5 Teams That Need to Spend in 2026 NHL Free Agency
The NHL's annual free-agent market opens at noon ET on July 1. Usually, the early hours tend to be busy as teams race to attempt to sign the best unrestricted free agents to address their roster needs.
This year, however, the UFA pool is a shallow one because most of the best players signed lucrative contract extensions with their respective teams months ago.
Nevertheless, there will be clubs with plentiful salary-cap space that could attempt to invest some of it on whatever UFA talent is available.
Failing that, those clubs could go the offer-sheet route by targeting their rivals' best restricted free agents. If a player signs an offer sheet, their current team has seven days to match.
A successful signing will cost more than salary-cap space, as the team that signed the player must pay his former club compensation in the form of draft picks based on the average annual value of the contract.
Despite the depletion of the unrestricted free agent market, teams will still seek suitable talent to help them. However, some clubs' roster needs could put more pressure on them to invest in UFAs. Here's a look at five teams we believe must spend in this summer's free-agent market to improve their rosters.
Anaheim Ducks
1 of 5
Four seasons of rebuilding under general manager Pat Verbeek paid off this season for the Anaheim Ducks. Led by rising stars Leo Carlsson, Cutter Gauthier, and Beckett Sennecke, they made the playoffs for the first time since 2017-18.
Verbeek won't be resting on his laurels this summer. Once he gets Carlsson and Gauthier signed to new contracts, he'll be shopping around in search of players who can help the Ducks build on this season's promising performance.
The Ducks have a projected $38.8 million in salary-cap space for next season, with 16 active roster players already signed. That cap space will be reduced significantly by the next contracts for Carlsson and Gauthier, but there should be enough to address their roster needs.
The most urgent roster need is shoring up the defense. Veterans Jacob Trouba, John Carlson, and Radko Gudas are slated to become unrestricted free agents, and Carlson has already informed the Ducks he won't return. Pavel Mintyukov and Olen Zellweger are restricted free agents lacking arbitration rights.
Carlson's departure could force Verbeek to focus on adding a top-four, right-shot defenseman. Rasmus Andersson could address that need if available, but he could cost over $8 million annually. That could be manageable, depending on the cost of re-signing Carlsson and Gauthier.
Verbeek could attempt to land an affordable middle-six forward via an offer sheet. Options include Mavrik Bourque of the Dallas Stars or Zack Bolduc of the Montréal Canadiens, for between $2.34 million and $4.78 million, with only a second-round pick to give up as compensation.
Chicago Blackhawks
2 of 5
Of the NHL teams that must invest in improving themselves this summer, it's the Chicago Blackhawks.
Rebuilding since 2022 under general manager Kyle Davidson, Chicago has a budding franchise superstar in center Connor Bedard. They've also stockpiled some promising young talent, including forwards Frank Nazar and Anton Frondell and defensemen Artyom Levshunov, Sam Linzel, and Kevin Korchinski.
However, they've shown little sign of significant improvement. While their point totals rose from 52 in 2023-24 to 61 in 2024-25 and to 72 in 2025-26, they finished 31st overall in each of those seasons.
Davidson must make some moves this summer to bolster his roster and move them closer to playoff contention. With 20 active roster players under contract and $40.2 million in projected cap space for 2026-27, he has the dollars to go shopping for help.
A big part of that cap space will be taken up re-signing Bedard. However, he should have enough to add a scoring winger such as Alex Tuch to Bedard's line. However, the 30-year-old power forward could be unwilling to join another rebuilding team after spending years with the Buffalo Sabres.
Gritty winger Mason Marchment could be a decent addition as a middle-six forward. Davidson could also look at bringing more veteran experienced depth to his defense corps by pursuing Mario Ferraro.
Chicago also has all their draft picks, allowing Davidson to pursue a big-ticket restricted free agent on a cap-strapped rival club with an offer sheet. Options could include Dallas Stars winger Jason Robertson or Vegas Golden Knights winger Pavel Dorofeyev.
Columbus Blue Jackets
3 of 5
The last time the Columbus Blue Jackets qualified for the playoffs was during the COVID-shortened 2019-20 season. Since then, they are on their sixth head coach and third general manager as they attempt to end that streak in 2026-27.
