While we&#8217;re just over a month into the 2025-26 season, it&#8217;s never too early to look at the class of talent that might become available next summer.

On Thursday, Daily Faceoff&#8217;s Matt Larkin released his <a href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/news/top-25-nhl-unrestricted-free-agents-2026-update-kempe-panarin-tuch-bobrovsky-andersson">Top 25 pending unrestricted free agents</a> of 2026. While a number of players might have new deals by the time the season comes to an end, there are a few notable names he included on his list.
At the No. 1 spot is <a href="https://oilersnation.com/news/does-adrian-kempe-make-sense-target-for-edmonton-oilers">Los Angeles Kings forward Adrian Kempe</a>. The 29-year-old is on the final year of his current deal, which carries a cap hit of $4.5 million. There are many projections that Kempe&#8217;s latest production could lead to him making double digits in his next contract. He&#8217;s a sure-fire player to hit 30 goals, and has been a key asset for the Kings in the playoffs.
<blockquote>&#8220;There’s a premium on players of his ilk,&#8221; Larkin wrote. &#8220;And we can expect him to land something in the $10-11-million AAV range unless he signs in a no-tax market.&#8221;</blockquote>
A player who&#8217;s already in the $10 million-plus area is <a href="https://oilersnation.com/news/10-european-players-edmonton-oilers-can-target-off-season">New York Rangers sniper Artemi Panarin</a>. With the team around him showing great signs of weakness, there&#8217;s a wonder if the Russian will be dealt before the trade deadline. That said, if he makes it to market, his value might be less than his current $11,642,857 price tag.
<blockquote>&#8220;His future feels cloudy,&#8221; Larkin explains. &#8220;Panarin will turn 35 next October and has yet to win a Stanley Cup in his career; if the Rangers, who missed the playoffs last season and have struggled to score this season, don’t reverse course and become a contender again, does Panarin want to re-up on a sinking ship? And from Rangers GM Chris Drury’s perspective, would it be risky to re-sign a declining Panarin?&#8221;</blockquote>
Larkin also <a href="https://oilersnation.com/news/wwydw-how-edmonton-oilers-can-acquire-top-goaltender">mentioned a couple of goaltenders</a> who could be available next summer. Florida Panthers goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky is coming to the end of his seven-year contract, while Carolina Hurricanes backstop Frederik Andersen could be more attractive to a team that needs to be frugal (a la the <a href="https://oilersnation.com/">Edmonton Oilers)</a>.
<blockquote>&#8220;If the Canes finally give the keys to [Pyotr] Kochetkov, who has another year left on his deal,&#8221; Larkin wrote. &#8220;Might Andersen seek a larger starting opportunity next season? The Edmonton Oilers could certainly use him.&#8221;</blockquote>
<h2>Other news and notes&#8230;</h2>
<ul>
<li>The Colorado Avalanche have signed goaltender Scott Wedgewood to a <a href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/news/colorado-avalanche-sign-scott-wedgewood-one-year-contract-extension-nhl">one-year contract extension</a>. The 33-year-old receives a nice pay raise, as the deal will have a cap hit of $2.5 million through the 2026-27 season. The veteran netminder became the first goaltender to reach 10 wins so far this year, and has played admirably with the projected No. 1, Mackenzie Blackwood, recovering from injury.</li>
<li>In other contract news, the Ottawa Senators have inked forward Shane Pinto to a <a href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/news/ottawa-senators-shane-pinto-agree-four-year-contract-extension-nhl">four-year contract extension</a>. The deal, set to kick in next season, will have an AAV of $7.5 million through the 2029-30 campaign. Pinto is part of the young core in the nation&#8217;s capital that is hopeful to make the Sens a powerhouse in the Atlantic Division.</li>
<li>The Toronto Maple Leafs have placed forward <a href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/news/toronto-maple-leafs-place-david-kampf-nhl-waivers-contract-termination-ahl-marlies">David Kampf on unconditional waivers</a> for the purpose of contract termination. The Swede was suspended by the Leafs last week after he left the team&#8217;s American Hockey League affiliate, the Toronto Marlies.</li>
</ul>

While we're just over a month into the 2025-26 season, it's never too early to look at the class of talent that might become available next summer.



