Kucherov, Hughes, Robertson and DeBrincat headline potential 2027 UFAs

As the 2026-27 NHL season nears, the potential unrestricted free agent class appears thin once again for next July.

Reigning Hart Trophy winner Nikita Kucherov headlines the list, though it remains unclear if the Tampa Bay Lightning will let the 33-year-old winger hit the open market.

Kucherov’s agent, Dan Milstein, has declined to comment on contract talks throughout the summer and the Russian star offered little by way of an update as he arrived for training camp.

“My mind is trying to help the team this year,” Kucherov said Wednesday. “I control what I can control, and I’ll do my best what I can on the ice, and that’s what I’m focusing on right now.”

“Throughout these contract negotiations, both parties I know would prefer to have a deal today to put that behind us,” Lightning general manager Julien BriseBois countered. “We haven’t been able to do that. I’m still in touch with his agent to keep the lines of communication open with the goal being to get Nikita signed to a contract that will keep him in Tampa many years to come.”

Kucherov, who is entering the last of an eight-year, $76 million contract that carries a cap hit of $9.5 million, posted 44 goals and 130 points in 76 games last season. He added a goal and six points in seven playoff games before the Lightning were eliminated in the first round for the fourth straight season.

The trophy case is full for Kucherov, who also won the Hart Trophy in 2019 and also won three Art Ross Trophies and two Ted Lindsay Awards, in addition to two Stanley Cups.

Even as he approaches turning 34 next June, Kucherov continues to be one of the league’s most consistent performers.

Will Hughes stay in Minnesota?

While Kucherov’s negotiation has flown under the radar, Quinn Hughes’ future has been a source of speculation for the past two years.

The 26-year-old blueliner was traded to the Minnesota Wild last fall after informing the Vancouver Canucks he did not intend to re-sign with the club.

The Wild sent defenceman Zeev Buium, forwards Marco Rossi and Liam Ohgren, and a 2026 first-round pick to Vancouver for Hughes, hoping they would get more than two playoff runs out of the former Canucks captain.

Hughes finished last season with seven goals and 76 points in 74 games split between the Canucks and Wild while averaging 27:44 of ice time. He added four goals and 15 points in 11 playoff games before the Wild were eliminated in the second round by the Colorado Avalanche.

Reports have indicated that while the Wild would like to go long term on an extension with Hughes, the player appears to be looking for a three-year deal, which would walk him to free agency at the same as his brother, Jack Hughes of the New Jersey Devils.

Hughes is expected to command a hefty price tag on his next deal and is clearly the top defenceman potentially available on the free-agent market after Cale Makar signed a jaw-dropping eight-year extension worth $163.2 million with the Colorado Avalanche.

Makar’s $20.4 million average annual value came in just $400,000 below the maximum allowable, which represents 20 per cent of the current salary cap.

If, when and for how much and how long Hughes signs for all remain unclear with the blueliner feeling no rush to ink a new deal.

“We haven’t had that many conversations just because of how I wanted my summer to go in terms of being fresh and resetting and enjoying and training and being around friends and family,” Hughes said earlier this month. “As we get going here I’m sure it’ll heat up, but I don’t feel backed up against a wall where I have to sign before camp.”

Robertson extension on hold until January

After signing a one-year, $12.5 million deal to remain with the Dallas Stars this summer, Jason Robertson is ineligible to sign a new deal until January. The 27-year-old winger turned down an opportunity to secure his financial future as he rejected an eight-year deal worth roughly $15 million per year in a potential sign-and-trade with the Seattle Kraken.

Stars general manager Jim Nill said after the two sides avoided arbitration with the one-year deal that the focus for both sides will be to complete a long-term deal before next July.

The Stars are set to be flush with cap space next summer, which could help the club retain Robertson when the two sides reopen negotiations. Dallas is currently set to have just shy of $43 million to spend, per PuckPedia, with 10 roster spots to fill. Along with Robertson’s new $12 million hit coming off the books, Tyler Seguin’s eight-year contract at an $9.85 million cap hit is set to expire.

Robertson led the Stars in scoring last season, recording 45 goals and 96 points in 82 games. He added five goals and eight points in six playoff games before the Stars were eliminated in the first round.

Can the Red Wings keep DeBrincat?

Alex DeBrincat went without an extension in place as Tuesday’s deadline for eight-year contracts passed. Any negotiations were put on pause this summer as the Red Wings looked to replace general manager Steve Yzerman, who stepped down in July.

The Red Wings named Shawn Horcoff interim general manager on Tuesday and TSN Hockey Insider Chris Johnston reports he has been given the green light to negotiate contracts, which could move things along with DeBrincat.

While a trade request from now former captain Dylan Larkin has dimmed optimism around the Red Wings, DeBrincat said last week his hope is to re-sign with the club.

“I love playing for the Red Wings. I love wearing that jersey and battling with those guys out there. My intention is obviously to stay in Detroit,” DeBrincat told NHL.com. “We’ll see what happens, I guess.”

DeBrincat, 28, registered 41 goals and 85 points in 82 games last season but the team failed to make the postseason for a 10^th straight season.

The 5-foot-8 winger is entering the final season of a $31.5 million contract that carries a cap hit of $7.875 million.

Crosby expected to stay put again

Notably absent from the big-names listed is fellow pending unrestricted free agent Sidney Crosby. The 39-year-old future Hall of Famer is entering the final season of his current deal, though it would be nothing short of stunning if he elected to leave the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Crosby revealed last week that extension talks are already underway with the Penguins, with the two sides simply looking to find the right term.

“Pat (Brisson)’s talking to Kyle (Dubas),” Crosby told reporters at the NHL/NHLPA media tour in Las Vegas. " It’s just a little bit more difficult at my age as far as trying to project where you’re gonna be.

“… I’d like to continue playing for a number of years. It’s just I don’t know what that number is. I guess your mind and body tell you that eventually. Right now I feel pretty good, though.”

While veterans Mark Stone (two years, $18 million) and Jordan Staal (one year worth up to $10 million) signed extensions this week, no shortage of experienced talent remains slated to hit the open market on July 1, 2027.

Ryan O’Reilly, Erik Karlsson, Mats Zuccarello, Chris Kreider and Claude Giroux are all set to play on expiring deals this season. Count Alexander Ovechkin and Evgeni Malkin also among that group, though their futures seem to be down to re-signing, retiring or moving to Russia to continue playing rather than signing with a new NHL team.

Boston Bruins forward Pavel Zacha, 29, could offer a significant boost of offence for a team after he posted 30 goals and 65 points in 78 games last season.

Colorado Avalanche winger Artturi Lehkonen and Carolina Hurricanes blueliner Shayne Gostisbehere, 33, are also entering the year on expiring deals among the under-35 group.

It’s worth noting that Darren Raddysh had a breakout season with the Lightning last year to seemingly come out of nowhere to hold a top spot on TSN’s Top 50 free agents list. While the next Raddysh could be out there, the early look at the 2027 crop appears to be a top-heavy group.

Potential 2027 UFAs (Listed by 2025-26 points)