Having narrowly missed the playoffs over the past two seasons, this summer could be crucial for the Blue Jackets. Failure to bring in the right players to get this team over the hump could have far-reaching consequences that derail the potential they've shown in recent years.
If anything should give current GM Don Waddell additional incentive, it's the future of defenseman Zach Werenski, the club's first winner of the James Norris Memorial Trophy. He's eligible for UFA status in 2028, so the Blue Jackets must become a contender to keep Werenski in Columbus.
With $32.4 million in salary-cap space and 18 active roster players signed for next season, the Blue Jackets have sufficient space to re-sign restricted free agents Adam Fantilli, Jet Greaves, and Cole Sillinger. That should also leave enough to pursue some help via free agency.
Waddell could look to this summer's UFA market for some help, especially if forwards Boone Jenner and Mason Marchment depart as free agents. Winger Alex Tuch would be the most expensive, while Viktor Arvidsson, Anthony Mantha, and Scott Laughton may be affordable short-term veteran options.
The Blue Jackets GM also has the offer-sheet option. He has sufficient first-round picks to go big-game hunting if he's willing to spend over $11.939 million, but it's unlikely he'd make that big of a splash. He also has his first- and third-rounders in 2027 to do an offer sheet between $4.8 million and $7.1 million.
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Pittsburgh Penguins
4 of 5
Having missed three straight postseasons, few observers expected the Pittsburgh Penguins to be a playoff club in 2025-26. However, they clinched a berth by finishing second in the Metropolitan Division with 98 points, marking their best performance since 2021-22.
Since becoming general manager in 2023, Kyle Dubas has gradually transitioned the Penguins roster from aging veterans toward younger talent. The impending departures of UFA-eligible forwards Anthony Mantha and Kevin Hayes could lead Dubas to seek some short-term help via this summer's free-agent market.
The Penguins have $37.9 million in projected salary cap space for 2026-27, with 19 active roster players under contract. Winger Yegor Chinakhov and goaltender Artūrs Šilovs are restricted free agents with arbitration rights, but their new contracts should still leave Dubas with sufficient space for other moves.
Center options are thin for the Penguins. Dubas could consider Scott Laughton, but the 32-year-old won't fit the role of second-line center and is moving out of his prime years. Defenseman Mario Ferraro, 27, might be a more suitable UFA target if the cost isn't too high.
The Penguins have the cap space and sufficient draft picks to make a significant offer sheet signing. Jason Robertson of the Dallas Stars could be enticing, but also very expensive. Robertson's teammate, Mavrik Bourque, could be a more affordable option.
San Jose Sharks
5 of 5
Under general manager Mike Grier, the Sharks have spent the past four seasons rebuilding their roster. They made significant improvements in 2025-26, finishing only four points out of a wild-card berth in the Western Conference.
The Sharks have a roster loaded with young talent like forwards Macklin Celebrini, Will Smith, and Michael Misa, defenseman Sam Dickinson, and goaltender Yaroslav Askarov. However, they must add some experienced depth to improve their chances of clinching a playoff spot next spring.
Grier is expected to focus on bolstering his defense corps. Veterans blueliners such as Mario Ferraro, Nick Leddy, John Klingberg, and Vincent Desharnais are UFA-eligible and not expected to return. That leaves the 34-year-old Dmitri Orlov as their only rearguard with significant NHL experience.
With a projected $40.6 million in cap space for 2026-27, the Sharks have 17 active roster players under contract. That gives Grier plenty of room to add one or two veteran defensemen if he chooses to go the UFA route.
Grier already made one addition to his defense corps by acquiring Michael Kesselring from the Buffalo Sabres. Options in the UFA market could include Rasmus Andersson, Jacob Trouba, Ryan Shea, Logan Stanley, or Andrew Peeke.
The offer sheet route isn't available to the Sharks because they lack sufficient compensatory draft picks for any signings below $11.939 million. It's unlikely that Grier will attempt to go the extreme high-end route.
Stats and standings via NHL.com. Salary cap and lineup info via PuckPedia.
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