2026 NHL Free Agency — Top 10 Centers

If your favorite NHL team needs center depth and has plans to use free agency to acquire one, they may want to think again. This is one of the worst free-agent classes in recent memory, and the center market is a perfect example of why. There are some decent bottom-six pivots available, but the market is as shallow as it can be. Here are the top 10 centers in this year’s UFA class.

Jonny Brodzinski

Not much went right for the New York Rangers this season, but Jonny Brodzinski played well as a fourth-line forward. He finished with six goals and 16 points in 55 games, a 24-point pace over 82 games. Even though he plays center, he’s versatile and can play any of the forward positions.

Brodzinski does everything you want to see from a fourth-liner. He can win draws, forechecks, and has decent two-way impacts. Obviously, he’s not much of a game-changer, but he can provide an upgrade to most teams’ fourth lines. Evolving Hockey projects him to sign a one-year deal worth $1.086 million. He should find another home as a depth player if the Rangers don’t re-sign him.

Lars Eller

Lars Eller may be getting up there in age, but he’s still one of the better bottom-six/fourth-line centers in the NHL. He finished this past season with five goals and 15 points in 68 games with the Ottawa Senators.

Eller’s offensive game has fallen off in recent years, but he still excels defensively. He can escape the defensive zone with puck possession despite his declining foot speed. He’s also still a decent forechecker and wins well over 50 percent of his faceoffs. Evolving Hockey projects a one-year contract worth $850,000 for Eller. Similar to Brodzinski, he can help a team looking for a veteran defensive forward for their fourth line.

Teddy Blueger

Teddy Blueger missed plenty of time this season due to injury, but it was one of his more productive years. He totaled nine goals and 17 points in 35 games, a 21-goal, 40-point pace over 82 games. Do I think he’s suddenly turned into a 20-goal, 40-point player moving forward? Probably not, but he’s always been a solid fourth-line center.

Blueger’s strength has always been his defensive game. He can take draws (even 50 percent for his career) and kill penalties, but he also has a bit of offensive punch. He’s averaged 10 goals and 31 points per 82 games over the last three seasons. Evolving Hockey projects a one-year deal worth $1.208 million for Blueger. He would help a team in need of a fourth-line center.

Kevin Stenlund

Kevin Stenlund has a Stanley Cup to his name, so that could help him in free agency, but he’s also a reliable fourth-line center. He totaled just four goals and 18 points in 80 games this season, but some poor shooting luck may be the cause of his goal-scoring slipping.

Stenlund shot just 6.1 percent this season, below his career average of 11 percent. In his previous two seasons, he totaled 11 and 14 goals, respectively. He’s also one of the better faceoff men in the NHL, with a career faceoff percentage of 54 percent. His offensive impacts are concerning, but as a fourth-liner with some defensive upside, he might be worth a gamble. Evolving Hockey projects a two-year deal at a cap hit of $1.756 million for Stenlund. That’s a reasonable price for what he offers.

Jason Dickinson

Jason Dickinson was one of the few bright spots for the Chicago Blackhawks over the last two seasons. He’s had trouble staying healthy, but his production has been decent for a fourth-liner; he’s averaged nine goals and 22 points per 82 games over the last two seasons.

Dickinson played well enough for the Edmonton Oilers to acquire him at this season’s trade deadline. He’s the type of veteran that GMs love to have at the bottom of their lineup, but he’s also better than most of those players. He’s one of the best defensive forwards in the NHL and would help shore up a team’s depth. Evolving Hockey projects a one-year deal worth $1.221 million for Dickinson. He’s certainly worth that price for what he offers as a defensive fourth-line center.

Nick Cousins

You’re probably noticing a theme here, but Nick Cousins is also among the fourth-liners who could help a team round out their depth. He finished this season with nine goals and 23 points for the Senators. He also has a Stanley Cup to his name from his time with the Panthers.

Cousins can chip in some offense here and there, but he’s a strong defensive forward who plays with a bit of an edge. Once again, he won’t move the needle for a team, but he’s effective at what he does. Evolving Hockey projects a three-year deal at a cap hit of $2.140 million for Cousins. That’s a touch pricey for what he offers, but that may just be the reality of the rising cap world for someone with his résumé.

Noel Acciari

The Pittsburgh Penguins had one of the best, if not the best, fourth lines in the NHL this season. Noel Acciari was a significant reason for that, as he totaled 13 goals and 25 points in 67 games, a 31-point pace over 82 games. It was his best season since totaling 20 goals and 27 points during the 2019-20 season.

I wouldn’t expect Acciari to repeat his 2025-26 season, but he is one of the top fourth-line centers in the NHL. He can win draws (above 52 percent in each of the last three seasons), plays sound defense, and has a bit of offensive upside. Evolving Hockey projects a two-year deal at a cap hit of $2 million for Acciari. He’s well worth that price as a fourth-line center.

Scott Laughton

Scott Laughton had a tough season between the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Los Angeles Kings. He finished with 13 goals and 20 points in 64 games between the two teams, but I would bet on him to bounce back next season, given his résumé.

Before this season, Laughton averaged 15 goals and 39 points per 82 games. He was never much of a play driver, but he’s always produced. He may have been a victim of circumstance this season, as the Maple Leafs had a tumultuous season, while the Kings did not exactly have the best offensive environment.

Evolving Hockey projects a one-year deal worth $1.522 million for Laughton. Of the centers we’ve reviewed so far, he easily has the most upside.

Erik Haula

Erik Haula has bounced around from team to team over the last few years, but he’s generally been productive. He rebounded this season with the Nashville Predators after struggling with the New Jersey Devils in 2024-25, totaling 14 goals and 38 points in 81 games.

Haula has never been a play driver, but his even-strength impacts have fallen off over the last couple of seasons. That could be a sign of age-related decline, but given what the center market is, he’ll likely have some suitors. He can play center, but has also played plenty of left wing during his NHL career.

Evolving Hockey has Haula projected for a one-year deal at a cap hit of $2.029 million. That’s a relatively low-risk gamble for someone who’s consistently shown he can produce 30-40 points a season.

Boone Jenner

With all due respect to Boone Jenner, who’s a perfectly capable third-line center, you know the center market is dire when he’s the top-ranked pivot in this UFA class. Jenner is coming off a solid season with the Columbus Blue Jackets, totaling 13 goals and 38 points in 67 games, a 47-point pace over 82 games.

Health has always been the question with Jenner, but he has a good track record. He’s averaged 23 goals and 50 points per 82 games over the last three seasons. After seeing Jordan Staal do what he did in the Stanley Cup Final, you know some GM will be willing to dish out the big bucks for Jenner.

Evolving Hockey has Jenner projected for a one-year deal worth $2.932 million, but it would not shock me at all if someone gives him a long-term deal at a pricey cap hit.

If you’re an NHL GM who needs a center, you’d better get something done via the trade market. There’s not much available in free agency, and if anything, turn off your phone on July 1. You’re more likely to do more harm than good.

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