NHL

The 100 best players in this summer's free agent class

Lots to choose from in this list.

Trevor Connors

Trevor Connors

When the dust settled on the 2025 offseason there were a number of hockey fans and analysts looking to the 2026 class of free agents for some big, big names.

Consider the long list of star talent who had the option of going to the highest bidder on Canada Day but instead elected to re-up with their current team. Connor McDavid, Kirill Kaprizov, Jack Eichel, Kyle Connor, Martin Necas, Artemi Panarin, Nick Schmaltz and Adrian Kempe all re-upped to avoid free agency. Same goes for veteran defencemen like Mattias Ekholm, Mike Matheson, Ryan McDonagh and Cam Fowler. Starting goalies Filip Gustavsson, Anthony Stolarz, Jacob Markstrom, Brandon Bussi and Scott Wedgewood all chose not to test the market.

So... who's left?

Here, as of today, is the list of the best free agents who will potentially be available on the market on July 1st.

  • GOALIES: Sergei Bobrovsky (Panthers) , Petr Mrazek (Ducks) , Laurent Brossoit (Sharks) , Frederik Andersen (Hurricanes) , Stuart Skinner (Penguins) , Cam Talbot (Red Wings) , Alex Nedeljkovic (Sharks) , Vitek Vanecek (Mammoth) , Kaapo Kahkonen (Canadiens) , Daniil Tarasov (Panthers) , Calvin Pickard (Oilers) , Matt Murray (Kraken) , David Rittich (Islanders) , Eric Comrie (Jets) , Brandon Halverson (Lightning) , Connor Ingram (Oilers) .
  • DEFENDERS: John Carlson (Ducks) , Rasmus Andersson (Golden Knights) , Darren Raddysh (Lightning) , Brent Burns (Avalanche) , Jacob Trouba (Ducks) , Nick Blankenburg (Predators) , Ian Cole (Mammoth) , Tony DeAngelo (Islanders) , Ryan Shea (Penguins) , John Klingberg (Sharks) , Logan Stanley (Sabres) , Alexander Petrovic (Stars) , Ben Hutton (Golden Knights) , Charles-Édouard D'Astous (Lightning) , Mario Ferraro (Sharks) , Jeff Petry (Wild) , Nick Jensen (Senators) , Radko Gudas (Ducks) , Carson Soucy (Islanders) , Connor Murphy (Oilers) , Jamie Oleksiak (Kraken) , Trevor van Riemsdyk (Capitals) , Jeremy Lauzon (Golden Knights) , Brett Kulak (Avalanche) , Matt Grzelcyk (Blackhawks) , Brandon Duhaime (Capitals) , Vincent Desharnais (Sharks) .
  • FORWARDS: Alex Ovechkin (Capitals) , Alex Tuch (Sabres) , Marcus Johansson (Wild) , Patrick Kane (Red Wings) , Victor Olofsson (Flames) , Jack Roslovic (Oilers) , Claude Giroux (Senators) , Michael Bunting (Predators) , Anders Lee (Islanders) , Erik Haula (Predators) , Anthony Mantha (Penguins) , Evander Kane (Canucks) , Jaden Schwartz (Kraken) , Corey Perry (Lightning) , Bobby McMann (Kraken) , David Perron (Red Wings) , Viktor Arvidsson (Bruins) , Eeli Tolvanen (Kraken) , Mats Zuccarello (Wild) , AJ Greer (Panthers) , Mason Marchment (Blue Jackets) , Vladimir Tarasenko (Wild) , Boone Jenner (Blue Jackets) , Oskar Sundqvist (Blues) , Jonathan Toews (Jets) , Jamie Benn (Stars) , Adam Henrique (Oilers) , Oliver Bjorkstrand (Lightning) , Connor Dewar (Penguins) , Mathieu Joseph (Kings) , Andrei Kuzmenko (Kings) , James van Riemsdyk (Red Wings) , Jeff Skinner (Sharks) , Nick Cousins ​​(Senators) , Ross Johnston (Ducks) , Conor Sheary (Rangers) , Kailer Yamamoto (Mammoth) , Ilya Mikheyev (Blackhawks) , Max Sasson (Canucks) , Nick Foligno (Wild) , Lars Eller (Senators) , Reilly Smith (Golden Knights) , Gustav Nyquist (Jets) , Sonny Milano (Capitals) , Noel Acciari (Penguins) , Kevin Stenlund (Mammoth) , Vinnie Hinostroza (Panthers)Jason Dickinson (Oilers) , Kasperi Kapanen (Oilers) , Michael McCarron (Wild) , Teddy Blueger (Canucks) , Tyson Jost (Predators) , Beck Malenstyn (Sabres) , Alex Kerfoot (Mammoth) , Pavol Regenda (Sharks) , Ryan Lomberg (Flames) , Calle Jarnkrok (Maple Leafs) , Nicolas Deslauriers (Hurricanes) .

Shoutout to Marco Normandin of Habsolument Fan for pulling together this list.

Newsletter

Get the latest news and updates directly in your inbox.

About the author

Trevor Connors
Trevor Connors

Writer

A lifelong hockey fan with a background in professional writing for major international brands, Trevor joined Attraction Media in 2017. Since then, he's been breaking news, analyzing moves and serving up hot takes from around the hockey world for Hockey Feed's 500,000+ followers.

Read more
HockeyFeed

Stay ahead of the game with our exclusive hockey news, analysis and insider info.

© 2026 Attraction Web S.E.C. All rights reserved.