Here's how the teams stack up with less than a week to go in 2025-26 -- plus a look ahead to the offseason signing period.
The 2025-26 NHL regular season concludes next Thursday. Sixteen teams will head to the Stanley Cup playoffs, while the other 16 will go back the drawing board to get better for 2026-27. Part of that process is deciding which free agents to re-sign -- whether they are restricted or unrestricted -- and then which ones from other teams to sign starting July 1.
As part of this week's Power Rankings -- the final edition of the 2025-26 regular season -- we've identified the most captivating UFA or RFA for each team this offseason.A panel of ESPN hockey commentators, analysts, reporters and editors sends in a 1-32 poll based on the games through Wednesday..Burns is 41, but selfishly I hope he plays another season so that he can break the NHL's ironman streak . But it won't be long before he considers hanging up hisseems to be slotting in as the long-term goalie of the future for the Hurricanes. What does that mean for Andersen, who becomes a UFA this summer?, for example. But the biggest one is goal-scoring ace Robertson, who will be an RFA at the end of the season..Tuch is a "heart and soul" guy in Buffalo -- he grew up in the area, loved the team and is now part of its first playoff appearance in 15 years. You'd love to see a guy like him win a Stanley Cup with the Sabres, but he does not have a contract beyond this season.Darren Raddysh .Raddysh has been tremendous for the Lightning, scoring 21 goals as a defenseman. His contract will be an interesting one to watch this summer.Mats Zuccarello .The Wild have among the longest lists to worry about this offseason, chief among them Zuccarello. The Wild are on the precipice of a "charging toward the Cup" era -- does the 38-year-old veteran factor into that?.What does the future hold for Laine? After another season marred by injuries, one has to wonder if his future in the NHL will be with the Canadiens, who are headed to the playoffs again.Evgeni MalkinNext seven days:.Arvidsson has produced the best goals-per-game average in his career, with 24 goals in 67 games. The Bruins are in a wild-card spot, and Arvidsson is a big reason. Will Boston let him reach the market?Claude Giroux .What's next for Giroux, who turned 38 on Jan. 12? He has 13 goals and 45 points this season with his hometown Senators.Trevor Zegras .Zegras is a key part of the Flyers turnaround this season and a reason they are right in the mix for a playoff spot. Z will be an RFA at the end of the campaign.Vitek Vanecek . The Mammoth are pretty well set up to continue improving. Backup goalie Vanecek will be a UFA this summer, as willwill be UFAs. The RFAs are where GM Don Waddell might start because they are young members of the future Columbus core.Pavel Dorofeyev . Dorofeyev will be an RFA this summer after having scored 35 goals and 61 points this season with the Knights. The prodigal Golden Misfit, 35-year-oldRadko Gudas.The captain is up at the end of the season. He put up 19 goals and 42 points this season, and the team was competitive for much of the campaign despite falling out of a playoff spot before the Patrick Roy-Peter DeBoer coaching change..Will Kane play another season? Will it be with the Red Wings? And who wouldn't want to see "Showtime" get one last crack at a Cup? The Wings squandered that chance again this season with a fifth straight dismal month of March.Alex Ovechkin . An easy choice. Ovechkin announced he won't publicly make any decisions before the summer, and so we all wait the next move for the Great 8. I personally hope he comes back and breaks Wayne Gretzky's combined goals record for regular season and playoffs; Ovi is at 1,005, only 11 away from Gretzky's 1,016.. The Preds hung onto Haula for the playoff push, and he has 13 goals and 37 points as they battle it out in the closing days.Don't sleep onScott Laughton .Laughton has found his footing fast with L.A. after being traded from Toronto at the deadline and is contributing: He has five goals in 16 games with the Kings, who are battling for the wild card. Also, defensemanwill be an RFA at the end of the season and drew some interest when his name hit the trade rumor mill earlier this year.. The answer is obviously Sharks legend Carey Price . Other than Price, Reaves is a UFA at season's end, andNext seven days:. We mentioned Kane above, so we give the nod to his former Blackhawks running mate here, too.Will Toews play another season? Will the Jets missing the playoffs impact that decision? GoalieNext seven days:.Dadonov is up at the end of the season, and a new GM will be in town to make all the calls. In his one season with the Devils, Dadonov had just one goal in 23 games, along with a minus-4 rating.Dylan Holloway .Holloway has earned a lot of fans in St. Louis -- he's approaching a second 20-goal season with the Blues -- and he'll be an RFA this summer.Sergei Bobrovsky .Another main-event-caliber name to watch for the offseason. Bob will turn 38 in September. Is this the end of his legendary tenure in Florida -- or will they run it back for another title shot?. Making a decision on the newly acquired McMann will be among the first tasks for the Kraken's Ron Francis-less front office this summer. McMann joined Seattle from Toronto at the trade deadline.Auston Matthews has a year before talks can officially begin between player and club on a new deal, but this offseason Robertson andis set to be a UFA. Robertson has been a hot topic in Leafs nation -- he tied his career high of 15 goals from last season but seems perpetually in the trade rumor mill.Jonathan Quick. Olofsson has 13 goals on the season and will turn 31 this summer. Will he remain a part of a Flames team that is turning to younger players?Connor Bedard . The 2023 No. 1 pick is poised to hit RFA status and due for a considerable raise from the $950,000 he earned this season.. Acquired last summer from the Oilers, the veteran is a UFA this summer.Will he want to head to a Cup-contending team or will he be a part of Vancouver's future plans?Oakland's free Sunday afternoon meter parking ends this weekend
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