NHL Rumor Roundup: The Latest On Free Agency's Notable UFAs
The NHL's annual free-agent market opens at noon ET on July 1.
It's a shallow pool of talent among this summer's class of UFAs. All the superstars who would've been UFA-eligible this summer, such as Connor McDavid, Kirill Kaprizov, Jack Eichel and Kyle Connor, all signed contract extensions with their respective clubs months ago.
Nevertheless, there remain several players who should garner attention when the market opens.
Here's the latest speculation on the most noteworthy.
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Jacob Trouba: Like Carlson, Trouba appears headed back to the Eastern Conference as a free agent. The 32-year-old defenseman had a bounce-back performance with the Ducks last season with 35 points in 81 games. Daily Faceoff's Matt Larkin suggested the Boston Bruins as a potential destination.
Anthony Mantha: The 31-year-old left winger hopes to parlay his career-best season (33 goals, 64 points) with the Pittsburgh Penguins into a lucrative long-term contract. Michael DeRosa of The Hockey News suggested the Detroit Red Wings, Los Angeles Kings and Columbus Blue Jackets as possible suitors.
Mats Zuccarello: The Athletic's Michael Russo and Joe Smith reported that Zuccarello was "pretty ticked" over the lack of contract extension talks with the Wild. The 38-year-old right winger has netted over 50 points in each of the last five seasons. Could a return to the New York Rangers be in the works?
Mason Marchment: A big, physical left winger, the 31-year-old Marchment had 45 points in 68 games with the Seattle Kraken and Blue Jackets last season. The Montreal Canadiens, Edmonton Oilers and Ottawa Senators have been mentioned as possible suitors.
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This story was originally published July 1, 2026 at 8:29 AM.