Who is the most intriguing free agent remaining?

As we get closer to July 1st, it’s become pretty clear that we won’t be telling our grandkids about the NHL’s free-agent frenzy of 2026. Pending free agents like defenseman Darren Raddysh and winger Alex Tuch, who were already underwhelming names as headliners of a UFA class, have been taken off the market thanks to preemptive sign-and-trades.

So, what exactly will we be left with when July 1st rolls around? Vegas Golden Knights defenseman Rasmus Andersson currently tops Daily Faceoff’s board of the best available UFAs, and there are still some familiar names that could help a contending team next season.

On Thursday’s episode of Daily Faceoff LIVE, hosts Tyler Yaremchuk and Carter Hutton were joined by Matt Larkin to discuss which remaining free agent will be the most interesting come July 1st.

Carter Hutton: Who’s a name that jumps off the board that just intrigues you, now that we’ve seen guys fly off the list here?

Matt Larkin: I think Patrick Kane is somebody I have my eye on. Last year, I spoke to him about this. I said “You have this faith in Detroit, but you only have so many years left with all due respect.” This team at the time had missed the playoffs nine years in a row, but he was committed. He felt confident in Todd McClellan and what he brought. He felt like they had a chance to move forward. They were knocking on the door of the playoffs, and it doesn’t happen. Now it’s looking really hopeless with Dylan Larkin’s trade request. Everybody else in the Atlantic is loading up. Even the Leafs, who are supposed to be the bottom dweller, are about to get Gavin McKenna in tomorrow.

So if you’re Patrick Kane, do you really want to go back to Detroit when you’re running out of years? Don’t you want to be part of a playoff run? He had 57 points last year, he was close to a point per game. He still helps a power play. To me, a team that just lost it’s first-line right winger, a team that needs help on the power play, is Buffalo, his home town. That is a market I have my eye on as a possible Patrick Kane suitor. I’m just curious if he’s going to get uncomfortable, go somewhere else, and try to actually make a push on a team that has some kind of direction, all due respect to Detroit.

You can catch the full discussion and the rest of Thursday’s episode here…