Top 12 NHL RFAs of 2026: Timing, pressure, money

Top 12 – Restricted free agents for 2026-27 sit at the center of a deadline-driven offseason. While several players already signed before July 1, a packed set of star-caliber names remains unsigned—setting up tense negotiations, possible offer sheets, and hard cap math

For a handful of NHL teams, the calendar may turn quietly on normal days. But once you get to late June, everything tightens.

Qualifying offers are due June 29, and restricted free agents can start talking with rival teams as of June 30. Offer sheets can’t be signed until free agency begins July 1. It’s a narrow window. and in that window some of the league’s most important young players can decide how their future gets paid for—while general managers try to keep championship timelines intact without breaking the salary cap.

The 2026 class of impending restricted free agents is stacked with leading scorers. franchise faces. and rising talents that could define teams for years. Some of the drama has already moved off the board by way of players who signed well before July 1—Utah’s Logan Cooley. Montreal’s Lane Hutson. Dallas’s Thomas Harley. Anaheim’s Jackson LaCombe. Calgary’s Dustin Wolf. Ottawa’s Shane Pinto. Buffalo’s Josh Doan. St. Louis’s Philip Broberg and Chicago’s Frank Nazar. But that still leaves plenty of big names unsigned for 2026-27.

If there’s one extra layer of urgency in this cycle, it’s that eight-year extensions are set to disappear soon. For teams that want their core locked in for prime years, the incentive gets sharper: sign now, at a number that can survive the cap’s climb.

Before the qualifying-offer clock runs out, here’s where things stand with the top 12 RFAs of 2026.

Age on July 1: 20. Position: Centre. 2025-26 salary cap hit: $950,000. Arbitration rights: No.

The latest: Chicago’s Connor Bedard is the centerpiece. and his platform year hasn’t just been productive—it’s pushed the pressure onto the Chicago Blackhawks to get a deal done that keeps him in place through his prime. Bedard told reporters after the season ended that he “kind of just wanted to play the year. ” adding: “Honestly. I haven’t thought about it once this year. I know I want to be here, and we’ll get it done soon. I don’t think (that) if it’s not done in a month, there’s any worry or anything. It’ll just get done when it gets done.”.

GM Kyle Davidson has to land an AAV the player can accept for the duration of his prime. Figures in the range of $12.5 million to $16 million have been floated. Bedard. though. could also pursue a strategy that lets him double-dip—an approach similar to what young Auston Matthews did as an RFA—by attempting to return to the negotiating table in his mid-20s and leverage the Blackhawks into buying only RFA years.

When asked about the math. Bedard said. “I don’t know. I’m not smart enough to be doing numbers or anything like that.” He pointed to examples around him—“Frankie (Nazar) was the first young guy to sign long-term. Vlasy (Alex Vlasic) as well”—then added: “But at the end of the day. it’s just seeing what fits the team best. what fits me best and just going from there. I’m very open to however they see it and what they have to say.”.

Bedard has stayed steady in how he talks about Chicago. Despite the Blackhawks missing the postseason for all three seasons, he said, “I’m a pretty mild-mannered guy. And if I looked a little sad on the bench or something. maybe people can take it out of context.” He added: “I’ve said it so many times: I love being here and the city. the people.”.

Davidson has said the line of communication between Bedard’s agent, Newport’s Greg Landry, is open. Still, the cap spike and shifting landscape are pulling the discussion into a more urgent frame. Davidson said: “There’s only so many dollars to go around. You want to build a deep team. You want to build a team you feel is a championship roster, which is why we do this. So, we want to get it right.”.

He continued: “You want to make sure both sides feel like there’s common ground there. So, we’ll get down to finding that shortly. But certainly. we want to make sure we’re more than fair. while also understanding that there is a finite amount of money to go around to spend on our roster. again. while being fair to a very good. elite young player.”.

Age on July 1: 26. Position: Left wing. 2025-26 salary cap hit: $7.75 million. Arbitration rights: Yes.

