2026 NHL draft: Buzz on prospects, trades, free agency

The 2026 NHL offseason began to warmth up even earlier than the Carolina Hurricanes lifted the Stanley Cup on June 14.

Although Dylan Larkin‘s commerce request has but to be fulfilled by the Detroit Red Wings‘ entrance workplace, two large swaps have already taken place: The Toronto Maple Leafs traded for the negotiating rights to Darren Raddysh (and promptly signed him to an eight-year contract), and the Florida Panthers landed Brady Tkachuk in exchange for 3 first-round picks and a second-rounder.

With the NHL draft on faucet Friday (Round 1) and Saturday (Rounds 2-7) — and free agency starting on July 1 — ESPN reporters Emily Kaplan, Kristen Shilton and Greg Wyshynski have made calls across the league for the most recent buzz on what the subsequent large strikes are on the horizon.

Who else could possibly be traded this week?

Alex Tuch‘s camp stays in communication with the Buffalo Sabres, however thus far, they have not bridged the hole on a brand new contract. Tuch, 30, is coveted across the league as maybe the very best unrestricted free agent remaining. He has measurement, pace and expertise. Getting the eighth yr on a brand new contract is effective to Tuch, so if Buffalo does not get one thing executed this week, it is cheap to anticipate groups reducing the road, as Tampa Bay did with Darren Raddysh.

Given the low compensation price (Toronto had to surrender only a fifth-round decide to Tampa Bay, a division rival) do not depend out anybody. Leaguewide, it is believed the Seattle Kraken are keen to supply Tuch a large contract, however they don’t seem to be alone. The Sabres are additionally seeing what they will get again for Bowen Byram, who’s searching for an even bigger position as a No. 1 defenseman. Byram has a number of followers throughout the league, in order that could possibly be a splashy commerce.

The Connor Hellebuyck smoke is actual. The star goalie for Team USA on the Olympics has made it clear that he is not pleased with the established order in Winnipeg, main the Jets to take calls. The Panthers had been exploring the chance, but it surely’s unclear if they will nonetheless make the transfer after spending three first-round picks on Brady Tkachuk. (Florida has been unwilling to half with Anton Lundell, however Eetu Luostarinen or Evan Rodrigues are prospects.) As all the time, preserve a watch on Vegas and Carolina as stealthy gamers for any large names.

Nothing new on the Dylan Larkin entrance, and Detroit GM Steve Yzerman hasn’t tipped his hand concerning timing. However, the expectation is the Red Wings’ captain will probably be traded forward of subsequent season. Larkin’s camp submitted an inventory — I imagine Larkin’s desire is to go to an American-based group, and undoubtedly a corporation in place to win — and the Red Wings are working by that. As of now, a group resembling Philadelphia shouldn’t be on Larkin’s record. Though the Flyers covet high facilities, they’re open to filling these roles internally for now.

The Senators are hoping to flip the picks from the Brady Tkachuk commerce right into a top-six ahead. Everyone is curious to see what they do, together with their very own gamers. Tkachuk’s commerce should not spark a mass exodus so long as the Senators stay in place to compete. It seems to be established order for Ottawa’s different American-born star, Jake Sanderson. I would not be shocked to see Sanderson or Tim Stutzle being named the subsequent captain.

Toronto continues to subject calls on Matthew Knies. The Blackhawks have been for some time, as Knies (23) suits their age vary to develop with Connor Bedard and the remainder of their rising core. The No. 4 decide from Chicago is completely in play.

Keep a watch on the Canucks once more. Though only a few groups are pure sellers nowadays, Vancouver has been making an attempt to maneuver a few of its greater contracts. The Canucks have engaged with a number of groups on Elias Pettersson, for instance. — Kaplan

Jason Robertson and the offer-sheet hype celebration

Only three gamers within the NHL scored extra targets final season than Dallas Stars winger Robertson, who netted 45 of them. Only 5 gamers have scored extra targets than Robertson (80) over the previous two seasons. What is that price to the Stars transferring ahead?

It’s one of many greatest questions across the league, as Robertson is a restricted free agent. According to at least one NHL supply, the Stars had supplied Robertson a contract of eight years with $12 million AAV, which might match the contract they handed Mikko Rantanen after buying the winger from the Hurricanes. Multiple stories have speculated that Robertson could possibly be in search of upward of $14 million AAV — the identical cap quantity his new agent, Andy Scott, secured for Leon Draisaitl in Edmonton two years in the past.

So how does a participant power his group into bridging that cash hole? One method is thru signing a suggestion sheet for his or her desired wage.

