UFA status next July could be re-signed during the 2025-26 season. Nevertheless, some of them will be available for the highest bidder on July 1, 2026.

Next summer's market will be heavy on scoring forwards and light on quality defensemen.

Our list involves notable stars who are in the prime of their careers. We're excluding Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin and Pittsburgh Penguins center Evgeni Malkin. Both are pushing 40 and their best seasons are well behind them. They could retire rather than sign with another NHL team.

Follow along as we take a very early look at the seven best players who are UFA-eligible next July.

Sergei Bobrovsky, Florida Panthers

Brian Babineau/NHLI via Getty Images

The previous Florida Panthers management made Sergei Bobrovsky the second-highest-paid goaltender in the NHL in 2019, signing him to a seven-year contract with an average annual value of $10 million. Despite some early difficulties, he rewarded them with back-to-back Stanley Cup titles in 2024 and 2025.

Bobrovsky is one of only two active goalies to win the Vezina Trophy at least twice, but those occurred during his years with the Columbus Blue Jackets. Nevertheless, his standout performances during the Panthers' consecutive Stanley Cup runs will burnish his future Hall of Fame resume.

Now 36, Bobrovsky is entering the final years of his NHL career. Despite his age, another solid effort between the Panthers' pipes in 2025-26 will ensure he'll be among next summer's most sought-after free agents if he tests the open market.

Bobrovsky's days of long-term contracts are over. Interested clubs might prefer signing him to a one-year, bonus-laden “35-plus” contract.

However, Bobrovsky could receive offers of two or three years. The AAV will be lower, but depending on performance, could come in between $7 million and $8 million annually.

Kyle Connor, Winnipeg Jets

Jonathan Kozub/NHLI via Getty Images

Two years ago, Winnipeg Jets teammates Connor Hellebuyck and Mark Scheifele were a year away from unrestricted free-agent eligibility. Speculation suggested the Jets would lose one or both in the 2024 UFA market, but both players wound up staying in Winnipeg on long-term extensions.

Jets fans will be hoping that history repeats itself with Kyle Connor before next summer. The 28-year-old left wing is entering the final year of his seven-year deal with an annual cap hit of $7.1 million.

The Jets got great value for their money from Connor. Since 2019-20, he is their leader in total goals (217), points (454) and game-winning goals (47). His total goals rank sixth among all NHL scorers during that period.

Connor's production has also put him in line for a substantial raise on his next contract. He could command over $12 million annually on the open market from teams seeking a high-scoring first-line winger.

Hellebuyck and Scheifele took less than market value to stay in Winnipeg, buying into general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff's vision of a contender. Connor might do the same, but the lure of a huge payday elsewhere could be powerful.

Jack Eichel, Vegas Golden Knights

Leila Devlin/Getty Images

Acquired from the Buffalo Sabres in November 2021, Jack Eichel became the top offensive player on the Vegas Golden Knights. The 28-year-old center was their scoring leader in two of the last three seasons, and would've done so in 2023-24 had injuries not limited him to 63 games.

Last season was Eichel's best in the NHL to date. In 77 games, he finished with a team-leading 66 assists and 94 points, setting single-season franchise records in both categories.

Eichel's biggest contribution was helping the Golden Knights win their first-ever Stanley Cup in 2023. He led all scorers during that postseason with 20 assists and 26 points.

Injuries have plagued Eichel throughout his 10-season NHL career. When healthy, however, he's an elite playmaking center who can rise to the occasion in big-game moments, especially in the postseason. Teams seeking a first-line scoring center in his prime will pursue Eichel if he becomes available.

Eichel will be completing an eight-year contract with an annual cap hit of $10 million. Despite his injury history, he shouldn't have much difficulty finding a contender willing to pay him between $14 million and $15 million annually on his next contract.

Kirill Kaprizov, Minnesota Wild

Bailey Hillesheim/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Nicknamed “Dollar Dollar Bill Kirill” during his NHL rookie season, Kirill Kaprizov has been money in the bank for the Minnesota Wild. During his five seasons in Minnesota, he's become the most exciting player in franchise history.

