Unsigned UFAs still waiting for their opportunity to return

We’re just over a week into the NHL’s 2026-27 regular season, and while teams get settled in, some players are sitting at home.

Veteran skaters like Patrik Laine, David Perron and James van Riemsdyk remain unsigned, despite the league’s salary cap projected to rise in the next few years and younger players signing record-breaking deals.

Forward Michael Bunting signed a one-year deal with the Philadelphia Flyers on Tuesday, a team that’s 0-2-2 to start the season. Will more teams that stumble out of the gates look at the remaining UFAs and see who could help?

Read more: Six notable NHL UFAs as 2026-27 season begins

On Wednesday’s episode of Daily Faceoff LIVE, Tyler Yaremchuk and former NHL goaltender Carter Hutton are joined by The Fourth Period’s David Pagnotta to discuss the current crop of unrestricted free agents and where they could sign.

Tyler Yaremchuk: Any other updates on the other unrestricted free agents who are still sitting at home?

David Pagnotta: They’re still waiting. While Bunting gets his opportunity with Philly, other guys are in the same boat, waiting for their opportunity.

Patrik Laine had teams express interest in him going back to July, and it’s the same suspects that are being reported now. The Calgary Flames, Minnesota Wild, Los Angeles Kings, the Tampa Bay Lightning were at the time but I’m not sure if they are now.

But there are some teams that are looking to take a chance on someone who could do damage if he gets everything going — at a low cap hit — Laine is the perfect suspect for that. He’s the perfect prime target. But because of the injuries he’s had over the last two years, a team could sign him to a one-year, $1-million contract, then throw in another $5 or $6 million in bonuses, depending on what he does throughout the year.

You can watch the full segment and the rest of the episode here…