That’s what Hurricanes proprietor Tom Dundon believed Sebastian Aho did when he signed a suggestion sheet with the Montreal Canadiens in 2019. “It is his right to use that leverage the CBA provides to get the most money from us. And that’s all that happened,” Dundon stated after the Canes matched it.

The problem with Robertson making an attempt to go that route is price of acquisition. For any AAV above $11,939,167, the fee can be 4 first-round picks within the subsequent 5 drafts, beginning in 2027. (Please recall Brady Tkachuk simply moved for 3 first-rounders.) Many groups might do it. According to PuckPedia, solely the Panthers, Maple Leafs and Avalanche do not meet that requirement. But that is a number of first-rounders.

An offer-sheeting group must be keen to pony up these picks as a result of Dallas is not prone to match, on condition that the Stars have round $11.06 million in cap area. Hence, the extra doubtless state of affairs if Robertson and the Stars cannot bridge their hole is GM Jim Nill buying and selling his scoring winger for one thing barely lower than that offer-sheet yield.

But even when there aren’t profitable provide sheets for the biggest-name RFAs, there could possibly be ones on the best way for midrange gamers, like when the St. Louis Blues raided the Oilers in 2024 for defenseman Philip Broberg and ahead Dylan Holloway.

Granted, we hear this each summer time, and there have solely been 4 provide sheets signed previously 12 offseasons. But one NHL participant agent informed ESPN he is optimistic the hype is actual this time.

“I think so. Teams are going to be willing to make that swing you need to take in order to have a chance of being successful,” he stated.

While the skinny free agent market is one issue, the agent believes it is the league’s parity that is the true driver.

“Teams are feeling an urgency to be good, to take a run at [the Cup]. There’s a ton of teams I feel like that are in that pressure situation. They’ve gone through a rebuild and now’s the time,” he stated. “So I think the circumstances are such that there’s a very good chance that you would see an offer sheet.”

Again, it comes right down to price of acquisition. For instance, a suggestion sheet between $7,163,499 and $9,551,332 AAV would price a group a first-, second- and third-round decide in 2027 if profitable. There are 11 groups in place to make that deal, and there are a lot of candidates in that range, together with Vegas Golden Knights winger Pavel Dorofeyev and one other Dallas ahead: Mavrik Bourque. — Wyshynski

Is there actually debate over who’s going No. 1?

The Maple Leafs are broadly projected to be locked in on winger Gavin McKenna with their first decide on this week’s draft. But that hasn’t halted dialog across the deserves of doubtless seeing the Leafs make an “upset” choice — with Swedish winger Ivar Stenberg.

In a number of circles, the thought is {that a} wafer-thin margin separates these skaters, with the sting going to McKenna’s dynamic offensive upside. He was the Big Ten scoring champion at Penn State final season, with 15 targets and 51 factors in 35 video games, to show he might go toe-to-toe with greater, quicker faculty competitors in his solely NCAA marketing campaign. McKenna has unbelievable imaginative and prescient, elite playmaking expertise and the pace at which he can course of the sport improved all through his season with the Nittany Lions.

A fast canvass of three professional scouts all labeled McKenna as a game-changing expertise Toronto would remorse not going after — however none would say outright he was a extra “complete package” than Stenberg.

On the opposite hand, Stenberg is professionally examined, and McKenna shouldn’t be. Stenberg spent two years with Frolunda HC; in 2025-26, he had among the best seasons by an 18-year-old, with 11 targets and 33 factors in 43 video games. Stenberg additionally represented Sweden on the 2026 males’s world championships, amassing 4 targets and eight factors in eight video games, and was picked as one of many membership’s high three skaters in a run to the match’s quarterfinals. He is perhaps the higher 200-foot participant now than McKenna.

All of that’s not prone to be sufficient for the Leafs to select him over his Canadian counterpart … proper? Right. Because Toronto is constructed to play quick, and even new coach Jim Hiller will not be deviating an excessive amount of from what has labored there — the Leafs have additionally been missing some scoring savvy since Mitch Marner‘s departure.

Regardless, it could possibly be McKenna and Stenberg going one-two on Friday (that’s, if San Jose pivots from plucking a defender after the Sharks landed Michael Kesselring in a commerce with Buffalo earlier this month). If Stenberg is the Sharks’ alternative, it could mark simply the second time since 1963 {that a} pair of wingers had been first off the board; in 2007, Patrick Kane went No. 1 to Chicago, and James van Riemsdyk went No. 2 to Philadelphia.

