Top 10 Pending UFAs After Schmaltz Extension

Tampa Bay Lightning defenceman Darren Raddysh

Yet another big name came off the free agent board this week, as the Utah Mammoth re-upped with pending UFA and top-line center Nick Schmaltz on an eight-year extension.

So after all of the extensions handed out, with everyone from Connor McDavid and Kirill Kaprizov to Jack Eichel, Martin Necas, Adrian Kempe, Kyle Connor, Artemi Panarin and now Schmaltz, a whole lot of glitter and excitement was taken out of the so-called Free Agent Frenzy coming this July 1.

So who the heck IS still available come July 1st? Let's take a look at the Top 10 UFAs this summer, as of March 14:

Alex Tuch, Buffalo Sabres
Darren Raddysh, Tampa Bay Lightning
Rasmus Andersson, Vegas Golden Knights
John Carlson, Anaheim Ducks
Sergei Bobrovsky, Florida Panthers
Alex Ovechkin, Washington Capitals
Evgeni Malkin, Pittsburgh Penguins
Jacob Trouba, Anaheim Ducks
Charlie Coyle, Columbus blue Jackets
Mason Marchment, Columbus Blue Jackets

To be honest, the order, after the first four or so, could go any way you like.

Keep in mind, however, if the Sabres make an exciting playoff run, it's hard to imagine that they won't be able to come to terms with the hometown boy Tuch.

It's also highly doubtful that any of Andersson, Ovechkin, Malkin or Marchment will actually make it to market, as they are highly expected to agree on extensions with their current teams (or, in Ovi's case, potentially retire). You could add Bobrovsky to that list of potential re-signees, too, perhaps, but it sounds like the two sides are not on the same page when it comes to the 37-year-old's next contract.

Carlson and Coyle are also expected to be very much wanted back with their respective teams and could easily be re-signed as well.

Darren Raddysh is the highest-scoring pending UFA... Really

But the craziest thing about this list is that the leading point getter among all of these pending UFAs is.... Raddysh. Yes, he's one point ahead of Tuch heading into Saturday's play.

Most points this NHL season by an impending unrestricted free agent: Darren Raddysh (58).
— luke fox (@lukefoxjukebox) March 11, 2026

The undrafted d-man didn't even play his first season in the NHL until he was 27. Bursting onto the scene with a big breakout season this year, the 30-year-old defenseman has set himself up for a huge payday. His largest single-season AAV up to now in his four-year NHL career is the $975,000 he's earned in each of the last two seasons. He has 17 goals and 58 points, and is obviously due for a big raise.

Raddysh should be able to command something in the $6 million AAV range, according to John Buccigross on Frankly Hockey. It's unlikely the Bolts can afford that with their cap situation. Raddysh, by the way, is a Toronto-born product. It just so happens that the Maple Leafs would be dying to get themselves a play-driving offensive defenseman and power play quarterback like that.

If several of the aforementioned names do sign extensions with their current teams before July 1, names like Bobby McMann, Anthony Mantha, Anders Lee and Patrik Kane would sneak their way up the ranks of other pending UFAs on the forward front, with Mario Ferraro on the blueline moving up.