who are the top players in the NHL free agents 2026
The top names in the 2026 NHL free-agent market right now are Sergei Bobrovsky, John Carlson, Rasmus Andersson, and Boone Jenner, with veteran wingers like Vladimir Tarasenko and Evander Kane also drawing attention. The market is especially defense-heavy, while the forward class is thinner than usual.
Quick Scoop
| Player | Position | Why they stand out |
|---|---|---|
| Sergei Bobrovsky | G | One of the biggest goalie names available; still seen as a major target. | [3]
| John Carlson | D | Top-pair defenseman with offense, and one of the most cited UFAs this summer. | [11]
| Rasmus Andersson | D | Leads the defense market in several rankings and is expected to get strong interest. | [2][12]
| Boone Jenner | C | Reliable center who shows up near the top of major UFA lists. | [12][2]
| Vladimir Tarasenko | W | Still one of the notable veteran scorers expected to test the market. | [9][3]
| Evander Kane | W | Listed among the more recognizable forwards in the 2026 class. | [9][3]
Big Picture
NHL.com’s June 27 rundown highlights Bobrovsky, Carlson, and Lee among the notable unrestricted free agents expected to be available when signing opens July 1.
Sportsnet and The Hockey News both point to the defense group as the strongest part of this class, with Andersson, Carlson, and Trouba among the names generating interest.
If you’re looking for the “top players” in a simple sense, the safest short list is Bobrovsky, Carlson, Andersson, and Jenner.
RFA Watch
The restricted-free-agent side has its own headline names, including Bedard, Robertson, Zegras, Drysdale, Gauthier, and Greaves.
Those players are less about open-market bidding and more about offer-sheet chatter or extension talks.
So if your question is strictly about the biggest free agents in the usual summer sense, the UFA names above are the main ones to watch.
TL;DR: the 2026 NHL free-agent class is led by Bobrovsky and Carlson, with Andersson right behind them and a thinner forward group than usual.