On Thursday, Daily Faceoff's Matt Larkin released his <a href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/news/top-25-nhl-unrestricted-free-agents-2026-update-kempe-panarin-tuch-bobrovsky-andersson">Top 25 pending unrestricted free agents</a> of 2026. While a number of players might have new deals by the time the season comes to an end, there are a few notable names he included on his list.

At the No. 1 spot is <a href="https://oilersnation.com/news/does-adrian-kempe-make-sense-target-for-edmonton-oilers">Los Angeles Kings forward Adrian Kempe</a>. The 29-year-old is on the final year of his current deal, which carries a cap hit of $4.5 million. There are many projections that Kempe's latest production could lead to him making double digits in his next contract. He's a sure-fire player to hit 30 goals, and has been a key asset for the Kings in the playoffs.
<blockquote>"There’s a premium on players of his ilk," Larkin wrote. "And we can expect him to land something in the $10-11-million AAV range unless he signs in a no-tax market."</blockquote>
A player who's already in the $10 million-plus area is <a href="https://oilersnation.com/news/10-european-players-edmonton-oilers-can-target-off-season">New York Rangers sniper Artemi Panarin</a>. With the team around him showing great signs of weakness, there's a wonder if the Russian will be dealt before the trade deadline. That said, if he makes it to market, his value might be less than his current $11,642,857 price tag.
<blockquote>"His future feels cloudy," Larkin explains. "Panarin will turn 35 next October and has yet to win a Stanley Cup in his career; if the Rangers, who missed the playoffs last season and have struggled to score this season, don’t reverse course and become a contender again, does Panarin want to re-up on a sinking ship? And from Rangers GM Chris Drury’s perspective, would it be risky to re-sign a declining Panarin?"</blockquote>
Larkin also <a href="https://oilersnation.com/news/wwydw-how-edmonton-oilers-can-acquire-top-goaltender">mentioned a couple of goaltenders</a> who could be available next summer. Florida Panthers goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky is coming to the end of his seven-year contract, while Carolina Hurricanes backstop Frederik Andersen could be more attractive to a team that needs to be frugal (a la the <a href="https://oilersnation.com/">Edmonton Oilers)</a>.
<blockquote>"If the Canes finally give the keys to [Pyotr] Kochetkov, who has another year left on his deal," Larkin wrote. "Might Andersen seek a larger starting opportunity next season? The Edmonton Oilers could certainly use him."</blockquote>
<h2>Other news and notes...</h2>
<ul>
 	<li>The Colorado Avalanche have signed goaltender Scott Wedgewood to a <a href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/news/colorado-avalanche-sign-scott-wedgewood-one-year-contract-extension-nhl">one-year contract extension</a>. The 33-year-old receives a nice pay raise, as the deal will have a cap hit of $2.5 million through the 2026-27 season. The veteran netminder became the first goaltender to reach 10 wins so far this year, and has played admirably with the projected No. 1, Mackenzie Blackwood, recovering from injury.</li>
 	<li>In other contract news, the Ottawa Senators have inked forward Shane Pinto to a <a href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/news/ottawa-senators-shane-pinto-agree-four-year-contract-extension-nhl">four-year contract extension</a>. The deal, set to kick in next season, will have an AAV of $7.5 million through the 2029-30 campaign. Pinto is part of the young core in the nation's capital that is hopeful to make the Sens a powerhouse in the Atlantic Division.</li>
 	<li>The Toronto Maple Leafs have placed forward <a href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/news/toronto-maple-leafs-place-david-kampf-nhl-waivers-contract-termination-ahl-marlies">David Kampf on unconditional waivers</a> for the purpose of contract termination. The Swede was suspended by the Leafs last week after he left the team's American Hockey League affiliate, the Toronto Marlies.</li>
</ul>

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