NHL Power Rankings: Key Free Agents for Each Team

With the 2025-26 NHL regular season wrapping up, teams are preparing for the offseason and deciding which free agents to re-sign.

Apr. 10, 2026 at 11:30am

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting various NHL players and team logos deconstructed into sharp, overlapping shapes and planes, conveying the complex decisions teams face in free agency.The NHL offseason will see teams navigate a complex free agent landscape, with star players' futures hanging in the balance.Boston Today

The final NHL Power Rankings of the 2025-26 season highlight the most captivating unrestricted (UFA) or restricted (RFA) free agents for each team this offseason. From veteran stars like Brent Burns and Evgeni Malkin to rising talents like Jason Robertson and Trevor Zegras, teams will have tough decisions to make on which players to prioritize re-signing.

Why it matters

Free agency is a critical part of the NHL offseason, as teams look to retain their core players while also adding new talent to improve their rosters for the following season. The decisions made on these key free agents will shape the landscape of the league heading into the 2026-27 campaign.

The details

The report identifies the most notable free agents for each of the 32 NHL teams, including players like Brent Burns (Sharks), Frederik Andersen (Hurricanes), Jason Robertson (Stars), Alex Tuch (Sabres), and Evgeni Malkin (Penguins). Teams will have to weigh factors like age, production, and fit when deciding which players to re-sign or let test the open market.

  • The 2025-26 NHL regular season concludes next Thursday, April 16.
  • NHL free agency begins on July 1, 2026.

The players

Brent Burns

A 41-year-old defenseman for the San Jose Sharks who is nearing the NHL's ironman streak record.

Frederik Andersen

The veteran goaltender for the Carolina Hurricanes who will be an unrestricted free agent this summer.

Jason Robertson

A rising star forward for the Dallas Stars who will be a restricted free agent.

Alex Tuch

A key player for the Buffalo Sabres who will be an unrestricted free agent after helping the team reach the playoffs for the first time in 15 years.

Evgeni Malkin

The veteran center for the Pittsburgh Penguins who will be one of the biggest free agent questions around the league this offseason.

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What they’re saying

“Selfishly I hope he plays another season so that he can break the NHL's ironman streak (Burns is 62 games from the record, set by Phil Kessel with 1,064 consecutive games played).”

— Arda Ocal, ESPN hockey commentator

“What does the future hold for Laine? After another season marred by injuries, one has to wonder if his future in the NHL will be with the Canadiens, who are headed to the playoffs again.”

— Arda Ocal, ESPN hockey commentator

What’s next

The NHL offseason will officially begin after the Stanley Cup playoffs conclude. Teams will then have until July 1 to negotiate with their own free agents before the open market opens.

The takeaway

This NHL offseason will feature a number of high-profile free agents that could significantly impact the league's landscape next season. Teams will have tough decisions to make on which players to prioritize re-signing, as the free agent market will be competitive with so much talent available.