During his 2021-22 sophomore campaign, Kaprizov set single-season franchise records with 47 goals, 61 assists and 108 points. Despite being sidelined by injuries for long periods in 2022-23 and 2024-25, his 1.21 points-per-game average ranks 10th among all NHL skaters since his debut in 2020-21.

The Wild have yet to win a playoff series with Kaprizov on the roster, but he cannot be faulted for that. The talented Russian winger leads them in postseason scoring during that period with 15 goals and 21 points.

Kaprizov is in the final season of his five-year contract, with an average annual value of $9 million. Given his dazzling scoring skills and explosive skating, Kaprizov is bound to see many more dollar bills on his next contract.

His recent injury history is a concern, but it won't prevent teams from bidding for his services. He could land a deal worth around $15 million annually on the open market if the Wild aren't willing to go that high.

Adrian Kempe, Los Angeles Kings

Curtis Comeau/Icon Sportswear

Long-time Los Angeles Kings star Anze Kopitar is slated to become a UFA next summer. The 37-year-old center remains a talented and productive forward, winning the Lady Byng Memorial Trophy in 2024-25. However, it's expected that the Kings will ensure that he finishes his career in Los Angeles.

Adrian Kempe isn't as big a star as Kopitar, but he's played a vital role in making the Kings a perennial playoff club over the last four seasons. The 6'2”, 200-pound winger is a skilled all-around forward who led the Kings last season in points (73) while leading all their forwards in ice time per game (19:09).

Last season was the second straight year Kempe led the Kings in scoring. Since his emergence as a scorer in 2021-22, he leads them in total goals (139), game-winners (22) and shorthanded goals (10), and is second in points (269) and plus-minus (plus-55).

Kempe will be completing a four-year contract with an AAV of $5.5 million. The 28-year-old winger will be looking for a long-term deal with a substantial raise. He could get around $9 million on the open market.

Artemi Panarin, New York Rangers

Eliot J. Schechter/NHLI via Getty Images

The New York Rangers won't look back on the 2024-25 season with any fondness. A year after winning the Presidents' Trophy, they missed the playoffs amid a season of turmoil as management attempted to retool the roster on the fly.

Artemi Panarin's production dropped from a career-best 120 points in 2023-24 to 89 in 2024-25, but the 33-year-old winger led the Rangers in scoring for the sixth straight year. He's also been among the league's most productive forwards during that period, sitting fourth overall in total points with 550.

Panarin is entering the final season of his seven-year contract with an annual cap hit of $11.6 million. He'll be 34 when that contract expires. Given the retooling ways of general manager Chris Drury, the playmaking winger might not fit within the club's long-term plans.

While Panarin is one of the oldest players on this list, he remains among the NHL's best playmaking forwards. If he and the Rangers part ways, plenty of clubs will want to bring his offensive talents to their rosters.

At this stage in his career, Panarin won't receive any more long-term deals. Nevertheless, if his production remains around the 90-100 point range, he could end up with a three or four-year deal worth between $10 million and $11 million annually.

Connor McDavid, Edmonton Oilers

Brian Babineau/NHLI via Getty Images

The greatest player of his generation and the current face of the NHL, Connor McDavid would be the biggest superstar to become a UFA while in the prime of his playing career. Now 28, the Edmonton Oilers center would be the most glittering prize in next year's free-agent market.

McDavid has an impressive number of individual awards. He's a five-time winner of the Art Ross Trophy, a four-time winner of the Ted Lindsay Award, a three-time winner of the Hart Memorial Trophy, and has taken home the Maurice Richard Trophy and the Conn Smythe Trophy.

However, McDavid has yet to cement his legacy by winning a Stanley Cup. He's already indicated that winning is all that matters to him. The long-time Oilers star could depart Edmonton next summer if he believes his best shot at winning hockey's holy grail lies elsewhere.

Many teams would love to have McDavid on their roster, but they must be prepared to pay big bucks to get him. He will be completing an eight-year contract with an average annual value of $12.5 million.

Given McDavid's status as the best player in the NHL, he will likely seek an AAV that makes him the league's highest-paid player. The term could vary depending on whether he wants another shot at free agency while still in his prime, but the annual cap hit could reach $20 million.

Stats via NHL.com and Hockey-Reference.com. Salary info via PuckPedia.