2026 NHL Free Agency — Top 10 Wingers

The 2026 NHL free-agent class is one of the weakest I can recall in recent memory. There are no game-breaking talents available, but if there’s a position group that has a bit of juice, it’s on the wing. Let’s look at the top 10 wingers in this year’s free agent class.

10. Oliver Bjorkstrand

Oliver Bjorkstrand did not fit in as well with the Tampa Bay Lightning as I thought he would when they acquired him at the 2025 trade deadline. He struggled this season, finishing with just 12 goals and 32 points in 80 games, but a change of scenery via free agency may benefit him.

Bjorkstrand’s microstats profile still looks solid. He efficiently breaks out of the defensive zone with possession and can gain the offensive zone with possession. His shot metrics still look decent, and he did only shoot 9.2 percent this season. That is below his career average of 11.6 percent and the lowest shooting percentage he’s had since he shot 6.7 percent during the 2017-18 season.

Evolving Hockey projects Bjorkstrand to sign a three-year contract at a cap hit of $4.873 million. There’s some risk in that, given the season he just had, but he has bounce-back potential. He could make for a good middle-six addition for some team.

9. Bobby McMann

Bobby McMann had a breakout season between the Toronto Maple Leafs and Seattle Kraken, totaling 29 goals and 46 points. He’s a plus finisher and plays a physical game. He’s not afraid to get to high-danger areas, which is how he scores many of his goals, and he’s an excellent skater. He ranked in the 94th percentile in speed bursts of 18-20 mph and 98th percentile in bursts between 20-22 mph.

McMann seems more like a 20-goal scorer rather than a 30-goal scorer moving forward. Still, he could be a good middle-six addition for a team that needs a bit more skill and edge. Evolving Hockey projects him to land a three-year contract at a cap hit of $4.48 million.

8. Anders Lee

By all accounts, it appears Anders Lee will test free agency once the market opens on July 1. He had a solid 2025-26 season, totaling 19 goals and 42 points in 82 games. That was a drop from the 25 goals and 54 points he recorded last season, but it’s not necessarily a sign of age-related decline.

The 35-year-old winger still has plenty of gas left in the tank. Lee is an excellent shot creator in the offensive zone, and his shot volume hasn’t dropped off much. The dip in scoring is likely due to shooting just 9.5 percent, below his career average of 13.3 percent.

Term will be key for whoever signs Lee this offseason since he’s 35. Evolving Hockey projects him to sign a one-year contract at a cap hit of $2.936 million. That seems a bit low to me, but he’s probably still worth a gamble on a two- to three-year deal. His five-on-five impacts are still excellent, and he has value as a middle-six winger.

7. Vladimir Tarasenko

Vladimir Tarasenko has declined in recent seasons, but he’s still a competent middle-six winger. He finished with 23 goals and 47 points in 75 games this season and could be a low-risk buy for a team looking to add a supporting piece to their top six/middle six.

Tarasenko won’t push play the other way anymore, so he’ll need to be on a line with play-drivers. Still, he’s got a plus shot and converts on his chances. Both AFP Analytics and Evolving Hockey have Tarasenko projected for a one-year contract with a cap hit of around $2.5 to $3.5 million. He could be one of the better value targets in free agency.

6. Mason Marchment

Power forwards are always in demand during the offseason, so Mason Marchment will likely have his fair share of suitors, especially given the scarce options available. He struggled out of the gate with the Kraken this season, but found his game with the Columbus Blue Jackets after the Kraken traded him there in December.

Marchment finished with 19 goals and 45 points in 68 games, but his production skyrocketed with the Blue Jackets. He totaled 15 goals and 32 points in 39 games in Columbus, a 31-goal, 67-point pace per 82 games. Granted, he shot just over 20 percent with the Blue Jackets, but fit matters in some cases.

Despite being one of the weaker skaters in the NHL, Marchment is solid in transition. He gets in on the forecheck and has decent two-way impacts at even strength. Evolving Hockey projects him to sign a four-year contract at a cap hit of $6.439 million. That’s a bit pricey, given some of the inconsistencies in his production, but he will be in demand.

5. Patrick Kane

It’ll be interesting to see what the future holds for Patrick Kane. He’s played for the Detroit Red Wings over the last couple of seasons, but Dylan Larkin’s trade request may have an impact on what he wants to do as a free agent.

