Player Name C L R CK FG DI SK ST EN DU PH FO PA SC DF PS EX LD
Mark Scheifele (C) 63 52 84 85 78 87 99 86 84 92 90 68 61 85 88
OH boy... the crown jewel of the 2026 BRHL Unrestricted Free Agency Party... There will be plenty of interest in Scheif next week... and that's in ADDITION to the interest from the Minnesota Wild and San Jose Sharks franchises. A true #1 line centre and 1st powerplay cog, he may become our league's highest-paid player ever as teams foolishly throw money around, with the salary cap beginning its ascent.
Prediction - Signs in Minnesota for a base salary of $16,551,000 x 5 after Sumit agrees to back off of him in exchange for Toby backing off of Sumit's 14 other targets.
Player Name C L R CK FG DI SK ST EN DU PH FO PA SC DF PS EX LD
Brad Marchand (W) 69 42 79 79 64 76 71 93 29 83 95 75 55 90 99
Well, well, well, if it isn't the ageless wonder himself. Is that a 95 SC I see?? If winning the cup is what it's all about, and you have a number 1 centre already locked up, Marchand should be your target. That 99 leadership, in your face style, cockiness, drive, and determination are invaluable come the postseason. Looks as if he can play both wings also. He's 38 according to our site, so the only question is, what term does he get?
Prediction - Signs in San Jose for a base salary of $12,000,000 x 4 after a long battle with Buffalo for his services. Jared puts up a good fight in his quest for a winger, but ultimately can't compete with Sumit's cashroll.
Player Name C L R CK FG DI SK ST EN DU PH FO PA SC DF PS EX LD
Brock Nelson (C) 65 43 86 80 78 81 99 90 90 79 88 81 52 86 91
Nelson is someone who should garner plenty of attention. The list of suitors will be long. The SC/DF rating combo... which I'm convinced is the only thing GMs look at... is impressive. So is his DU... and with injuries... that might come in handy. He should continue to produce well in Colorado, and has at least a few years left in the tank.
Prediction - Signs in Ottawa for a base salary of $14,750,000 x 5 after receiving bids from more different BRHL GMs than any other UFA this summer.
Player Name C L R CK FG DI SK ST EN DU PH FO PA SC DF PS EX LD
J.T. Miller (C) 83 55 85 84 76 84 88 87 98 84 76 80 66 84 89
A personal favourite of mine. I have tried to acquire Miller a couple of times over the past few years, but with little success. His ratings are consistently all-round elite, even if he has what you would call a slightly "down" season in real life. Usually eligible at multiple positions, his C-only eligibility might lessen the number of inquiries, but his FOs are superb and should have those GMs needing a C in a frenzy.
Prediction - Signs in Nashville for a base salary of $13,500,000 x 4 because Sheds and I always target the same UFAs.
Player Name C L R CK FG DI SK ST EN DU PH FO PA SC DF PS EX LD
Chris Kreider (LW) 73 44 86 84 85 75 92 91 37 78 80 71 41 85 92
One of the more underrated players out there, Kreider is always at least somewhat of a sim darling. I'm not sure how many years he's got left in the tank, and he's probably a tier or two below the players above, so I do see teams being more conservative with the coin they toss his way.
Prediction - Signs in Anaheim for a base salary of $10,500,000 x 4 as Dev brings Kreider to the Ducks for his farewell tour.
Player Name C L R CK FG DI SK ST EN DU PH FO PA SC DF PS EX LD
Evgeni Malkin (C,R) 63 54 70 72 81 76 73 86 57 91 85 65 65 93 99
Can I interest you in one of the greatest players of our generation? This, no doubt, will be a nostalgic signing for whoever lands him. Mind you, the guy can still put up points. He's never been the greatest skater and spends plenty of time in the box, but his production and leadership will not be overlooked. He is right-wing eligible, thank God, because that FO number is horrendous.
Prediction - Signs in Washington for a base salary of $11,000,000 x 3, as Larry brings a fellow senior citizen into the fold.
