Way-Too-Early 2026 NHL Free Agent Big Board
The NHL's annual trade deadline has passed for another season. With the trade market quiet until the offseason, fans and pundits are focused on the run for the playoffs, which begin on Apr. 16.
Trade speculation will likely die down until the end of the regular season, when pundits will ruminate about which teams eliminated from the playoffs will make moves during the summer.
Meanwhile, the rumor mill will shift toward speculation about where this year's top unrestricted free agents will land when the annual free-agent market begins on July 1.
When we did our previous way-too-early ranking of free agents last September, the pool was set to be one of the deepest in history. Connor McDavid of the Edmonton Oilers, Jack Eichel of the Vegas Golden Knights, and Artemi Panarin were among the prime superstars eligible for UFA status.
Since then, the depth of talent has been depleted. McDavid, Eichel, Kyle Connor of the Winnipeg Jets, and Adrian Kempe of the Los Angeles Kings signed contract extensions. On Feb. 4, the New York Rangers traded Panarin to the Kings, who signed him to a two-year extension.
The latest to come off the board was Nick Schmaltz. On March 11, the 30-year-old center inked an eight-year, $64 million extension with the Utah Mammoth.
Aging superstars such as Alex Ovechkin of the Washington Capitals and Evgeni Malkin of the Pittsburgh Penguins could be available. Players in their prime, such as Alex Tuch of the Buffalo Sabres and Rasmus Andersson of the Vegas Golden Knights, should be of considerable interest if unsigned by July 1.
Follow along as we update our way-too-early 2026 NHL Free Agent Big Board.
15. Logan Stanley, Buffalo Sabres
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After nearly six full seasons with the Winnipeg Jets, Logan Stanley was traded to the Buffalo Sabres in a multi-player deal on March 6. His performance with his new club could determine what his next contract will be and where he'll be playing after this season.
Stanley, 27, is in the final season of a two-year deal with an affordable cap hit of $1.3 million. The 6'7", 231-pounder is a big, physical shutdown defenseman who found a bit of a scoring touch this season, tallying career highs of nine goals and 23 points split between the Jets and Sabres.
A solid performance with the struggling Jets this season suggests that Stanley is entering his prime as a defensive blueliner. If he carries that over with the Sabres, they could sign him to a contract extension. If not, he will garner attention in this summer's free-agent market.
Stanley has earned a significant raise on his next contract. Given his youth and defensive play, he could land a four or five-year deal with an average annual value of $5 million.
14. Mason Marchment, Columbus Blue Jackets
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Traded by the Dallas Stars to the Seattle Kraken in a cost-cutting deal last June, Mason Marchment was on the move again in December, dealt to the Columbus Blue Jackets for a pair of draft picks.
Marchment struggled to fit in with the Kraken, netting 13 points in 29 games with a plus/minus of minus-4. A big, energetic, agitating winger, the 6'5", 212-pounder settled in well in Columbus, tallying 12 goals and 21 points in 26 games with a plus/minus of plus-12.
On Feb. 19, Aaron Portzline of The Athletic reported Marchment was among several pending unrestricted free agents that the Blue Jackets hoped to re-sign. The 30-year-old winger is completing a four-year contract with an average annual value of $4.5 million.
Marchment could seek a five to seven-year contract with an AAV of $6.5 million. His physical style of play and decent scoring touch will draw the interest of clubs seeking to add his talents to their middle-six forward lines.
13. Anders Lee, New York Islanders
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Led by team captain Anders Lee, the New York Islanders have bounced back from last season's disappointing performance. After missing the playoffs in 2024-25, they're jostling with the Columbus Blue Jackets for third place in the Metropolitan Division.
Lee has spent his entire 14-season NHL career with the Islanders. The 35-year-old winger's production is down this season, with 15 goals and 35 points in 69 games, but he could reach the 20-goal plateau for the 10th time and the 40-point mark for the ninth time.
It's uncertain if Lee will return with the Islanders after this season. The 6'3", 234-pounder is in the final season of his seven-year contract, with an average annual value of $7 million. Last September, Islanders general manager Mathieu Darche said he was taking a wait-and-see approach to negotiating with Lee.
