Congratulations to those who are celebrating free agency! NHL Free Agency 2026 kicks off on Tuesday, July 1st at 12:00 PM ET. What’s particularly intriguing about this year’s group of players isn’t necessarily the unrestricted free agents themselves but rather the chaos surrounding some established talent.
If you’ve been following along, it’s clear that this class of unrestricted free agents is rather weak. Teams have proactively secured their top players with long-term contracts before they could explore free agency, or they’ve traded them around the draft and re-signed them. This situation has led to players like I didn’t Already Get Deal making waves, as it seems everyone is waiting for a significant move to trigger a chain reaction. Here are the key players we’re currently keeping an eye on:
- Jason Robertson, LW — Dallas Stars: Although Robertson is a restricted free agent, he has already informed the team that he won’t sign and has complicated trade discussions. Once he makes his decision, it could set off a chain reaction among forwards.
- Zach Werenski, D — Columbus Blue Jackets: As one of the premier defensemen in the league, Werenski is aiming for a chance at contention. Interestingly, he declined a potential trade to the Dallas Stars, leaving his team to figure out a deal.
- John Carlson, D — Carolina Hurricanes: A top free agent this year, Carlson was traded to the Hurricanes just before the NHL Draft, allowing the team a few extra days to negotiate with him ahead of free agency. The league is waiting to see if this strategy pays off, but if Carlson isn’t on the market come noon, it could greatly affect the rest of the free agent landscape.
We’re monitoring every contract as it unfolds and will maintain a complete list of all the transactions.