Player Name C L R CK FG DI SK ST EN DU PH FO PA SC DF PS EX LD
Ryan Nugent-Hopkins (C,L) 61 51 90 82 71 80 89 93 62 83 79 76 63 87 92
Fresh off a BRHL Championship run, Nuge is looking to get paid. He's got better 2nd line rates than 1st line rates, but he's clearly still a top 6 contributor. At 33 years young, he should command either 4 or 5 years on the open market and should garner plenty of interest with his solid defensive rates and multi-position eligibility. Maybe an emotional signing from an Oilers fan?
Prediction - Signs in Dallas for a base salary of $10,000,000 x 5, as Junya makes a major splash in his return to BRHL relativity.
Player Name C L R CK FG DI SK ST EN DU PH FO PA SC DF PS EX LD
Alexander Wennberg (C) 63 42 92 85 72 84 98 91 84 81 74 85 51 82 85
Not the sexiest of the UFA names out there, Wennberg might get looked over by some, but the numbers don't lie. That DF comes in at a fantastic number, and his discipline, skating, and puck handling are also top tier... if you can even figure out what all those numbers do and help with. Being 31 also helps, as he's a little younger than some of the other top UFAs.
Prediction - Signs in Tampa for a base salary of $10,375,000 x 5 to replace Brock Nelson, despite Brayden and Sumit trying to drive his price up and out of Eric's comfort zone.
Player Name C L R CK FG DI SK ST EN DU PH FO PA SC DF PS EX LD
Viktor Arvidsson (R) 61 41 89 82 65 68 86 77 44 80 86 66 75 77 82
Arvidsson had a great little resurgence last NHL season, setting himself up nicely for BRHL free agency. Some of the Bruins fans in our league will probably take a stab at him, I imagine, but money is tight for some of those teams. And despite probably being a 2nd liner, there are teams desperate for help at wing on their top line, so he will still get paid handsomely.
Prediction - Signs in Buffalo for a base salary of $8,300,000 x 3 as Jared fills his glaring need of a top 6 winger.
Player Name C L R CK FG DI SK ST EN DU PH FO PA SC DF PS EX LD
Jordan Eberle (R) 69 42 89 73 66 78 97 83 37 78 84 68 60 90 94
Wow... 36 years old already for Eberle. Feels like yesterday that he, Hall and Nuge were the kids on the block in Edmonton. I don't love his peripheral numbers, to be honest... or his age... but people like offense, and he can still score. Sober Ty owns his hometown rights, and I think is desperate to really compete this year, so, buyer beware.
Prediction - Signs in Florida for a base salary of $8,600,000 x 3 as Tyler spends to the max to compete and "become relevant".
Player Name C L R CK FG DI SK ST EN DU PH FO PA SC DF PS EX LD
Boone Jenner (C,L) 87 66 81 77 76 73 84 68 74 78 71 79 45 80 82
Another one of my personal favourites, Jenner has always been a very versatile player, and should get paid accordingly. His FOs are a little down, yet are still serviceable, but he has appeal in so many other categories. He is at that age where a 5 year deal is probably bad, but not as bad as giving it to someone a couple years older. So, his total contract will be expensive either way.
Prediction - Signs in San Jose for a base salary of $8,251,000 x 5 as Sumit uses a massive wad of cash to secure his services.
Player Name C L R CK FG DI SK ST EN DU PH FO PA SC DF PS EX LD
Christian Dvorak (C) 65 52 89 78 71 78 97 74 96 80 74 81 67 75 76
The former London Knight is finally young no more (though younger than many on this list). I can't believe that a teammate of Marner's in junior is now into his 30s. His rates this season will make him one of the most versatile centremen available, so make no mistake, despite his name not being a household one, he won't come cheap.
Prediction - Signs in Seattle for a base salary of $8,888,000 x 5 as Rex lands a solid number 2 centre-ice man.