The latest: Dallas’s Jason Robertson enters the summer as a premium problem for the Stars—one they clearly want to solve without trading him. Robertson crushed another point-per-game season. and Dallas GM Jim Nill said last summer he explored Robertson’s trade value but would prefer to keep his leading scorer.

Nill said upon playoff elimination: “My plan is to reach out to his agent here in the next week or so, and that’s our focus, is to get him signed,” before adding: “He’s a big part of our team. We’ve drafted and developed him, and I think we want him to be a Dallas Star the rest of his career.”

Nill pushed back on the idea that trading Robertson was a realistic inevitability. Yet his price tag is rising—and Robertson’s own comments have worried some fans. During locker cleanout, Robertson told reporters: “When anyone thinks of top teams in the NHL, they think of Dallas. So. it’s been great. ” before describing the comfort of belonging and the shadow side of it: “It’s been great being a part of that for so long. and you get so used to it. so you don’t really understand the dark sides of hockey not being at that peak. So, yeah, it’s big.”.

The arbitration situation adds urgency, and the extension conversation is now complicated by precedent and timing. A maximum-length, eight-year extension for Robertson could match teammate Mikko Rantanen’s $12 million. Robertson’s new agent, Octagon’s Andy Scott, knows it. Texas tax considerations are also in play. and the next ripple could be where other teams look if Dallas can’t get it done.

Kyle Dubas at Pittsburgh is among the executives reportedly interested if Robertson doesn’t re-up in Big D, and Toronto, Detroit and Boston are also rumoured to be monitoring the situation.

Robertson’s postseason also matters: he delivered five goals and eight points in six games.

Age on July 1: 21. Position: Centre. 2025-26 salary cap hit: $950,000. Arbitration rights: No.

The latest: Anaheim’s Leo Carlsson is viewed as pivotal to the Ducks’ push in the Pacific. and negotiations are already beginning to feel like a test of how patient Pat Verbeek wants to be. Verbeek’s approach has generally been cautious when it comes to his restricted free agents. which makes the timing around Anaheim’s earlier defensive deal stand out.

Carlsson is the major name here. while defenceman Jackson LaCombe’s earlier contract was described as a surprise because LaCombe had arbitration rights coming. while Carlsson does not. The negotiations also sit next to another delay story: centre Mason MacTavish missed the start of camp and didn’t sign his post-ELC deal until Sept. 27.

Verbeek told reporters on May 17: “Well. in a perfect scenario. I’d like to be able to get them done in a week here. I’m hoping for the best to try and make sure that everybody’s excited for training camp and all of us are happy. Unfortunately, I don’t have a crystal ball to say how it’s going to go. But we’re going to do our best to make sure that we get everybody excited and there for camp.”.

Anaheim would prefer to go eight years, like Utah did with Cooley. Carlsson’s side, however, could push for eight figures on a four- or five-year extension. Carlsson said he is “open to everything” when it comes to term. while also emphasizing that getting it done before training camp matters: “You obviously want to get it done before training camp. so you can be here with the team as early as possible.”.

Age on July 1: 22. Position: Left wing. 2025-26 salary cap hit: $950,000. Arbitration rights: No.

The latest: The Ducks are also waiting on Trevor Gauthier. Anaheim traded a star to obtain him, and he’s been rejuvenated since the move from Philadelphia, fitting a contention window that appears to be opening soon.

Verbeek treated Gauthier’s negotiations the same way he treated Carlsson’s. with talks pushed off until Anaheim’s run through two playoff rounds. Gauthier sounded unbothered by the timetable when he said: “We got a handful of months before camp starts up again.” He added: “I don’t think it’ll be an issue. but you never know. So, we’ll see what happens.”.

Still, the player’s production makes this one hard to keep quiet for long. Gauthier opened with a first 41-goal, 69-point campaign and then made an impact immediately in his first playoffs. Verbeek said: “I’d like to get it done as soon as possible.” He added: “We all have to cooperate with one another. right?. So that’s the goal.”.

Age on July 1: 25. Position: Left wing / Right wing. 2025-26 salary cap hit: $1.835 million. Arbitration rights: Yes.