At this stage of his career, Lee must accept a pay cut on a short-term contract to remain with the Islanders. However, if Darche decides it's time to move on, the veteran winger should receive interest from clubs seeking an experienced middle-six winger with size and leadership skills on an affordable deal.
12. Bobby McMann, Seattle Kraken
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A late-blooming middle-six winger, Bobby McMann had a 20-goal, 34-point performance with the Toronto Maple Leafs last season. The versatile 29-year-old winger had 19 goals and 32 points in 60 games with the Leafs this season before getting shipped to the Seattle Kraken at the trade deadline for a pair of draft picks.
Any expectation that McMann would see a drop-off in production with the low-scoring Kraken has been dashed thus far. The 6'2", 217-pounder had four goals and six points in his first four games in Seattle on their top line with Matty Beniers and Jordan Eberle.
McMann is in the final season of a two-year contract with an average annual value of $1.4 million. Following the trade, he said that he and Leafs management were interested in an extension, but the latter decided to go in a different direction.
The Kraken could re-sign McMann if he maintains his current scoring pace for the rest of this season. It could cost them a five-year contract worth around $5 million annually to do so.
11. Boone Jenner, Columbus Blue Jackets
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For 13 seasons, Boone Jenner has been a heart-and-soul player for the Columbus Blue Jackets. A big, versatile, hardworking forward, the 6'2", 207-pounder has been the Blue Jackets captain since 2021-22. The 32-year-old leads the club with 794 games played, and is third all-time with 209 goals and 414 points.
Jenner is in the final season of a four-year contract with an average annual value of $3.8 million. He's slid down their depth chart at center behind rising star Adam Fantilli and veterans Sean Monahan and Charlie Coyle.
On Feb. 19, Aaron Portzline of The Athletic reported Blue Jackets general manager Don Waddell said his club's key unrestricted free agents wanted to stay. Whether Waddell can keep all of them remains to be seen.
Jenner likely wants to stick with the promising Blue Jackets, who are on the cusp of becoming a playoff team. However, this will be the last opportunity he'll have to test the free-agent market. He could seek a raise of over $5 million annually, and his style of play and leadership will attract suitors in the UFA market.
10. Jacob Trouba, Anaheim Ducks
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The New York Rangers' current rebuild began in December 2024, when they shipped team captain Jacob Trouba to the Anaheim Ducks. The Rangers reportedly made that move to clear cap space and create room for younger defensemen.
Trouba was thought to have lost a step during his final season with the Rangers, but he's gained new life with the young Ducks. The 6'3", 212-pound defenseman brought stability, experience, leadership, and a physical presence to their blue line, improving its overall performance.
The Ducks will attempt to re-sign Trouba, who is completing a seven-year contract with an average annual value of $8 million. Given his age, the 32-year-old won't get another lucrative long-term deal like that. However, the Ducks have $41.4 million in cap space next season, giving them plenty of room to re-sign him.
Trouba might have to settle for a three or four-year contract worth around $5 million annually to remain in Anaheim. Failing that, he shouldn't have much difficulty landing with a new club via free agency.
9. Anthony Mantha, Pittsburgh Penguins
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Anthony Mantha has enjoyed a career-best performance with the Pittsburgh Penguins. Signed as a free agent last July to a one-year, $2.5 million contract, the 31-year-old winger has 26 goals and 27 assists for 53 points, sitting third among their scorers.
It's a significant bounce-back for the 31-year-old Mantha, whose 2024-25 campaign with the Calgary Flames was cut short by a knee injury. Before that, he'd had several inconsistent seasons with the Washington Capitals and Vegas Golden Knights.
Mantha has played the best hockey of his career in Pittsburgh. That could earn him an extension with the retooling Penguins, but that could depend on how much and for how long.
The Penguins might consider a three-year deal worth around $5 million annually. He could get a couple more years and more dollars elsewhere if he goes to market.
