"For some while, even dating back to the early stages of last season, the 2026 free agency class was one every hockey fan was looking forward to with a big heap of major talent who could end up anywhere. But now, it looks bleaker than it has ever looked. Before the offseason, the list was stacked: Kirill Kaprizov, Jack Eichel, Connor McDavid, and the list goes on, but that list doesn't look so eye-catching anymore."
"When looking at the potential 2026 UFAs, it was probably safe to admit that the likes of Kaprizov and Eichel were going to be re-signing with their current clubs, however the biggest story of the offseason was what Connor McDavid would do heading towards the 2026 offseason. That excitement was eventually put to a halt after he signed his two-year, $12.5 million AAV extension with Edmonton, and now the list looks a lot less appealing."
The 2026 unrestricted free agent class initially promised a deep pool of elite talent including Kirill Kaprizov, Jack Eichel, and Connor McDavid. Many of those top players have moved off the open market by signing extensions, notably Connor McDavid's two-year, $12.5 million AAV deal with Edmonton. Recent long-term deals for Jack Eichel and Kyle Connor further depleted headline UFA options. Remaining notable pending UFAs include Artemi Panarin, Adrian Kempe, Alex Tuch, Sergei Bobrovsky, Jacob Markstrom, and Rasmus Andersson, but their availability offers less star power than expected. Several intriguing RFAs like Jason Robertson, Trevor Zegras, and Martin Necas may influence future markets.
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