Latest NHL Free Agents 2026 Rumors and Predictions for Top Players, Teams
NHL free agency kicked off Wednesday and has seen several deals already reached between teams and top available players, all of whom they hope will elevate their squads into Stanley Cup contention.
Restricted free agent Leo Carlsson of the Anaheim Ducks made headlines following a monster offer sheet presented by the Philadelphia Flyers, earning headlines for what would make him the highest-paid player in the league.
Dive deeper into his situation and more in this collection of insider rumors and reports.
Latest on Leo Carlsson
1 of 3
NHL insider Elliotte Friedman reported that Anaheim "Guaranteed it will match any attempt on Leo Carlsson, and the reason the Ducks haven't made many moves is to make sure to be in a safe cap position."
Then, the Philadelphia Flyers tendered an offer sheet for five years, with an AAV of $18 million, which would make Carlsson the highest-paid player in the NHL, ahead of Edmonton's Leon Draisaitl ($14 million AAV).
TSN NHL insider Darren Dreger reported that four other teams presented Carlsson with offer sheets.
He added, "Details around the Offer Sheet are incredible. Heavily loaded in signing bonus with close to $20 mil paid when the contract is registered with the league. All 5 years with huge signing bonus payouts."
Carlsson navigated injuries this past season but still scored 29 times and recorded 38 assists in 70 games. The 21-year-old is a cornerstone of the Ducks franchise and a player who should be at the forefront of its organizational efforts.
Ducks general manager Pat Verbeek refused to comment until the process was complete.
Puckpedia projected that Anaheim will have $17,173,395 in cap space, a hurdle the team already expected to have to overcome to sign Carlsson this offseason. The Flyers, on the other hand, have $29.5 million available and can further bolster their roster even after signing Carlsson.
Philadelphia would send four first-round picks over the next four years as compensation if Anaheim fails to match the offer sheet.
Penguins Still Want to Trade for Jason Robertson
2 of 3
Neither the Dallas Stars nor their star, restricted free agent Jason Robertson, has budged in negotiations. While they could still end up in arbitration, which would buy them one year before Robertson becomes an unrestricted free agent next offseason, there is still one team interested in acquiring the 26-year-old forward.
Josh Yohe reported for The Athletic, "The Penguins still absolutely want to trade for Jason Robertson. This isn't a state secret at this point. Penguins president/GM Kyle Dubas has long fancied him."
The team traded for younger brother Nicholas at the start of free agency on Wednesday.
Robertson led the Stars in goals (41), power-play goals (13), shots on goal (220), and shooting percentage (18.6), per NHL.com, and was second on the team with 79 points.
It is no wonder that Dallas wants to retain him, and a team like Pittsburgh, which is badly in need of adding youth to an older roster, would want to try to acquire him.
An incredibly smart player with the ability to control the boards, Robertson is an asset wherever he lands. Whether he gets the big payday, wears a new uniform, or is an unrestricted free agent at this time next year is the question.
Update on Patrick Kane
3 of 3
Patrick Kane is once again a free agent, and the future Hall of Famer is not expected to rush a decision on his next team.
With that said, the 37-year-old may already know where he will continue his NHL career, with John Weidman reporting on X, "Still a lot of moving parts, but sources close to the Kane family indicate he will be joining his hometown Buffalo Sabres this fall on a 1 year deal."
Kane is from Buffalo, and a return to the city would be a huge "get" for the Sabres, who returned to the postseason for the first time since 2011 this year and have a young core of players ready to carry the team for the foreseeable future.
The should-be first-ballot Hall of Famer tallied 57 points last season with Detroit, with 16 goals, in 17:42 per game.
Kane previously played for the New York Rangers and won three Stanley Cups in his 16 seasons with the Chicago Blackhawks.
.jpg?w=600 "Full SmackDown Grades 🔡")
