Sports
NHL Free Agency 2026: Why This Year’s Market Looks Surprisingly Thin
For those who love transactions and the excitement around them, we have bad news.
If you thought the NHL’s trade deadline was lacking intrigue, prepare to be suitably underwhelmed when free-agency kicks off July 1.
What was already a thin market took another hit a few days ago when Nick Schmaltz re-signed with the Utah Mammoth, inking an eight-year, $64-million pact and forgoing a chance to hit the open market.
Now, we can understand if the more casual fans are not versed in what Schmaltz can bring to the table, but rest assured there would have been plenty of clubs interested in signing the center.
Schmaltz, who has netted a career-high 24 goals and with 59 points is only a handful back of his best season, would but a top-liner on many teams. Certainly he would be a fantastic scoring second-liner on the truly elite clubs.
This has been quite the year of seeing skilled players, especially forwards, re-sign instead of hitting free agency. Connor McDavid (Edmonton Oilers), Kirill Kaprizov (Minnesota Wild), Jack Eichel (Vegas Golden Knights), Artemi Panarin (Los Angeles Kings, shortly after being acquired from the New York Rangers), Adrian Kempe (Kings), Martin Necas (Colorado Avalanche) and Kyle Connor (Winnipeg Jets) signed extensions and scuttled what could have been an incredible free-agency class.
Even middle-lineup players such as Kiefer Sherwood of the San Jose Sharks and Mike Matheson of the Montreal Canadiens decided to re-sign.
What does that leave us with?
There are a bunch of players who appear most likely to stay with their current team, a list that includes the likes of Alex Ovechkin (Washington Capitals), Evgeni Malkin (Pittsburgh Penguins), Anders Lee (New York Islanders), Jacob Trouba (Anaheim Ducks), John Klingberg (Sharks), Patrick Kane (Detroit Red Wings), Claude Giroux (Ottawa Senators), Radko Gudas (Ducks) and Rasmus Andersson (Golden Knights).
Plus there are some who would be best-served staying where they are, such as Anthony Mantha (Penguins) and Jack Roslovic (Edmonton Oilers).
Which leaves, frankly, not much.
Alex Tuch of the Buffalo Sabres could be the most sought-after skater, certainly the most impactful forward as he heads toward his third 30-goal season.
After that, the group of forwards are mainly players who are middle-line skaters, such as Bobby McMann (Seattle Kraken), Boone Jenner and Charlie Coyle of the Columbus Blue Jackets), Vladimir Tarasenko (Minnesota Wild) and Michael Bunting (Dallas Stars).
The player with the most potential to return to stardom is Patrik Laine of the Montreal Canadiens, but that may require a “show-me” contract.
The defensemen actually provide more buzz, but we are not talking top-tier, proven stars. Andersson may re-sign in Vegas, but would be a boon to clubs wanting a big-minute two/three blueliner, although he is not lighting it up with the Golden Knights.
John Carlson was traded to the Ducks from Washington (which may be a catalyst for Ovechkin to move elsewhere if he continues his career) and Anaheim would like to keep him in the fold as their team climbs back toward Stanley Cup contender. But even with age, Carlson would command attention.
The true wildcard would be Darren Raddysh of the Tampa Bay Lightning, who at age 30 has exploded offensively with 17 goals and 58 points. You can understand him wanting to see what others will pay for his services, but it is hard to imagine a better fit than what he already has in Tampa.
Either way, the hottest action when free agency opens may be at your barbecue.
Sports
Knights dominate Blackhawks behind efforts from Pavel Dorofeyev, Adin Hill
Mar 14, 2026; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Vegas Golden Knights right wing Pavel Dorofeyev (16) celebrates with right wing Mark Stone (61) after scoring a goal against the Chicago Blackhawks during the second period at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images Pavel Dorofeyev scored two goals and had an assist, and Adin Hill made 21 saves for his first shutout of the season as the Vegas Golden Knights moved into first place in the Pacific Division with a 4-0 victory over the Chicago Blackhawks on Saturday night in Las Vegas.
It was the second straight game of two goals and three points for Dorofeyev. Mark Stone and Mitch Marner each had two assists, and Rasmus Andersson and Keegan Kolesar also scored goals for Vegas, which leapfrogged Anaheim, a 2-0 loser at Ottawa earlier Saturday, into the top spot in the Pacific Division.
It was the 12th career shutout for Hill as the Golden Knights improved to 10-2-1 all-time against Chicago at T-Mobile Arena.
Spencer Knight finished with 28 saves for the Blackhawks, who had a four-game road point streak (2-0-2) snapped.
Vegas scored three times on four shots in the span of 3:27 midway through the first period to take a 3-0 lead.
Dorofeyev started the scoring with a power-play goal at the 8:33 mark, roofing a one-timer from the middle of the right circle past Knight’s glove side.
Andersson made it 2-0 with his 12th goal, a career high. Noah Hanifin picked up the primary assist, zipping a pass from the left corner to Andersson alone in the right circle, where he snapped a wrist shot inside the right post.
Kolesar, stationed in front of the crease, followed 25 seconds later, deflecting Jeremy Lauzon’s shot from the left point over Knight’s left pad.
