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Time's running out for these unsigned NHL players to find new teams

Colton Pankiw
Colton Pankiw
|
Sep 2 2026, 8:49 pm
Time's running out for these unsigned NHL players to find new teams
Bob Frid/Imagn Images

September has officially arrived, which means we are less than a month away from the 2026-27 NHL season kicking off.

This is always an exciting time for players, as they get completely fresh slates and are optimistic for a big season in store. At least, that’s the case for those with a contract in place.

Given that we are less than a month out, things are starting to get quite stressful for several NHLers who have yet to find new homes in free agency. They are going to need to sign contracts in a hurry if they hope to be with a team to kick off the 2026-27 season, or even perhaps consider settling for a professional tryout offer (PTO).

Here’s a look at some notable players who are still available for all 32 teams across the league…

Forwards

  • Vladimr Tarasenko
  • Michael Bunting
  • James Van Riemsdyk
  • Evander Kane
  • David Perron
  • Reilly Smith
  • Jonathan Drouin
  • Philipp Kurashev
  • Tanner Pearson
  • Adam Henrique
  • Gustav Nyquist
  • Brandon Saad
  • Luke Glendening
  • Curtis Lazar
  • Ryan Reaves
  • Patrik Laine

There are some truly eye-catching names on that list, perhaps none more so than Vladimir Tarasenko. The 34-year-old managed 23 goals and 47 points in 2025-26, which suggests he should be able to ink a new deal, though clearly things have been quieter than he and his party expected.

Other names on this list are generally older players who appear to be on the decline, though that isn’t the case for everyone. Take Patrik Laine, for example, who, despite being just 28 years old, has struggled so much with injuries in recent seasons that his time in the NHL may be finished.

Defencemen

  • John Klingberg
  • Logan Stanley
  • Ben Hutton
  • Carson Soucy
  • Matt Grzelcyk
  • Jeff Petry
  • Mike Reilly
  • Nick Leddy
  • Adam Boqvist
  • Travis Hamonic
  • Derek Forbort
  • Jake Bean
  • Matt Dumba
  • Pierre-Olivier Joseph

While there may not be as many standout names on the blue line as there are for forwards, seeing a guy like Logan Stanley remain on the market has surprised many. The same could even be said for the likes of John Klingberg and Carson Soucy.

Much like the forward crop, plenty of the defencemen listed above are aging players. They may need to wind up deciding if they’d like one last kick at the can on a PTO, or simply just call it a career.

Goalies

  • Connor Ingram
  • Cam Talbot
  • James Reimer
  • Petr Mrazek
  • Matt Murray

The goalie list for remaining free agents is predictably much shorter. That said, there are still some intriguing names for teams looking to add a goaltender to their roster.

The best of the bunch is likely Connor Ingram, who wound up serving as the Edmonton Oilers’ number-one goalie down the stretch of the 2025-26 season and into the playoffs. Cam Talbot also suited up for 34 games, while the other three were used sparingly.

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