The latest: Vegas’s Maxim Dorofeyev made an early statement on opening night for the Golden Knights, ripping a hat trick. It set the tone for a platform year that’s now likely to come with a major pay bump.

Dorofeyev told NHL.com International that his time as a rotational player shifted his numbers: “About a year and a half ago. I was a rotational player. I played in 47 games (in 2023-24), and the following season I was in the lineup every night. That’s where the better stats came from — more ice time and being on the first power-play unit. That’s what made the difference.”.

In 2024-25, Dorofeyev became an everyday NHLer and posted career highs across the board. He led Vegas in shots (254) and shot attempts (436). The post-season only increased his value.

Vegas’s cap situation makes this difficult for GM Kelly McCrimmon. The Knights will already have six forwards making between $5 million and $13.5 million on the books for 2026-27. Dorofeyev is one of the players that could change that math. A short-term deal could march him to UFA. while a longer one might force Vegas to move a player out or consider long-term injured reserve to afford it.

Two-year extension estimates land around $5.6 million AAV. At eight years, he’s described as in the territory of $8 million or more. This summer also contains another thorn: impending UFA Rasmus Andersson, who many assume will re-up in the desert.

Ken Boehlke of SinBin wrote that Dorofeyev is “in for not just a raise, but the most significant bump in pay for any Golden Knight ever,” leaving Vegas with a stark fork in the road. Either they pay up, or they treat him as the most realistic offer-sheet candidate on the list.

Age on July 1: 21. Position: Centre. 2025-26 salary cap hit: $950,000. Arbitration rights: No.

The latest: Columbus’s Cole Fantilli is a priority for Don Waddell because his talent doesn’t come with the same depreciation risk many teams worry about with platform players.

Waddell and Fantilli’s agent, Pat Brisson, engaged in initial discussions in 2025, then let the situation simmer through the season. Waddell struck a cautious tone in late October on Real Kyper & Bourne. emphasizing that while point totals matter. earning the coaches’ trust and contributing to winning is imperative for the franchise about to pay.

Fantilli had a dip in 2025-26, finishing at minus-13, before rebounding to a 24-goal, 59-point contributor after a sluggish start.

Waddell’s view is clear: Fantilli is the top re-signing priority, even if a bridge is the easiest play. The Blue Jackets, Waddell said after elimination, can’t afford to mishandle a talent of that caliber. He told reporters: “The unfortunate part is we’re not in the playoffs; the fortunate part is we have time on our side to make sure we make the right decisions.” He added: “We’ll sit down. go through our roster and talk about those players. We have a lot of contracts to get done. It’s probably the most I’ve ever had in my career at one time with all the expiring RFAs — some big ones — and whichever UFAs we decide to try to get back. so it’s gonna be a busy summer.”.

Age on July 1: 23. Position: Defence. 2025-26 salary cap hit: $863,334. Arbitration rights: No.

The latest: Los Angeles’s Tobias My question—actually. the name in focus is Tobias Clarke—has moved from “wait and see” to “lock this down” territory. Clarke’s agent, Randy Robitaille, has been in discussions with Los Angeles Kings GM Ken Holland. The negotiations are said to be in a preliminary state. but the idea is that Clarke can eventually take the mantle from veteran Drew Doughty as the club’s No. 1 right-shot defenceman.

Clarke told RG Media: “I want to be here for a long time, honestly. I want to be here for a long time,” and he said that’s what he has told Randy. Holland has also been granted cap relief now that retired Anze Kopitar’s $7 million is off the books.

Doughty, though, is owed another $11 million in 2026-27 and is eligible to re-sign July 1. Clarke’s production is already forcing the conversation: he leads all Kings D-men, including Doughty, in scoring while posting excellent defensive metrics.

Clarke said: “I want to be locked up, and I want to be an L.A. King for a while. ” adding: “I love it here. I love the group of guys we have. and the staff’s been so great to me since the day I got here. That’s where my head’s at. Like I said. it’s very preliminary. but I want to take those steps to lock myself in as an L.A. King for a while.”.

Holland stayed cautious with reporters in May: “I need to sit down and talk with him; I have to figure all that out. For this summer, I’m committed as a general manager to try to make the team better. I can’t tell you what the future brings.”