Vegas increased the lead to 4-0 midway through the second period on another power-play goal by Dorofeyev, who swept in a rebound of a Stone shot into a wide-open right side of the net for his 34th goal this season.
Chicago appeared to get on the board 37 seconds into the third period on a long slap shot by Artyom Levshunov from the right point. But Vegas successfully challenged that the score came after a missed stoppage on a hand pass from Ryan Greene to Connor Bedard.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Bobby McMann collects 3 points in delayed debut, Kraken beat Canucks
Mar 14, 2026; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; Seattle Kraken defenseman Ryker Evans (41) stick checks Vancouver Canucks forward Drew O’Connor (18) in the first period at Rogers Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bob Frid-Imagn Images Bobby McMann scored twice and had an assist in his debut for his new team as the Seattle Kraken snapped a four-game losing streak with a 5-2 victory against the host Vancouver Canucks on Saturday night.
Matty Beniers had a goal and two assists and Jordan Eberle added three assists with McMann on the No. 1 line.
Jared McCann and Jamie Oleksiak also scored and Brandon Montour had two assists for the Kraken, who remained a point behind San Jose in the chase for the Western Conference’s second and final wild-card playoff berth. Goaltender Philipp Grubauer made 32 saves.
Evander Kane and Marco Rossi scored for the league-worst Canucks, who dropped to 7-21-5 at home this season. Nikita Tolopilo stopped 28 of 33 shots.
McMann, acquired from Toronto at the March 6 trade deadline, had to sit out three straight games while awaiting approval of his visa paperwork.
McMann broke a 1-1 tie on the power play at 19:10 of the first period. His wrist shot from just below the left faceoff dot snuck between Tolopilo’s pads and trickled over the goal line.
McMann scored his 21st goal of the season, surpassing his career high set in 2024-25, on a 3-on-2 rush at 4:14 of the third. Beniers sent the puck to Eberle on the right wing and his cross-slot pass found McMann for a tip-in at the far post to make it 4-1.
The Kraken opened the scoring at 4:12 of the first as McCann snapped a 10-game goalless drought. Montour skated the puck down the right wing and attempted a shot from the corner. Tolopilo made the save, but the rebound kicked right back to Montour, who went behind the net and spotted McCann alone in the slot for a one-timer.
Kane tied the score at 11:42 of the period on a breakaway. Kane deked Grubauer and lifted a backhander into the roof of the net.
Oleksiak tallied the lone goal of the second period at 5:06, joining the rush and taking a pass from Beniers in the high slot before beating Tolopilo with a wrist shot high to the glove side.
Beniers scored at 9:58 of the third, beating Tolopilo from the low slot after taking Eberle’s pass from behind the net.
Rossi capped the scoring at 19:40 of the third on a rebound after Grubauer stopped a breakaway.
The Kraken flew into Vancouver on Saturday morning after a snowstorm prevented them from traveling the previous day.
–Field Level Media
Sports
DeMar DeRozan, Kings continue recent surge with win over Clippers
Mar 14, 2026; Inglewood, California, USA; Sacramento Kings guard Russell Westbrook (18) attempts to steal the ball from LA Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard (2) during the second quarter at Intuit Dome. Mandatory Credit: Jonathan Hui-Imagn Images DeMar DeRozan scored 27 points and Precious Achiuwa added 25 with 13 rebounds as the Sacramento Kings turned a brief stop on the road into a 118-109 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers on Saturday at Inglewood, Calif.
Maxime Raynaud scored 23 points and Russell Westbrook added 12 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists against his former team as the Kings won for the third time in their past four games to continue emerging from their 2-20 downturn.
Sacramento’s front line of DeRozan, Achiuwa and Raynaud combined to go 32-of-40 (80%) from the floor. The Kings were playing on the road for the only time in a stretch of 10 games and are now 3-3 during the run.
Kawhi Leonard scored 31 points for the Clippers to set the franchise record with his 45th consecutive game of at least 20 points. Leonard went to the locker room in the first half with a cut over his left eye and departed for good with 9:27 remaining in the game when he rolled his left ankle.
Daruis Garland scored 25 points after missing the front end of a back-to-back Friday with injury management on a sore toe. Bennedict Mathurin scored 24 points for Los Angeles, which lost for just the second time in its last nine games.
The Clippers struggled on defense from the start, trailing 33-31 after one quarter and falling behind 68-54 at halftime. The Kings shot 66.7% from the floor in the first half, outrebounding the Clippers 24-15.
Los Angeles was held to 21 points in the third quarter as Sacramento entered the fourth with a 92-75 advantage.
The Clippers used a 20-4 run to pull within 101-98 with 5:24 left after three-point play from Mathurin. Leonard departed during the stretch with his ankle injury.
Daeqwon Plowden (15 points) and Nique Clifford (11 points) hit consecutive 3-pointers as Sacramento took a 112-102 lead with 2:37 left. DeRozan sealed the victory on three free throws for a 115-106 lead with 1:25 remaining.
The Kings finished 58.5% from the floor, while the Clippers shot 46.4%.
–Field Level Media
