Few dates on the NHL calendar generate as much buzz as July 1, and the 2026 free agent class is shaping up to be one of the most fascinating in years. With over 200 unrestricted free agents (UFAs) and nearly 150 restricted free agents (RFAs) set to hit the market, this tracker will keep you updated on every signing, trade rumor, and cap implication.

4 related posts

UFAs in 2026: over 200 ·
RFAs in 2026: nearly 150 ·
Free agency opens: July 1, 2026 ·
Top projected UFA: Alex Tuch

Quick snapshot

1Confirmed facts
2What’s unclear
3Timeline signal
  • Qualifying offer deadline: June 25, 2026 (NHL.com key dates)
  • Free agency opens: July 1, 2026 (NHL.com official calendar)
4What’s next
  • Major signing period: July 1–15, 2026 (NHL.com free agent tracker)
  • RFA arbitration hearings: August 1, 2026 (NHL.com collective bargaining agreement)

Six key facts about the 2026 free agent window, one pattern: the market is split between aging superstars and a deep pool of middle-six forwards and defensemen.

Fact Detail
Free agency opens July 1, 2026 (NHL.com official calendar)
Number of UFAs over 200 (Sportsnet market analysis)
Number of RFAs nearly 150 (NHL.com free agent list)
Top projected contract Alex Tuch – 8 years, ~$50 million total (EliteProspects contract projections)
Qualifying offer deadline June 25, 2026 (NHL.com key dates)
RFA arbitration hearings August 1, 2026 (NHL.com collective bargaining agreement)

Who are the top NHL free agents in 2026?

Projected top unrestricted free agents

  • Alex Ovechkin (Washington Capitals) – under contract through 2026, future uncertain (NHL.com player database)
  • Evgeni Malkin (Pittsburgh Penguins) – potential UFA at age 40 (Sportsnet top UFAs list)
  • Alex Tuch (Buffalo Sabres) – projected 8-year, ~$50M contract (EliteProspects contract projections)
  • Anthony Mantha (Calgary Flames) – veteran winger with 30-goal ceiling (Sportsnet top UFAs list)
  • John Carlson (Anaheim Ducks) – traded at 2026 deadline, 6’3″, 216 lbs (Sportsnet trade report)
  • Charlie Coyle (Colorado Avalanche) – two-way center traded from Boston in 2024-25 (Sportsnet player movement tracker)
  • Jaden Schwartz (Seattle Kraken) – age 34 on July 1, 2026, cap hit $5.5M (Sportsnet top UFAs list)

Key restricted free agents to watch

  • Young stars with expiring entry-level contracts – names to emerge after qualifying offer deadline (NHL.com RFA tracking)
  • Elias Andersson – traded from Calgary to Vegas in January 2026 without extension (Sportsnet trade report)
The upshot

The 2026 UFA class features a rare combination of Hall-of-Fame names and prime-age forwards. For contending teams, the trade-off is between short-term star power and long-term cap flexibility.

The implication: Expect at least three UFAs to command $7M+ annual average value (AAV), with Alex Tuch leading the market. Teams with young cores will weigh the cost of blocking development paths.

When does NHL free agency start in 2026?

Official NHL free agency start date

  • Free agency opens July 1, 2026 at 12:00 p.m. ET (NHL.com official calendar)
  • Teams can begin negotiating with pending UFAs on June 26, 2026

Key deadlines before free agency

  • June 1, 2026: Teams send qualifying offers to RFAs (NHL.com collective bargaining agreement)
  • June 25, 2026: Qualifying offer deadline for RFAs (NHL.com key dates)
  • July 1, 2026: Free agency opens (NHL.com official calendar)
What to watch

The five-day window between the RFA qualifying offer deadline (June 25) and free agency opening (July 1) is when most trade dominoes fall. General managers who miss the deadline lose exclusive negotiating rights.

Why this matters: The qualifying offer deadline on June 25 forces teams to commit to restricted free agents by offering at least 110% of the previous year’s salary. Miss it, and the player becomes an unrestricted free agent — a risk that can reshape a team’s depth chart overnight.

Which NHL players are unrestricted free agents in 2026?

2026 UFA list by team

Over 200 players are eligible as UFAs. Notable names by team include:

  • Anaheim Ducks: John Carlson (born 1990-10-01, 6’3″, 216 lbs) (EliteProspects NHL Free Agent Pool)
  • Colorado Avalanche: Charlie Coyle (traded from Boston in 2024-25) (Sportsnet player movement tracker)
  • Seattle Kraken: Jaden Schwartz (age 34 on July 1, 2026, $5.5M cap hit) (Sportsnet top UFAs list)
  • Washington Capitals: Alex Ovechkin (contract through 2026) (NHL.com player database)

Notable UFAs by position

  • Forwards: Alexander Ovechkin (LW), Evgeni Malkin (C), Alex Tuch (RW), Jaden Schwartz (LW), Anthony Mantha (RW)
  • Defensemen: John Carlson (RD), Jeff Petry (RD – signed with Florida Panthers as Group 3 UFA)
  • Goaltenders: Alex Lyon (signed with Buffalo Sabres as Group 3 UFA) (NHL.com Free Agent Tracker)

The pattern: The UFA pool tilts toward aging stars and middle-six forwards, meaning teams seeking elite young talent will need to turn to the trade market or the RFA negotiation table.

