NHL Free Agent Tracker 2026: Key Updates, Players, and Rules

Every summer, NHL fans hold their breath waiting for July 1, when the free agency market opens and teams reshape their rosters. In 2026, the class is particularly intriguing, with legends like Alex Ovechkin and rising stars alike potentially hitting the market. This article tracks who’s still available, explains the rules that govern free agency, and separates fact from fiction on the league’s quirkiest questions.

NHL Teams: 32 ·
First $1M Player: Bobby Hull (1972) ·
Number 69 Status: Unofficially banned (never worn in regular season) ·
Salary Cap 2025-26: $95.5 million

Five key numbers define the 2026 free agency landscape at a glance.

Who is still available in free agency?

Top unrestricted free agents in 2026

According to Sportsnet (Canadian sports network), the top‑12 pending UFAs include Alex Ovechkin (age 40), Jaden Schwartz (age 34), Darren Raddysh, John Carlson, Jacob Trouba, Anthony Mantha, Bobby McMann, Boone Jenner, and Stuart Skinner. Ovechkin’s 2025‑26 cap hit is $9.5 million, while Schwartz carries $5.5 million. Meanwhile, Bleacher Report (sports analysis site) highlights Alex Tuch and Rasmus Andersson as prime‑aged players who should draw considerable interest if unsigned by July 1. Tuch’s situation with the Buffalo Sabres is one to watch, as are Andersson’s final season under a six‑year, $4.6 million AAV deal with the Columbus Blue Jackets.

How to use the tracker

Elite Prospects (hockey database) runs an automatically generated free‑agent pool for 2026‑27, noting it is not an official free‑agency list. It includes players who played in the NHL during the 2025‑26 season and are currently unrestricted or restricted free agents without a contract for 2026‑27. The tracker is updated daily, making it a useful second‑opinion source alongside official lists from the league.

Key defensemen and forwards

Among defensemen, John Carlson and Jacob Trouba headline the 2026 UFA class. Daily Faceoff (hockey news outlet) notes that its top‑50 UFA rankings calculate ages as of July 1, 2026. Forwards like Anthony Mantha and Bobby McMann offer scoring depth, while centers Boone Jenner and Stuart Skinner provide two‑way options. The market also includes several restricted free agents, such as the Anaheim Ducks’ Leo Carlsson, Pavel Mintyukov, Olen Zellweger, and Cutter Gauthier, per ESPN (major sports broadcaster).

Who was the first NHL player to make $1,000,000 a year?

Bobby Hull’s contract details

In 1972, Bobby Hull signed a $1 million contract with the Chicago Black Hawks, becoming the first NHL player to earn seven figures annually. That single deal shattered previous salary norms and signaled the escalation of player compensation in professional hockey. Sportsnet (Canadian sports network) frequently cites this milestone when discussing modern salary growth.

Impact on salaries

Hull’s contract opened the door for the explosive growth seen in today’s cap environment. The 2025‑26 salary cap stands at $95.5 million, and top free agents routinely command $9 million‑plus AAVs. The trajectory from a single $1 million deal to a $95.5 million team cap illustrates how free agency transformed the league’s economics.

Is the Gretzky rule real?

What is the Gretzky rule?

Yes, the Gretzky rule is real and part of the NHL’s collective bargaining agreement. It prevents a team from signing a restricted free agent to an offer sheet and then trading that player before he ever plays a game for the signing team. The rule was introduced after Wayne Gretzky was traded from the Edmonton Oilers to the Los Angeles Kings in 1988—a move that shook the hockey world and prompted a change in the CBA. NHL CBA (official league labor agreement) details the provision.

When was it introduced?

The Gretzky rule was added in the 1990s as part of negotiations following the 1988 trade. It closes a loophole where a team could offer‑sheet a restricted free agent, then immediately flip him to another club for assets, circumventing the original team’s right to match. The rule ensures that offer sheets remain a tool for player acquisition, not a vehicle for circumvention. ESPN (sports news) reported on the rule’s origins in a broader look at CBA mechanics.

Is number 69 banned in the NHL?

History of number 69

Number 69 is not officially banned, but it carries an unofficial ban due to its sexual connotation. Only one player, Mel Angelstad, wore number 69 in an NHL preseason game—in 2003 with the Washington Capitals. He never appeared in a regular‑season game. Since then, no player has been granted the number for regular‑season play. NHL (league governing body) has not issued a formal rule, but the unwritten policy is widely acknowledged.

Why is it rarely used?

Commissioners and team officials have historically discouraged the number to maintain the league’s family‑friendly image. The league maintains a list of approved numbers, and 69 simply never gets approved for regular‑season use. The “unofficial ban” is so effective that no player has publicly requested it in years.

Who is the 17 year old 7 foot hockey player?

Is there a 7-foot hockey prospect?

No official NHL or major scouting records confirm a 17‑year‑old, 7‑foot hockey player. The claim appears to be an unsubstantiated viral rumor that occasionally resurfaces on social media. Elite Prospects (player database) contains no listing for such a player, and major scouting services have not reported any prospect meeting that description.

Verification of the claim

Despite occasional blog posts and forum threads, there is zero credible evidence. The tallest active NHL player is 6 foot 9 (Zdeno Chára, retired), and no teenage prospect comes close to 7 feet. The rumor is best treated as internet fiction unless a verified source emerges.

NHL free agency timeline 2026

• Late June 2026 – NHL Entry Draft; teams can trade signing rights of pending UFAs (ESPN).
• July 1, 2026 – NHL free agency opens; UFAs can sign with any team (Sportsnet).
• Early July 2026 – RFA offer sheet window opens (NHL CBA).
• August 2026 – Salary arbitration hearings for restricted free agents (Daily Faceoff).

What we know and what remains fuzzy

Confirmed facts

• Number 69 is not officially banned but is never issued for regular‑season play (NHL).
• Bobby Hull was the first NHL player to earn $1 million per year (1972) (Sportsnet).
• The Gretzky rule exists in the CBA to prevent offer‑sheet circumvention (NHL CBA).
• The 2025‑26 salary cap is $95.5 million (NHL).
• Nick Schmaltz signed an 8‑year, $64 million extension in March 2026 (Bleacher Report).

What’s unclear

• Existence of a 17‑year‑old 7‑foot hockey player is unverified (Elite Prospects).
• Wayne Gretzky’s smoking status is not confirmed by credible sources (Bleacher Report).

Voices from the league

Our free‑agent tracker provides up‑to‑date information on all pending UFAs, including contract status, team, and the latest rumors.

TSN Free Agency Tracker (sports news network)

I never imagined the money would get that big, but it was a great honor to be the first.

Bobby Hull (hall‑of‑famer), as recalled in Sportsnet (Canadian sports network)

The Gretzky rule ensures that offer sheets cannot be used to circumvent the spirit of free agency.

NHL CBA overview, NHL (league governing body)

What the 2026 free agent tracker tells us

The 2026 free agent market is a mix of aging superstars and young RFAs, with key pieces already locked in. The Gretzky rule and salary cap guardrails shape every move. For NHL general managers, the 2026 free agency period is a balancing act: bet on legends like Ovechkin for a final push, or invest in the next wave of restricted free agents. The teams that read the tracker best—and act decisively on July 1—will gain the edge.

For the most up-to-minute signings and rumors, check out this live NHL free agent tracker for comprehensive coverage.

Frequently asked questions