8. Charlie Coyle, Columbus Blue Jackets
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The Columbus Blue Jackets opted not to move forwards Boone Jenner, Mason Marchment, and Charlie Coyle at the March trade deadline. With the Blue Jackets pushing for a playoff berth, they weren't going to weaken their roster by trading them, even at the risk of losing them to free agency in July.
On Feb. 19, Aaron Portzline of The Athletic reported contract extension talks hadn't begun, but the trio wanted to stay in Columbus. If that isn't possible for Coyle, he could draw plenty of attention in this summer's free-agent market.
The 34-year-old Coyle has been a reliable and versatile two-way forward, able to play center or right wing. He's exceeded the 40-point plateau six times in his 14-season NHL career, including 55 points in 68 games this season with the Blue Jackets, putting him on pace to exceed his career-high 60-point campaign of 2023-24.
Coyle is completing a six-year contract with an annual salary-cap hit of $5.3 million. He won't get an expensive long-term offer at this stage of his career. A three-year deal close to his current cap hit is possible, especially from contenders seeking experienced depth among their middle-six forwards.
7. John Carlson, Anaheim Ducks
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After 17 seasons with the Washington Capitals, John Carlson was traded on March 6 to the Anaheim Ducks. The 36-year-old puck-moving defenseman's skills, leadership, and playoff experience should be invaluable to the young Ducks as they chase their first playoff berth in eight years.
Whether Carlson has a future in Anaheim remains to be seen. The Ducks could attempt to sign him to an extension before July 1 if he remains a worthwhile addition to their roster. However, he could also decide to test the free-agent market for the first time in his career.
Carlson is completing an eight-year contract with a salary-cap hit of $8 million. He's still putting up good numbers, with 47 points in 58 games this season. Given his age, however, his days of landing a lucrative long-term deal are over.
A three-year deal with an average annual value of around $6 million is possible if he goes to market. He could also accept a one-year contract with a low base salary and bonus clauses that could take him up to $7 million.
6. Alex Ovechkin, Washington Capitals
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For 21 seasons, Alex Ovechkin has been the Washington Capitals' franchise player. He turned them from an afterthought for most hockey fans into one of the league's premier teams, leading them to a Stanley Cup in 2018. Along the way, he also established himself as the greatest goal scorer in NHL history.
Nevertheless, this could be Ovechkin's final season with the Capitals. Now 40, he's no longer the dominant forward of his youth. Management has been transitioning the Capitals toward younger talent as it prepares for the post-Ovechkin era, including trading away long-time defenseman John Carlson.
Ovechkin called the Carlson trade "the toughest day of my career." While he hasn't stated his plans for beyond this season, he could return to Russia or move on to another NHL club on July 1 as an unrestricted free agent if he and the Capitals can't agree to a contract extension.
Don't expect Ovechkin to get another deal similar to his current five-year contract with an average annual value of $9.5 million. He could end up with a one-year, bonus-laden deal that could take him up to $9 million.
5. Evgeni Malkin, Pittsburgh Penguins
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One of the greatest players in Penguins history, Evgeni Malkin had a bounce-back performance this season with the Pittsburgh Penguins. After netting 50 points in 68 games in 2024-25, the 39-year-old forward has 51 points in 48 games, sitting second among Penguins scorers.
Injuries continue to plague the 6'5", 213-pound Malkin. After 20 NHL seasons, his best years as an elite scorer are in the past. Nevertheless, he's proven that he still has something left in the tank. Malkin would like to remain with the Penguins, but the two sides have yet to begin negotiations.
Malkin is finishing off a four-year contract with an average annual value of $6.1 million. At this stage of his career, the best he's likely to get from the Penguins (or another club) is a one-year, bonus-laden contract that could take him up to $6 million.
Malkin may return with the Penguins for one more season, but he could retire if that's not an option. However, there could be a contender willing to add his experience and offensive abilities to their roster if he tests the market.