Kane had a productive season with the Red Wings, totaling 16 goals and 57 points in 67 games. He’s still an elite playmaker and can create offense off the rush. In the right situation, he can still complement a top six quite well. Evolving Hockey projects him to sign a one-year contract worth $2.855 million. It’ll be interesting to see if he chooses another contender, given the Red Wings’ situation.

4. Mats Zuccarello

Mats Zuccarello may be getting up there in age. He’s struggled with injuries, too, but he’s still a highly productive player when available. He finished this season with 15 goals and 54 points in 59 games, a 21-goal, 75-point pace over 82 games.

Even as he ages, Zuccarello is still a high-end playmaker. He’s not the force he used to be at five-on-five, but he’s not a liability at that game state, either. He also remains a weapon on the power play. He’d be a good supporting piece for a contender that already has the roster in place to make a playoff push.

Evolving Hockey has Zuccarello projected for a one-year deal at a cap hit of $4.349 million. He may be 38 years old, but he could be a great value signing for a team in free agency. That’s why he’s in the top five of this ranking, even though he’s one of the oldest UFAs in this year’s class.

3. Viktor Arvidsson

Viktor Arvidsson had struggled with injuries the previous two seasons between the Los Angeles Kings and Edmonton Oilers. But he looked like the Arvidsson of old with the Boston Bruins in 2025-26, as he totaled 25 goals and 54 points in 69 games, a 64-point pace over 82 games.

Arvidsson was one of the best shot and chance creators in the NHL this season. He created plenty of offense off the rush and was highly efficient in transition. He averaged 3.07 points per 60 minutes at five-on-five, making him the Bruins’ most efficient five-on-five scorer. In fact, the only forwards who had better five-on-five scoring rates in the NHL were Nathan MacKinnon and Nikita Kucherov.

Given how weak the free agent class is, Arvidsson certainly picked the right time to bounce back. There’s always a chance a team overpays for him in free agency, but I’m not sure that’ll be the case. Evolving Hockey projects a three-year deal at a cap hit of $4.581 million for Arvidsson. Any contender should be in on him for that price. He’d provide an immediate upgrade for their top six.

2. Anthony Mantha

If there’s a UFA who improved his stock the most this season, it was Anthony Mantha. He finished with 33 goals and 64 points in 81 games and was a significant reason the Pittsburgh Penguins qualified for the playoffs. There are some red flags, though.

Mantha shot 21.7 percent, well above his career average of 13.8 percent. His even-strength impacts were a mixed bag as well. His RAPM chart shows a player who had a negative impact at even strength, but got by with some incredible finishing luck:

Mantha is a prime regression candidate for next season, but that doesn’t mean he will turn into a pumpkin. He’s previously shown he can be a 20-goal, 40-50-point player. Evolving Hockey projects a three-year deal with a cap hit of $5.321 million for Mantha. There’s certainly some risk with him because it doesn’t look like his 2025-26 season is repeatable, but he will be in high demand because he’s coming off a 30-goal campaign.

1. Alex Tuch

There’s no surprise here, but Alex Tuch is the No. 1 winger available in this free agent class. He’s arguably the No. 1 overall UFA, too. He’s coming off another solid season with the Buffalo Sabres, having totaled 33 goals and 66 points in 79 games.

Tuch is a high-end finisher who creates plenty of offense off the rush. At 6-foot-4, 220 pounds, he’d add size to a team’s top six, but he’s also a solid skater for someone his size. While his shot is his strength, he’s a decent playmaker as well, and he has a proven track record of 30-goal, 60-point seasons.

It’ll be interesting to see where Tuch ends up this offseason. The Kraken make plenty of sense since they need a high-end scorer in their lineup, but he won’t be cheap. There are decent odds that Tuch ends up with a cap hit around $10 million or just north of there. Which teams will be willing to pay up?

Wingers are the clear strength of this class. Even outside the top 10, there are players like Eeli Tolvanen, Michael Bunting, and Claude Giroux who can help improve a team’s top six/middle-six. Expect most of the action in free agency to come in the winger market.

Advanced stats from Hockey Stats, NHL EDGE, Natural Stat Trick