Age on July 1: 25. Position: Left wing / Centre. 2025-26 salary cap hit: $5.75 million. Arbitration rights: Yes.

The latest: Anaheim’s former standout Mason—no, the name here is Troy Zegras—has found comfort since being traded out of Anaheim to Philadelphia. Zegras told Sportsnet in October, “I just feel more comfortable on the ice,” and he added: “The Xfinity is home!”

He respects Flyers coach Rick Tocchet and has good friends on the roster. Zegras also carries a relationship advantage: Danny Briere has a solid relationship with Pat Brisson, Zegras’s agent. There was no rush to sign before now because of arbitration rights at the time of the trade. and the Flyers have cap space.

Ironically, waiting could become a strategy. Zegras could choose to wait for a couple of Ducks—Gauthier and/or Carlsson—to sign and boost the market.

Zegras told The Athletic’s Kevin Kurz in January that he “can only hope” for an extension. explaining that past contract talks were “a little hairy” and he tries not to set expectations. Still, he said: “If they want me here for a long time, I would love that. I love this city. I love this team. Definitely feel at home here, for sure.”.

That comfort has grown with the Flyers’ surprise qualification for the playoffs and a first-round victory over Pittsburgh.

Age on July 1: 23. Position: Defence. 2025-26 salary cap hit: $894,167. Arbitration rights: No.

The latest: Detroit’s Red Wings and Philadelphia’s left? Actually, the player is Axel Sandin—no. The name in focus is Jeff Edvinsson.

Edvinsson’s situation is about the Red Wings’ desire to lock in a key piece and the way the organization values him. Early in the season. Los Angeles?—again. the fact pattern is Detroit exploring a potential trade for Quinn Hughes out of Vancouver and the Canucks asking for a package that included Edvinsson in return. According to Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman. Wings GM Steve Yzerman said no. which the report frames as proof of how highly Detroit thinks of the big Swede.

Edvinsson logs 22-plus minutes a night, contributing at both ends. He is described as tilting it against matchups versus the league’s top forward lines. The piece compares his extension case to LaCombe in Anaheim (eight years, $78 million) and Luke Hughes in New Jersey (seven years, $63 million).

When the season ended, Edvinsson said “of course” he’d sign a long-term pact. He told reporters on April 17: “It’s where I got drafted. I felt like ever since I came here, it’s been great. All the people around, teammates, fans around, it’s been great.” He added: “So, yeah, it would be an honour.”

Moritz Seider echoed why the partnership matters. Seider said: “We’re two big bodies. We cover a lot of space out there. He’s a great skater.” Seider added: “Puts his body on the line every single night. Blocks a lot of shots. Rarely gets out of position.” He concluded: “We’ve been clicking, obviously. Very effective for us. And, yeah, just feel good out there with him.”.

Age on July 1: 25. Position: Goaltender. 2025-26 salary cap hit: $812,500. Arbitration rights: Yes.

The latest: Columbus’s Jonas Greaves has turned himself into the kind of young goaltending bet teams don’t let walk. Undrafted, Greaves has climbed from the ECHL to become the most dependable netminder in Columbus’s run toward playoff relevance.

He thrived in his first 50-start, 25-win NHL campaign and has earned himself a monster raise from a modest six-figure salary. His veteran backup, Elvis Merzlikins, is still on the books for $5.4 million in 2026-27.

Neither that nor Charlie Coyle’s big extension is presented as reason for Waddell to hesitate. The article argues there aren’t enough great, young goaltenders in a 32-team league, and if you have one, you keep him happy.

Waddell said on April 22: “All the free agents want to come back.” He added: “But it doesn’t mean they’re all gonna come back. We do have some decisions to make. The salary cap is going up. but it’s amazing how fast you get there when you start talking about young players and some of the contracts they’re gonna get. You can’t just look at next year because you’re signing guys for six, seven, eight years.”.

The piece also credits Greaves for accepting Team Canada’s invitation to represent his nation at the 2026 world championships even without a contract in place.

