NHL Free Agents 2026 Rumors and Final Landing Spots Predictions Before FA Begins
The 2026 NHL draft unfolded over Friday and Saturday, and the draft—along with the handful of major trades that preceded it—has done plenty to shake up the NHL landscape. More shifts are on the not-too-distant horizon.
This year's edition of NHL free agency is slated to begin at 12 p.m. ET on Wednesday.
While we certainly don't know how things will unfold in free agency, we can certainly make a few educated guesses. Here, we'll dive into some of the latest rumors and biggest buzz before making a few predictions.
Anthony Mantha
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Pittsburgh Penguins winger Anthony Mantha is one of the bigger names who has long been expected to reach unrestricted free agency.
"I hope you haven't purchased too many Anthony Mantha jerseys. It sure doesn't sound like the 31-year-old forward is returning to Pittsburgh," The Athletic's Josh Yohe wrote last month.
Mantha should have the opportunity to cash in as a free agent coming off a 3-goal season. Sportsnet's Luke Fox ranked the 31-year-old fourth on his list of top impending NHL free agents.
"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," Fox wrote.
Yohe reported at the beginning of this month that Pittsburgh would be "happy" to bring Mantha back on a short-term deal. However, The Athletic's Pierre LeBrun reported that Mantha and agent Olivier Fortier are likely seeking a four-year deal.
The Seattle Kraken should be a team to watch in the coming days. Seattle needs to improve its forward rotation, and it is projected to have more than $22.6 million in cap space available. LeBrun believes that Mantha could command "between $5 million and $6 million" per season.
Prediction: Mantha signs with Seattle
Rasmus Andersson
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Vegas Golden Knights defenseman Rasmus Andersson is the top free agent on Fox's board and is undoubtedly one of the better players in what is perceived as an underwhelming overall market. That's assuming he actually reaches free agency.
Many folks probably didn't expect Andersson to get this close to the open market. He was acquired from the Calgary Flames back in January, but he didn't sign an extension upon his arrival.
According to Fox, the "suspected holdup" is Vegas' cap constraints.
The Golden Knights' financial limitations could allow another team to swoop in and snag the 29-year-old. The Boston Bruins just might be that team.
Boston could use another high-end defenseman, and it has been linked to Andersson previously.
Before Andersson was dealt to Vegas, Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman reported (h/t Nick Goss of NBC Sports Boston) that the Bruins appeared "to be in the driver's seat" in trade talks.
Friedman also reported that the Bruins weren't interested in acquiring Andersson without an extension. Now, they might have their chance to land him on a long-term deal.
Prediction: Andersson signs with Boston
Sergei Bobrovsky
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Florida Panthers standout Sergei Bobrovsky will turn 38 in September, but he's likely to be one of the top goalies on the market. Despite experiencing a dip in efficiency this past season, Bobrovsky is still the ninth-ranked player on Fox's board.
It's hard to imagine Bobrovsky leaving Florida after a successful seven-year run, but his price point may be more than the Panthers are willing to pay. Sportsnet's Nick Kypreos has reported that Bobrovsky's "ask" could be "as high as $42 million over six or seven years."
That price is probably too high for the Panthers, who are looking at just $5.9 million in cap space after trading for Brady Tkachuk. Bobrovsky's preferred deal could be too long for other teams, too.
"Opposing teams won't want to match his term, but the idea of a two-year pact for big bucks has enticed some executives," Fox wrote.
If Bobrovsky cannot get the lengthy contract he desires, he could instead opt for the best opportunity to win in free agency. That may come with the Panthers, albeit on a more reasonable short-term contract. If Florida and Bobrovsky can reach a happy compromise on annual salary, a new deal in the range of two to four years would make plenty of sense.
Prediction: Bobrovsky re-signs with Florida
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