NHL free agency opens on July 1 with some intriguing pending UFAs still unsigned.

The 2026 class doesn't include the big names that it could've had, since Connor McDavid, Jack Eichel and Kyle Connor are among the star talent that signed contract extensions long ago.

That doesn't mean there are no good players, however. There are pending UFAs who could fit in a team's top two forward lines, the middle defense pair or the starting goalie role. There's also suspense as we await Alex Ovechkin's decision on whether he will play another NHL season or not.

Alex Tuch had been the top pending UFA left, but he's been traded to the Washington Capitals and signed an eight-year contract extension worth $10.5 million annually.

TheHockeyNews.com went more in-depth on the top five players at each position in the lead-up to NHL free agency. Click here for the top five goalies, here for the top D-men, here for the top centers and here for the top wingers. 

In the meantime, here are the top 50 UFAs. Salary information is according to PuckPedia.

1. Rasmus Andersson, D, Vegas Golden Knights
Age: 29
Shoots: Right
Previous cap hit: $4.55 million
2025-26 stats: 81 GP, 17 G, 30 A, 47 PTS

2. Alex Ovechkin, LW, Washington Capitals
Age: 40
Shoots: Right
Previous cap hit: $9.5 million
2025-26 stats: 82 GP, 32 G, 32 A, 64PTS

3. John Carlson, D, Carolina Hurricanes (acquired rights from Anaheim)
Age: 36
Shoots: Right
Previous cap hit: $8 million
2025-26 stats: 71 GP, 14 G, 46 A, 60 PTS 

4. Sergei Bobrovsky, G, Florida Panthers
Age: 37
Catches: Left
Previous cap hit: $10 million
2025-26 stats: 27-23-1, 3.07 GAA, .877 SP

5. Anthony Mantha, LW, Pittsburgh Penguins
Age: 31
Shoots: Left
Previous cap hit: $2.5 million
2025-26 stats: 81 GP, 33 G, 31 A, 64 PTS

6. Jacob Trouba, D, Anaheim Ducks
Age: 32
Shoots: Right
Previous cap hit: $8 million
2025-26 stats: 81 GP, 10 G, 25 A, 35 PTS

7. Mason Marchment, LW, Columbus Blue Jackets
Age: 31
Shoots: Left
Previous cap hit: $4.5 million
2025-26 stats: 68 GP, 19 G, 26 A, 45 PTS

8. Viktor Arvidsson, RW, Boston Bruins
Age: 33
Shoots: Right
Previous cap hit: $4 million
2025-26 stats: 69 GP, 25 G, 29 A, 54 PTS

9. Boone Jenner, C, Columbus Blue Jackets
Age: 33
Shoots: Left
Previous cap hit: $3.75 million
2025-26 stats: 67 GP, 13 G, 25 A, 38 PTS  

10. Anders Lee, LW, New York Islanders
Age: 35
Shoots: Left
Previous cap hit: $7 million
2025-26 stats: 82 GP, 19 G, 23 A, 42 PTS  

11. Michael Bunting, LW, Dallas Stars
Age: 30
Shoots: Left
Previous cap hit: $4.5 million
2025-26 stats: 74 GP, 14 G, 19 A, 33 PTS  

12. Mario Ferraro, D, San Jose Sharks
Age: 27
Shoots: Left
Previous cap hit: $3.25 million
2025-26 stats: 82 GP, 7 G, 16 A, 23 PTS  

13. Frederik Andersen, G, Carolina Hurricanes
Age: 36
Catches: Left
Previous cap hit: $2.75 million
2025-26 stats: 16-14-5, 3.05 GAA, .874 SP

14. Patrick Kane, RW, Detroit Red Wings
Age: 37
Shoots: Left
Previous cap hit: $3 million
2025-26 stats: 67 GP, 16 G, 41 A, 57 PTS    

15. Mats Zuccarello, RW, Minnesota Wild
Age: 38
Shoots: Left
Previous cap hit: $4.125 million
2025-26 stats: 59 GP, 15 G, 39 A, 54 PTS      