Age on July 1: 22. Position: Defence. 2025-26 salary cap hit: $918,333. Arbitration rights: No.

The latest: New Jersey’s Simon Nemec is in a position that blends patience with pressure. The report describes 2024-25 as frustratingly uneven. with Nemec dipping into trade rumours and dressing more games in the minors (34) than in the majors (27). But New Jersey’s patience appears to be paying off.

Nemec performed well enough that the summer could produce either a trade or a bridge. The Devils were rumoured to have turned down a deal for San Jose’s William Eklund at the deadline. Nemec told reporters during exit interviews: “I’d love to sign here.”

A two-year pact around $4 million per season is described as a possible compromise if rookie Devils GM Sunny Mehta can’t swing an off-season trade. Conflicting reports in May covered whether Nemec has asked out.

If Nemec is available. the Bruins. Islanders. Avalanche. Jets and Stars are included among a list of teams speculated to have interest. The piece also references how Luke Hughes’ RFA status dragged out last summer. and it frames Nemec’s file as unlikely to find a comfortable settlement without the pressure of a deadline.

Nemec has voiced displeasure with being scratched and demoted at times. His agent switch mid-season is part of the story too: he moved from CAA’s J.P. Barry to Newport’s Craig Oster.

The report includes a quote from former GM Tom Fitzgerald. saying after the deadline passed: “We have seven NHL everyday players on our back end. Trying to shake one of those loose in the off-season will be my goal.” Fitzgerald added: “Maybe to give us some help up front. maybe a top-six winger.” He concluded: “It’s my job to find some new juice and help the group get a spark. Better our forward group. If I can do that with some of the defence on the back end. then that’s what I’m going to try to do.”.

The question becomes whether Mehta inherits the same mandate.

Age on July 1: 24. Position: Defence. 2025-26 salary cap hit: $2.3 million. Arbitration rights: Yes.

The latest: Philadelphia’s Travis?—the focus here is the Flyers’ RFA Owen? The specific name is Travis Drysdale.

Drysdale, like Zegras, benefited from a change of scenery after being traded from Anaheim to Philadelphia. Under Rick Tocchet, the puck mover enjoyed his best offensive season (eight goals, 32 points) while logging 20-plus minutes per night and taking on more responsibility in his own end.

The case for long-term commitment is framed as straightforward. Drysdale told Kurz in March: “One hundred per cent. I absolutely love it here,” and he added: “How they’ve treated me has been amazing. The guys are awesome. Personally, I just love it here. It’s been great.”

General manager Danny Briere said in reference to Drysdale’s extension: “I don’t expect too many issues.” Drysdale also told Kurz on March 18 that he is “100 per cent” open to signing long-term in Philly and said he loves life as a Flyer.

The report also points to deals for young. emerging defencemen like LaCombe’s in Anaheim and Nemec’s in New Jersey as blueprint examples for locking in talent early. Briere’s timeline matters too: the Flyers are rumoured to be entertaining trade offers for veterans like Rasmus Ristolainen and Owen Tippett as they prepare to accommodate raises for younger talent this summer. Drysdale told Kurz: “Hopefully something will get done sooner than later,” and he added: “I love it here. I’ve made that very clear kind of the second that I got here.”.

More notable pending RFAs: Collin Graf. Cole Perfetti. Nicholas Robertson. Philipp Kurashev. Alexander Nikishin. Mackie Samoskevich. Zach Benson. Matias Maccelli. Arseny Gritsyuk. Jordan Spence. Dylan Holloway. Kirby Dach. Jack Drury. Cole Sillinger. Yegor Chinakhov. Barrett Hayton. Connor McMichael. Samuel Ersson. Leevi Merilainen. Akira Schmid. Arturs Silovs. Mavrik Bourque. Peyton Krebs. Bobby Brink.

NHL restricted free agents 2026 RFAs Connor Bedard Jason Robertson Leo Carlsson Trevor Gauthier Maxim Dorofeyev Cole Fantilli Tobias Clarke Zegras Jeff Edvinsson Jonas Greaves Simon Nemec Travis Drysdale