In truth, a middle may not be picked within the high 5 — one thing we do not usually see within the trendy draft period. There’s a depth of high quality blueliners after McKenna and Stenberg — highlighted by Sault Ste. Marie’s Chase Reid, Prince George Cougars’ Carson Carels and North Dakota’s Keaton Verhoeff. Could they push the Brantford Bulldogs’ Caleb Malhotra or Boston University’s Tynan Lawrence or Djurgarden’s Viggo Bjorck down the draft order? It’s straightforward — and enjoyable — to invest. And there’s all the time room for surprises when groups get on the clock. — Shilton

Bob again in Florida?

The Tkachuk commerce gave the Panthers three excellent ahead traces to go along with two dominant defensive pairings. They have the third-best odds (+850 at DraftKings) to win a 3rd Stanley Cup in 4 seasons. Those odds may get even higher as soon as everybody is aware of who’s really stopping pucks for them in 2026-27, as they do not have an NHL goalie signed for subsequent season.

Could or not it’s Sergei Bobrovsky once more?

I imagine the Panthers and Bobrovsky, a pending unrestricted free agent, are nonetheless engaged in contract talks. Bobrovsky, 37, made near $100 million on his previous two NHL contracts with the Columbus Blue Jackets (2015-19) and the Panthers (2019-26). The highest wage yr on his simply accomplished contract was $12 million. He made $6 million in wage final season.

The stalemate between Bobrovsky and Florida is not simply in regards to the cash or the time period — it is a couple of little bit of each. If the Panthers run it again with Bob, they’d prefer it at a cap hit the place they do not have to maneuver out a participant like Evan Rodrigues ($3.075 million AAV) to make it work. They additionally want area to ink a backup goalie. Daniil Tarasov, Bobrovsky’s understudy final season, is a UFA coming off a one-year, $1.05 million contract.

As for time period, I nonetheless assume these “Brad Marchand contract” (six years, $31.5 million) predictions aren’t bearing in mind the distinction between a skater and a goalie. Forwards can play completely different roles over time. Marchand could possibly be a top-line winger, then middle-six, then play 10 minutes per recreation on the fourth line when he is in his 40s. Bobrovsky is both an outdated starter or an overpaid backup. There’s no center floor. That’s why I imagine the Panthers desire a shorter-term deal.

The Panthers clearly have the “his stuff is there” benefit, as Bobrovsky and his household have lived in South Florida for seven years, to say nothing of the success he is had on the ice with the franchise. Heck, one other Stanley Cup win might earn him a Hall of Fame plaque, if he hasn’t earned one already.

Bobrovsky may need different choices, nevertheless. The San Jose Sharks had been a rumored chance, as he might mentor Yaroslav Askarov. The Maple Leafs even have a younger Russian goalie within the system with Calder Cup winner Artur Akhtyamov. They even have Bobrovsky’s former Florida backup Anthony Stolarz. The Hurricanes reportedly checked in on Bobrovsky earlier than the commerce deadline. Then there’s probably the most “if you can’t beat ’em, sign ’em” choice within the Edmonton Oilers. — Wyshynski

Vegas, Andersson shaking arms?

During the Stanley Cup Final, there was rampant discuss that the Vegas Golden Knights and defenseman Rasmus Andersson had a “handshake deal” on a brand new contract that’ll pay him round $8.5 million yearly.

Vegas acquired Andersson in January for defenseman Zach Whitecloud, prospect Abram Wiebe, a 2027 conditional first-round decide and a 2028 conditional second-round decide. He was a pending unrestricted free agent within the final yr of a deal that paid him $4.55 million towards the cap. Rumors swirled on the time that Andersson wished to signal an extension in Vegas, however the commerce was made with out one.

“I’ve loved everything about Vegas, and I’ve really enjoyed being here. Yes, I would love to come back, work with Kelly [McCrimmon] and find a solution,” Andersson stated after the season. “All I wanted in Calgary was a chance to win. We were this close to winning.”

Andersson had 17 factors (seven targets, 10 assists) in 33 video games through the common season with the Golden Knights, averaging 21:42. His postseason numbers weren’t as spectacular: Just six factors in 21 video games, as his defensive pairing with Noah Hanifin was a battle analytically (44% anticipated targets share).

Andersson talked after the Stanley Cup Final about how difficult this season was, from the commerce to enjoying within the Olympics for Sweden to the tragic lack of “a very close friend and mentor” in his agent Claude Lemieux, who died in May.

McCrimmon expects Andersson to be higher subsequent season in Vegas.

“I think he’s a really good NHL defenseman. We wanted to acquire him for a long time,” McCrimmon stated. “I think he’s going to be like a lot of players that come here: Once you’re settled in, once you’ve got your house, once you’re with an organization a little bit longer, it’s easier to get to the game that you have.”

Vegas performs by its personal guidelines. A handshake deal shouldn’t be a signed contract. But McCrimmon seems like a GM who expects his pending free agent will probably be again. — Wyshynski