16. Jaden Schwartz, LW, Seattle Kraken
Age: 33
Shoots: Left
Previous cap hit: $5.5 million
2025-26 stats: 50 GP, 11 G, 15 A, 26 PTS      

17. Stuart Skinner, G, Pittsburgh Penguins
Age: 27
Catches: Left
Previous cap hit: $2.6 million
2025-26 stats: 23-17-9, 2.92 GAA, .888 SP

18. Scott Laughton, C, Los Angeles Kings
Age: 32
Shoots: Left
Previous cap hit: $3 million
2025-26 stats: 64 GP, 13 G, 7 A, 20 PTS

19. Erik Haula, C, Nashville Predators
Age: 35
Shoots: Left
Previous cap hit: $3.15 million
2025-26 stats: 81 GP, 14 G, 24 A, 38 PTS  

20. Jack Roslovic, RW, Edmonton Oilers
Age: 29
Shoots: Right
Previous cap hit: $1.5 million
2025-26 stats: 69 GP, 21 G, 15 A, 36 PTS

21. Patrik Laine, RW, Montreal Canadiens
Age: 28
Shoots: Right
Previous cap hit: $8.7 million
2025-26 stats: 5 GP, 0 G, 1 A, 1 PTS

22. Ryan Shea, D, Pittsburgh Penguins
Age: 29
Shoots: Left
Previous cap hit: $900,000
2025-26 stats: 80 GP, 6 G, 29 A, 35 PTS  

23. Claude Giroux, RW/C, Ottawa Senators
Age: 38
Shoots: Right
Previous cap hit: $2 million
2025-26 stats: 82 GP, 14 G, 35 A, 49 PTS     

24. Nick Blankenburg, D, Colorado Avalanche
Age: 28
Shoots: Right
Previous cap hit: $775,000
2025-26 stats: 61 GP, 8 G, 16 A, 24 PTS    

25. Andrei Kuzmenko, LW, Los Angeles Kings
Age: 30
Shoots: Right
Previous cap hit: $4.3 million
2025-26 stats: 52 GP, 13 G, 12 A, 25 PTS  

26. John Klingberg, D, San Jose Sharks
Age: 33
Shoots: Right
Previous cap hit: $4 million
2025-26 stats: 56 GP, 10 G, 17 A, 27 PTS

27. Eeli Tolvanen, RW, Seattle Kraken
Age: 27
Shoots: Left
Previous cap hit: $3.475 million
2025-26 stats: 78 GP, 12 G, 24 A, 36 PTS  

28. Logan Stanley, D, Buffalo Sabres
Age: 28
Shoots: Left
Previous cap hit: $1.25 million
2025-26 stats: 76 GP, 9 G, 17 A, 26 PTS

29. Vladimir Tarasenko, RW, Minnesota Wild
Age: 34
Shoots: Left
Previous cap hit: $4.75 million
2025-26 stats: 75 GP, 23 G, 24 A, 47 PTS  

30. Ilya Mikheyev, RW, Chicago Blackhawks
Age: 31
Shoots: Left
Previous cap hit: $4.75 million
2025-26 stats: 77 GP, 18 G, 18 A, 36 PTS

31. A.J. Greer, LW, Anaheim Ducks (acquired rights from Florida)
Age: 29
Shoots: Left
Previous cap hit: $850,000
2025-26 stats: 78 GP, 17 G, 15 A, 32 PTS

32. Oliver Bjorkstrand, RW, Tampa Bay Lightning
Age: 31
Shoots: Right
Previous cap hit: $5.4 million
2025-26 stats: 80 GP, 12 G, 20 A, 32 PTS    

33. Alex Kerfoot, C, Utah Mammoth
Age: 31
Shoots: Left
Previous cap hit: $3 million
2025-26 stats: 34 GP, 7 G, 6 A, 13 PTS

34. David Perron, LW, Detroit Red Wings
Age: 38
Shoots: Right
Previous cap hit: $4 million
2025-26 stats: 65 GP, 13 G, 15 A, 28 PTS

35. Connor Ingram, G, Edmonton Oilers
Age: 29
Catches: Left 
Previous cap hit: $1.95 million
2025-26 stats: 16-10-3, 2.60 GAA, .899 SP

