NHL Free Agency 2026 Rumors and Predictions for Top Stars

Front offices across the NHL will scour free agency, looking for that one player who can come in and upgrade a roster that they hope will put them directly in contention for the Stanley Cup.

This year's class features a mix of veterans, future Hall of Famers, and players still in their prime. Among them are Patrick Kane, Valdimir Tarasenko, and Rasmus Andersson.

What is the latest on them and where might those three players end up? Find out in this collection of reports from the game's top insiders.

Latest on Patrick Kane

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Patrick Kane is a surefire Hall of Famer, probably even a first ballot lock, and even at age 37, was a contributor to the Detroit Red Wings last season.

The right wing scored 16 times and added 41 assists in 2025-26, with 17:41 of ice time. Looking to improve upon an abysmal last season, one Eastern Conference team could be looking to bolster its roster with his veteran presence and proven winning.

Maple Leafs insider Nick Alberga reported on X, "If Patrick Kane gets to market, I expect Toronto to be in the mix."

NHL insider Frank Seravalli reported on Frankly Hockey that this would not be the first time that the team was interested in acquiring Kane.

Kane is an affordable, veteran option for a Leafs team looking to rebound and return to the postseason. An outstanding scorer who can facilitate offense, he fits the team on the ice and in the locker room, he can be a mentor and leader to a team that just drafted Gavin McKenna out of Penn State with the No. 1 pick.

The Leafs got their offseason started early, trading with Tampa for defenseman Darren Raddysh. Adding Kane would be another quality piece who can compliment the stars already there (Auston Matthews, William Nylader) and the ones who will lead the blue and white into the future.

Prediction: Kane signs with Toronto on a one-year deal

Vladimir Tarasenko Gets Jump on Free Agency

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NHL insider Pierre LeBrun reported on X that a recent change in agents allows Minnesota Wild right winger Vladimir Tarasenko to get a jump on free agency.

The 34-year-old scored 23 times last season and added 24 assists. His 15.5 shooting percentage in 75 games with the Wild was the best of his career.

A quality controller of the puck, with a great release, Tarasenko has plenty to offer a potential suitor. A reunion with the St. Louis Blues is always a possibility, but teams like Detroit, Boston, and Vancouver could all benefit from his wing play.

The New Jersey Devils, though, have a glaring hole at the position and Tarasenko would instantly improve that situation. With the team looking to get back into the postseason after missing this past season, acquiring a playoff-tested player like the veteran is a solid move.

Prediction: Tarasenko signs with a winger-needy team, like New Jersey

Update on Rasmus Andersson Numbers

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Defenseman Rasmus Andersson is expected to be among the top free agents available this offseason and NHL insider Darren Dreger reported on the Barn Burner that his expected AAV is in the range of $8.5 million (0:35).

That is, if Andersson makes it to the open market.

Dreger noted that the Vegas Golden Knights are open for business "within reason" and that, with the other expensive players on the roster, general manager Kelly McCrimmon will have to maneuver cap space.

He also reported that, based on conversations with other managers, there was a belief that a handshake deal was in place when Andersson was traded from Calgary to Vegas that a deal would get done.

The 29-year-old had an inauspicious debut in Vegas, playing in 33 games and scoring seven goals and tallying 10 assists. In that brief sample, though, he did manage the highest shooting percentage of his career at 10.6.

Andersson is a superb puck mover who is as good at transitioning the puck out of the defensive zone as any and a player who can seemingly create offense from nothing, with an elite shot to boot.

Stats in his brief time in Vegas notwithstanding, if (and it is a big "if") Andersson does hit the market, there will be suitors.

Washington has the cap space to get a deal done and would add him to a blue line that would instantly rank at or near the top of the NHL. Boston offered defenseman Mason Lohrei and a first-round pick, per RG.org's James Murphy.

Both of those teams would benefit exponentially from adding a player of his ability. Still, it is unlikely that Vegas would have given Calgary prospect Abram Wiebe, defenseman Zach Whitecloud, a first-rounder in 2027, and a second in 2028 if it did not have plans to sign Andersson to a deal.

Any other landing spot but Vegas would be a surprise.

Prediction: Las Vegas re-signs Andersson, even if he hits the market