The 2025 free agent frenzy may have been a bit slower than some other years in recent memory, but the UFA class for 2026 is shaping up to be a show-stopping group featuring some of hockey's biggest superstars.
As of the first week of July 2025, these players are entering the final year of their current contracts and have not yet signed extensions, which will send them to the open market next summer.
Sergei Bobrovsky
Bobrovksy turned heads when he signed a seven-year, $10 million AAV deal with the Florida Panthers back in 2019, and the naysayers have been proven wrong after he carried his team to back-to-back Stanley Cup victories. The 36-year-old has shown no sign of slowing down, recording 174 wins since his contract began in 2019-20 -- the third-most of any goalie in that time.
Early projections for his next contract place the value between $7 million and $8 million over a shorter-term deal, likely around two or three years. But Panthers coach Paul Maurice sees him continuing his elite performance for years to come, saying in March that "Bobrovsky is playing in his prime right now. He could play another five years if he wants." Bobrovsky will certainly make some noise if he doesn't sign an extension by July 1 of 2026.
Artemi Panarin
Panarin isn't in the "best players in the NHL" conversation much anymore, but he certainly should be. Since signing with the New York Rangers as a free agent in 2019, only three players have more points than Panarin's 550: Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl, and Nathan MacKinnon. He was one goal shy of 50 during his standout 120-point season in 2023-24, and he's been the Rangers' scoring leader in six straight campaigns. Needless to say, he's earning every penny of his $11.6 million cap hit.
Looking ahead to his next contract, Panarin will still likely draw upwards of $10 million annually if he can continue his torrid scoring pace. Given the state of the Rangers and GM Chris Drury's plan to reinvent the roster, plus the fact that Panarin has never won a championship, the 33-year-old could very well wind up on a different team in the near future.
Kyle Connor
Connor's current cap hit of $7.1 million is a bargain considering what he's accomplished with the Winnipeg Jets -- he has scored the third-most goals in franchise history with 284, hitting the 40-goal plateau twice in the last four seasons. He's operated at over a point-per-game pace since signing his current deal before the 2019-20 season, reaching a career-high 97 points in the most recent campaign.
At age 28, Connor is in for a big payday when it comes time for his next contract, which will most likely be a monster long-term deal. Some predictions place his next annual salary at $12 million, and that would give him the fifth-highest paycheck in the league. Though with Jets staples like Mark Scheifele and Connor Hellebuyck locked up for several more years, Kyle Connor may not make it to UFA status before Winnipeg GM Kevin Cheveldayoff puts pen to paper on a new deal.
Kirill Kaprizov
The Russian forward has set himself apart as one of the league's most elite scorers ever since his record-breaking sophomore campaign in 2021-22, when he set new single-season benchmarks for the Minnesota Wild with 47 goals and 108 points. In the three seasons since then, Kaprizov recorded two more 40-goal outings and could have had a third if it wasn't for an injury that held him out of 41 games this year. Still, "Kirill the Thrill" has scored at a pace of 99 points per 82 games over his career.
Things are looking optimisitc that Kaprizov could re-sign with the Wild based on comments from GM Bill Guerin. The 28-year-old could easily eclipse $14 million annually on his next deal, with insider Elliotte Friedman even speculating Kaprizov could become the highest-paid NHL player.
"Kirill is priority No. 1. Nobody can offer him more than we can... I’m very confident we’re going to get a deal done with Kirill. "Wild GM Bill Guerin
Jack Eichel
Another franchise record-breaker, Eichel set all-time highs for the Vegas Golden Knights with 64 assists and 93 points in 77 games this season. He would be capable of even more if he hadn't been plagued by various injuries over the course of his NHL career. Nevertheless, he has scored at least 24 goals in every season he played at least 60 games, operating at over a point per game since joining Vegas in 2021-22.
Eichel is nothing short of elite when healthy and is bound to see a steep pay raise from his current annual earnings of $10 million per season. Contract negotiations have reportedly begun with the Golden Knights, but the team is in a cap crunch and might not be able to give Eichel the $14 million AAV or more he is expected to earn on the next contract.
Connor McDavid
All eyes will be on McDavid throughout the coming season to see whether he will extend with the Edmonton Oilers. His three Hart Memorial Trophy titles, five Art Ross victories, and afour Ted Lindsay Awards all speak for themselves. Something crazy to consider: McDavid entered the league in 2015-16, and yet he leads the NHL in scoring dating all the way back to the 2012-13 season. That is how explosive his offense has been.
As a generational talent and already one of the best skaters in NHL history, the 28-year-old has the potential to set yet another record as the highest-paid player ever -- more than whatever Kaprizov gets by a long shot. ESPN has predicted McDavid will earn anywhere between $15.5 million and $19 million annually on his next deal.
"Ultimately I still need to do what’s best for me and my family and that’s what I have to take care of first. But of course there’s unfinished business [in Edmonton]."Connor McDavid