36. Andrew Peeke, D, Boston Bruins
Age: 28
Shoots: Right
Previous cap hit: $2.75 million
2025-26 stats: 77 GP, 5 G, 9 A, 14 PTS

37. Cam Talbot, G, Detroit Red Wings
Age: 38
Catches: Left
Previous cap hit: $2.5 million
2025-26 stats: 12-9-6, 3.19 GAA, .883 SP

38. Jeremy Lauzon, D, Vegas Golden Knights
Age: 29
Shoots: Left
Previous cap hit: $2 million
2025-26 stats: 68 GP, 1 G, 12 A, 13 PTS  

39. Nick Jensen, D, Ottawa Senators
Age: 35
Shoots: Right
Previous cap hit: $4.05 million
2025-26 stats: 61 GP, 4 G, 13 A, 17 PTS

40. Jamie Oleksiak, D, Seattle Kraken
Age: 33
Shoots: Left
Previous cap hit: $4.6 million
2025-26 stats: 78 GP, 5 G, 10 A, 15 PTS  

41. Kasperi Kapanen, RW, Edmonton Oilers
Age: 29
Shoots: Right
Previous cap hit: $1.3 million
2025-26 stats: 41 GP, 8 G, 9 A, 17 PTS    

42. Teddy Blueger, C, Vancouver Canucks
Age: 31
Shoots: Left
Previous cap hit: $1.8 million
2025-26 stats: 35 GP, 9 G, 8 A, 17 PTS

43. Jamie Benn, LW, Dallas Stars
Age: 36
Shoots: Left
Previous cap hit: $1 million
2025-26 stats: 60 GP, 15 G, 21 A, 36 PTS  

44. Radko Gudas, D, Florida Panthers (acquired rights from Anaheim)
Age: 36
Shoots: Right
Previous cap hit: $4 million
2025-26 stats: 56 GP, 2 G, 11 A, 13 PTS  

45. Corey Perry, RW, Tampa Bay Lightning
Age: 41
Shoots: Right
Previous cap hit: $2 million
2025-26 stats: 72 GP, 17 G, 20 A, 37 PTS    

46. Victor Olofsson, LW, Calgary Flames
Age: 30
Shoots: Left
Previous cap hit: $1.575 million
2025-26 stats: 78 GP, 13 G, 18 A, 31 PTS

47. Evander Kane, RW, Vancouver Canucks
Age: 34
Shoots: Left
Previous cap hit: $5.125 million
2025-26 stats: 71 GP, 13 G, 18 A, 31 PTS

48. Noel Acciari, C/RW, Pittsburgh Penguins
Age: 34
Shoots: Right
Previous cap hit: $2 million
2025-26 stats: 67 GP, 13 G, 12 A, 25 PTS

49. Ian Cole, D, Utah Mammoth
Age: 37
Shoots: Left
Previous cap hit: $2.8 million
2025-26 stats: 82 GP, 3 G, 20 A, 23 PTS

50. Vitek Vanecek, G, Utah Mammoth
Age: 30
Catches: Left
Previous cap hit: $1.5 million
2025-26 stats: 5-13-3, 2.93 GAA, .883 SP

19. Brett Kulak, D, Colorado Avalanche: 5 years, $4.5-million cap hit
Age: 32
Previous cap hit: $2.75 million
2025-26 stats: 83 GP, 1 G, 11 A, 12 PTS

43. Beck Malenstyn, LW, Buffalo Sabres: 6 years, $2.9167-million cap hit
Age: 28
Shoots: Left
Previous cap hit: $1.35 million
2025-26 stats: 81 GP, 7 G, 7 A, 14 PTS    

45. Tony DeAngelo, D, New York Islanders: 2 years, $4.5-million cap hit
Age: 30
Previous cap hit: $1.75 million
2025-26 stats: 76 GP, 5 G, 30 A, 35 PTS

48. Brent Burns, D, Colorado Avalanche: 1 year, $850,000 cap hit
Age: 41
Previous cap hit: $1 million
2025-26 stats: 82 GP, 12 G, 23 A, 35 PTS

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