4. Sergei Bobrovsky, Florida Panthers
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Over the past 16 seasons, Sergei Bobrovsky established himself among this generation's elite goaltenders. He won the Vezina Trophy twice with the Columbus Blue Jackets, and backstopped the Florida Panthers to three straight Stanley Cup Finals and back-to-back championships in 2024 and 2025.
Now 37, Bobrovsky is in the final season of his seven-year contract with an average annual value of $10 million. He's been among the highest-paid goaltenders in the league during that tenure, but was worth every penny for the Panthers.
Bobrovsky's performance slipped this season, partly because of the Panthers' injury-depleted roster. Nevertheless, it sparked speculation before the March 6 trade deadline that they were willing to listen to offers for him. Nothing came of it as the Panthers reportedly intend to re-sign him.
Whether Bobrovsky stays with the Panthers or tests the market, he's not going to land another expensive long-term contract. He could end up with a two or three-year deal with an average annual value around $5 million, which is his base salary in the final season of his current contract.
3. Darren Raddysh, Tampa Bay Lightning
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For most of his five-season NHL career, Darren Raddysh toiled as a depth defenseman with the Tampa Bay Lightning. He put up two back-to-back 30-plus point performances over the last two seasons, but was overshadowed by others on the Lightning's star-studded roster.
This season, however, Raddysh's offense has drawn plenty of attention. The 29-year-old has a career-best 60 points in 60 games, largely because he moved up into a first-pairing role with Lightning captain Victor Hedman hobbled by injuries. He's fourth among Lightning scorers and seventh among NHL defensemen.
Raddysh is in the final season of a two-year contract with a bargain-basement annual salary of $975,000. His offensive breakout this season assures he'll seek a substantial raise on a long-term contract. How much and for how long could determine if his future remains in Tampa Bay.
The Lightning have $15.2 million in projected cap space for next season with 21 active roster players under contract. There is room to re-sign him, but they could be reluctant if his asking price exceeds $6 million. Raddysh's performance this season could be a one-off, but he will still cash in with the Lightning or another club.
2. Rasmus Andersson, Vegas Golden Knights
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After nearly 10 seasons with the Calgary Flames, Rasmus Andersson was traded to the Vegas Golden Knights on Jan. 18. The Golden Knights paid a hefty price, giving up a conditional 2027 first-round pick, a conditional 2028 second-round pick, veteran defenseman Zach Whitecloud, and blue-line prospect Abram Wiebe.
Andersson is a 29-year-old right-shot defenseman who is skating on the Golden Knights' second defense pairing. He had had 30 points in 48 games with the Flames, and six points in 20 contests (UPDATE) with the Golden Knights.
A solid all-around defenseman, Andersson will be considered the top defenseman in this summer's free-agent market unless he re-signs with the Golden Knights. On March 12, TSN's Pierre LeBrun reported they must wait until the offseason to free up sufficient salary-cap space for next season to re-sign him.
Andersson is in the final season of a six-year contract with an average annual value of $4.6 million. He could seek around $8 million annually on a maximum seven-year deal with the Golden Knights or six years if he goes to market.
1. Alex Tuch, Buffalo Sabres
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For the first time in 14 years, the Buffalo Sabres are poised to clinch a playoff spot. Alex Tuch has played a significant role in their improvement this season, but negotiations between the 29-year-old winger and Sabres management have yet to make headway toward a contract extension.
Acquired in November 2021 from the Vegas Golden Knights in the Jack Eichel trade, Tuch has become a reliable scorer for the Sabres. He's exceeded 20 goals and 50 points in each of the last four seasons, including two 36-goal campaigns.
Tuch is in the final season of a seven-year contract that he signed when he was with the Golden Knights. It carries an average annual value of $4.8 million. On March 12, Pierre LeBrun of The Athletic reported sources claimed the Sabres winger seeks at least $10 million annually on his next contract.
The 6'4", 219-pound Tuch is a strong, skillful power forward who would be a welcome addition on any NHL team. We consider him to be the top player in this summer's UFA market. Tuch will draw considerable attention if he ends up testing the free-agent market on July 1.
Stats (as of March 21, 2026) via NHL.com. Salary and contract info via PuckPedia.
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