Player Name C L R CK FG DI SK ST EN DU PH FO PA SC DF PS EX LD
Ryan Hartman (C) 71 57 82 78 72 74 93 77 83 71 81 71 25 78 81
Hartman was fantastic down the stretch for Minny as there was plenty of room for someone down the middle to step up and grab a ton of ice time. He did not disappoint. I'm not sure if that will continue to be the case, but if it does, look for him to build upon last season. Nothing else too exciting to say about him.
Prediction - Signs in New York with the Rangers for a base salary of $7,000,000 x 5 as PJ makes an appearance trying to build a team he likes more than his current version.
Player Name C L R CK FG DI SK ST EN DU PH FO PA SC DF PS EX LD
Jamie Benn (W) 78 77 75 71 80 65 77 71 48 77 76 68 61 93 99
Definitely a player that has some of that nostalgic value (and leadership) attached to him. Benn also still has some of that coveted sim "gritiness" to him that should appeal to at least the odd GM. Realistically, anything more than a 2 year deal would be a bad one at this point, but expect someone to be forced to tack that extra season on just to land his services.
Prediction - Signs in Carolina for a base salary of $6,505,000 x 3 as Uncle Rich makes a dent in free agency from his limited wifi at the cottage/camp/cabin/tent/trailer/chalet.
Player Name C L R CK FG DI SK ST EN DU PH FO PA SC DF PS EX LD
Jack Roslovic (C,R) 69 43 92 84 72 72 86 70 66 67 81 65 25 74 77
Cue the Leafs homers with this one! He actually looked solid last year in Edmonton for the most part, so don't expect people to sleep on him here. Whatever he gets paid, though... on what will be a 5 year contract... will be a massive overpayment unless he spends 99% of the next 3 seasons playing in the Leafs top 6... which won't even come close to happening.
Prediction - Signs in Vegas for a base salary of $6,250,000 x 5 as Joe eventually fends off Doc, Garrett, the Cordells, myself, and any other Ontario-residing vultures.
Player Name C L R CK FG DI SK ST EN DU PH FO PA SC DF PS EX LD
Jonathan Huberdeau (L) 67 54 77 71 74 78 67 83 39 75 72 71 60 85 87
Oh man, once upon a time, this guy was the talk of sim leagues. I was not here when he would've been drafted, but I'm sure the BRHL recipient was thrilled to land him, just as I witnessed in another league. He's had some great moments in his career, but the candle's barely flickering these days. Those rates are currently 3rd line at best, but I'm guessing he'll be paid slightly higher than that... because this is BRHL free agency after all.
Prediction - Signs in Colorado for a base salary of $6,000,001 x 4 as Pat takes out a front-page ad in the BRHL Daily Tribune to announce his arrival.
Player Name C L R CK FG DI SK ST EN DU PH FO PA SC DF PS EX LD
Evander Kane (W) 81 59 65 79 80 73 88 74 39 70 71 67 36 86 91
Well, I'm not sure I'd call signing Kane a "gamble", but it would definitely be more of a gamble than targeting some of the other notable UFAs. He's 34, so even if he rebounds in real life, it might only be a minor one (and short lived). Still, he's a unique player/human and should have some appeal to a few GMs, including, I'm sure, some of our Canucks fans.
Prediction - Signs in Vancouver for a base salary of $5,250,000 x 4 as Tyler rushes in to nab the hometown Canuck and to remind us he's still in the league.
Player Name C L R CK FG DI SK ST EN DU PH FO PA SC DF PS EX LD
Kasperi Kapanen (R) 83 45 89 95 71 68 60 64 25 67 72 74 25 73 76
Kapanen is one to really keep an eye on this free agency. He's a sneaky, solid shutdown/PK-capable type of player who can still motor around the ice. The offense really isn't there, but I think it is good enough to fill a role on most teams' bottom 6, and maybe 2nd PK unit.
Prediction - Signs in Toronto for a base salary of $4,667,000 x 4 as Garrett gets into the fun, but in true Hansford fashion, doesn't break the bank to do so.