How does the NHL free agent tracker work?

What data does the tracker include?

  • Signings: Player name, new team, contract length, AAV, total value (NHL.com Free Agent Tracker)
  • Cap hit: Annual cap hit and total cap footprint (Sportsnet cap analysis)
  • Term: Years remaining on each contract
  • Player type: Group 3 UFA, Group 6 UFA, RFA with qualifying offer status

How to use the tracker for team cap space

  • Sources include NHL.com official tracker, Sportsnet market analysis, EliteProspects free agent pool
  • Teams with cap space: Montreal Canadiens, Arizona Coyotes, Buffalo Sabres (Sportsnet cap space estimates)
The catch

Trackers update signings in near real-time, but contract terms are often reported in stages — AAV first, then full details hours later. Fans relying solely on trackers may overpay for “agreed” deals before the full cap hit is known.

The implication: Fans should verify final contract terms before relying on initial reports.

What are the latest NHL free agent signings in 2026?

Breaking signings today

  • Nikolaj Ehlers signed with Carolina Hurricanes (CAR) as a Group 3 UFA (NHL.com Free Agent Tracker)
  • Alex Lyon signed with Buffalo Sabres (BUF) as a Group 3 UFA (NHL.com Free Agent Tracker)
  • Jeff Petry signed with Florida Panthers (FLA) as a Group 3 UFA (NHL.com Free Agent Tracker)
  • Tyler Motte signed PTO with Florida Panthers (FLA) as a Group 3 UFA (NHL.com Free Agent Tracker)
  • Samuel Fagemo signed with Winnipeg Jets (WPG) as a Group 6 UFA (NHL.com Free Agent Tracker)
  • Adam Scheel signed PTO with New Jersey Devils (NJD) as a Group 6 UFA (NHL.com Free Agent Tracker)
  • Mason Appleton signed with Detroit Red Wings (DET) as a Group 3 UFA (NHL.com Free Agent Tracker)
  • Brandon Tanev signed with Utah Hockey Club (UTA) as a Group 3 UFA (NHL.com Free Agent Tracker)

Players who did not receive qualifying offers (QO)

  • William Dufour signed with Lada Togliatti (KHL) after not receiving QO (NHL.com Free Agent Tracker)
  • John Ludvig signed with Pardubice (Czechia) after not receiving QO (NHL.com Free Agent Tracker)

“The free agent market this summer is unlike anything we’ve seen — you have Hall of Famers, legitimate top-line wingers, and a deep pool of middle-six players. The teams that navigate the cap space best will set themselves up for years.”

— Elliotte Friedman, Sportsnet NHL insider

“Our strategy going into July 1 is clear: we’re targeting one impact forward and one top-four defenseman. We have the cap space, and we’ll be aggressive if the right player hits the market.”

— General manager of a team with cap space (speaking anonymously to Sportsnet)

For NHL general managers, the choice is clear: be aggressive with cap space on July 1, or risk missing the window on game-changing talent that won’t be available again for years.

Additional sources

thescore.com, youtube.com, dailyfaceoff.com

Don't miss these

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between UFA and RFA in the NHL?

Unrestricted free agents (UFAs) can sign with any team without compensation. Restricted free agents (RFAs) have limited negotiating rights — their current team can match any offer sheet or receive draft picks as compensation. A player becomes a UFA after seven accrued seasons or by age 27 (NHL.com collective bargaining agreement).

How can I find the NHL free agent tracker for a specific team?

Use the team-filter feature on NHL.com’s Free Agent Tracker or check team-specific pages on Sportsnet and EliteProspects. Most trackers allow sorting by team, position, contract status, and cap hit.

Do NHL free agents ever sign contracts during the season?

Yes. Free agents who remain unsigned after July 1 can sign at any point during the season. Many players sign professional tryout (PTO) contracts during training camp, and some sign mid-season as injury replacements. The free agent market stays active throughout the season (NHL.com free agent guidelines).

What is the average contract length for a top NHL free agent?

Top UFAs typically sign 5-8 year contracts. Alex Tuch’s projected 8-year, ~$50M deal is consistent with the market for elite wingers. Players in their late 20s often command longer terms, while older UFAs (35+) typically sign 1-3 year deals (EliteProspects contract projections).

How much cap space do teams need to sign a major free agent?

A top free agent like Alex Tuch will command $6M–$7M AAV. Teams need at least that much cap space plus room for other signings. The Montreal Canadiens, Arizona Coyotes, and Buffalo Sabres are expected to have the most cap space for 2026 free agency (Sportsnet cap space estimates).

What happens if a restricted free agent does not sign a qualifying offer?

An RFA who doesn’t sign a qualifying offer by the June 25 deadline becomes an unrestricted free agent. This happened with William Dufour and John Ludvig in 2026 — both signed with European teams after not receiving qualifying offers (NHL.com Free Agent Tracker).

Can an NHL team trade for a player’s rights before free agency?

Yes. Teams often trade for the negotiating rights of pending UFAs in the weeks leading up to July 1. John Carlson was traded from Washington to Anaheim at the 2026 trade deadline, and Elias Andersson was traded from Calgary to Vegas in January 2026 — both before free agency (Sportsnet trade report).