The NHL's 2026 unrestricted free-agent class has taken major hits, most recently with Darren Raddysh and Alex Tuch finding new homes via sign-and-trades. While this year's crop of remaining UFAs isn't the most thrilling, plenty of noteworthy players are still set to hit the open market July 1. Where will they land?
Below, we make our best guesses at where some of the most compelling UFAs wind up and how much they'll sign for. We listed the players in order of their projected average annual value.
John Carlson
Age: 36
Position: RD
Prediction 🔮: Signs with Hurricanes for 2-years, $10M AAV
Well, this one's easy. Carolina traded for Carlson's rights Saturday, and while no deal is in place yet, it would be a shocker if it didn't get done. After playing the last few months in Anaheim, Carlson's agent revealed the veteran defenseman wanted to return to the Eastern Conference to be closer to his family. Raleigh, North Carolina, is a manageable four-hour drive to Washington, D.C., where Carlson spent 17 seasons. The reigning Cup champs have the cap space to give Carlson the type of deal he likely desires, and their blue line is deep enough to play him in sheltered, offensive minutes in the twilight of his career. It's a great fit for both sides.
Alex Ovechkin
Age: 40
Position: LW
Prediction 🔮: Re-signs with Capitals for 1-year, $9.5M
Only Ovechkin and those close to him know whether he'll continue his NHL playing career. The Capitals' recent moves in acquiring wingers Tuch and Kyrou may suggest that Ovechkin could be done. I'm not convinced. If anything, these deals could persuade Ovi to suit up one more year, now that Washington's chances of another deep playoff run have increased. One thing is certain: if Ovechkin plays another season in the NHL, it'll be with the Capitals.
Rasmus Andersson
Age: 29
Position: RD
Prediction 🔮: Re-signs with Golden Knights for 7-years, $8M AAV
Rumors circulated that Vegas had a handshake agreement with Andersson on an extension, but it hasn't materialized yet. The Golden Knights' cap situation was complicated, but Friday's trade of Pavel Dorofeyev to the New York Rangers clears the way to bring back Andersson. Why else would Vegas move out a perceived building block if it didn't have immediate plans to utilize the financial flexibility?
Anthony Mantha
Age: 31
Position: LW/RW
Prediction 🔮: Signs with Canadiens for 5-years, $6.5M AAV
The Canadiens could stand to add some size to their forward group. While Mantha isn't as physical as you might expect for someone who's 6-foot-5 and 240 pounds, his scoring touch and two-way presence could be a great fit on the second line with a cerebral playmaker like Ivan Demidov. Fresh off a career-high 33 goals with the Penguins last season, Mantha is also a Quebec native and a former client of agent-turned-Montreal GM Kent Hughes.
Mason Marchment
Age: 31
Position: LW/RW
Prediction 🔮: Signs with Blackhawks for 4-years, $6M AAV
The Maple Leafs and Canadiens are reportedly targeting Marchment, but don't be surprised if the Blackhawks swoop in. Chicago desperately needs to add help up front around Connor Bedard.
Jacob Trouba
Age: 32
Position: RD
Prediction 🔮: Signs with Sharks for 4-years, $6M AAV
The Sharks have money to burn and don't have a single right-shot defenseman with NHL experience signed for next season. Enter Trouba, who can help protect the young stars on San Jose's roster and soak up valuable minutes against tough competition.
Boone Jenner
Age: 33
Position: C/LW
Prediction 🔮: Signs with Kings for 4-years, $5.5M AAV
Jenner has mostly been a winger the last couple of seasons, but the fact that he can play center figures to net him a nice payday due to the lack of center options available in free agency. Meanwhile, no team is more desperate for help down the middle than the Kings. After Quinton Byfield, Los Angeles' center depth chart is full of question marks, with Alex Turcotte and Samuel Helenius headlining the remaining internal options. Kings GM Ken Holland likely values Jenner's leadership following the retirement of legendary captain Anze Kopitar.
Sergei Bobrovsky
Age: 37
Position: G
Prediction 🔮: Re-signs with Panthers for 3-years, $5M AAV
There's a lot of smoke about Bobrovsky leaving the Panthers in search of a big payday, but don't be surprised if he winds up back in Florida if a lucrative deal isn't out there for him. With the Panthers no longer having the trade assets to pull off a blockbuster for someone like Connor Hellebuyck, free agency is likely their best route to fill out half of their goalie tandem.
Viktor Arvidsson
Age: 33
Position: LW/RW
Prediction 🔮: Signs with Maple Leafs for 3-years, $5M AAV
Arvidsson's speed and motor should be appealing for a Maple Leafs team that needs to get faster and could use another top-nine winger option. The Swedish influence already on the team in William Nylander and Oliver Ekman-Larsson, plus Mats Sundin in the front office, could help sway Arvidsson. He also excelled playing under new Leafs head coach Jim Hiller in Los Angeles.
Frederik Andersen
Age: 36
Position: G
Prediction 🔮: Signs with Oilers for 2-years, $3.5M AAV
Andersen is coming off a rough regular season, but the goalie-needy Oilers surely took notice of his stellar playoffs. At this stage of his career, a 1B role behind Tristan Jarry would be a proper fit. Andersen also enjoyed some of his best years in Toronto under Mike Babcock and D.J. Smith, who are now leading the Oilers.
Patrik Laine
Age: 28
Position: LW/RW
Prediction 🔮: Signs with Lightning for 1-year, $1M plus performance bonuses
Laine spent more than 100 days on injured reserve last season, making him uniquely eligible to sign a contract featuring performance bonuses that won't count against the 2026-27 salary cap. That flexibility puts virtually every team in the mix for his services, though some spots are better fits than others. Tampa Bay could be an excellent place for Laine to rebuild his value on a one-year deal, and he could fill a specific skill set the team has lacked the last two seasons: a right-handed howitzer from the left flank on the power play.
During Steven Stamkos' final two campaigns with the Lightning, Tampa Bay ranked second on the power play at 26.9%. In the last two seasons since his departure, the Bolts have slipped to 10th at 23.2%. With the departure of Darren Raddysh this offseason, Tampa Bay's power play needs a right-handed bomber who can take advantage of Nikita Kucherov's gifted playmaking ability from the right flank. Laine could feast on the power play while playing sheltered five-on-five minutes, then potentially cash in next summer - if he can stay healthy.
