NHL free agency rankings: Tiers of players available on July 1 - ESPN

The NHL free agent pool was already shallow enough before teams started draining it even more before July 1.

Alex Tuch, expected to be the top forward available, is now a Washington Capital after a sign-and-trade with Buffalo. Darren Raddysh, the top offensive defenseman, was acquired in a sign-and-trade by the Toronto Maple Leafs. Others such as Bobby McMann (Seattle), Michael McCarron (Minnesota) as well as Jason Dickinson and Connor Murphy (Edmonton) all remained with their teams.

The rising salary cap — set at $104 million next season, an increase of $8.5 million — has allowed teams to retain their players, who no longer need competing offers to get the money they're chasing.

For those players who will hit the free agent market this summer, it'll be a frenzy. Look at Charlie Coyle. The center re-signed with the Columbus Blue Jackets for six seasons. Before he did, GM Don Waddell said there were upward of 12 teams seeking to trade for his negotiating rights. Twelve teams, for a 34-year-old center that had 58 points last season.

As shallow as the pool is, there are still some impactful players expected to be available — as well as a collection of players who will land significant offers, but maybe shouldn't.

Here's a look at the 2026 NHL free agent market. The contract terms and average annual contract values are courtesy of PuckPedia. In the case of players whose salaries were retained in transactions, we're listing the full AAV of their contracts.

Which players are you hoping your team signs this offseason?

Age: 40 | 2025-26 cap hit: $9.5 million

The NHL's all-time leading goal scorer, potentially headed to unrestricted free agency? This would obviously be the biggest offseason news in hockey were it not for the fact