2026 NHL Free Agency: Top European UFAs to watch

Mar 16, 2026, 11:00 EDTUpdated: Mar 13, 2026, 14:16 EDT

2026 NHL Free Agency: Top European UFAs to watch

Credit: Vymotov Anton

NCAA free agents started inking deals earlier this month, with a few notable names already off the board.

Later this spring, we’ll see teams target European free agents.

We’re at the time of year when European pro scouts start to shine. A few notable names move over from the KHL, SHL, or Liiga each year – Artemi Panarin is the gold standard. But most often, we’re talking about late-blooming depth players who come in with something to prove on cheap cap hits.

KHL players under contract can’t leave until their deals end (May 31 each season, to be exact). For most other European leagues, though, there’s an NHL out clause that allows them to leave early to pursue NHL deals. That makes things a bit trickier to figure out who could make the move to North America – but scouts are always paying attention.

There’s always at least one player who signs a deal after the men’s IIHF World Championship every spring. We could see a few of these players below become the next ones to realize their NHL dreams. Let’s look at seven European players worth keeping an eye on this spring:

Rickard Hugg, C, 27 (Skellefteå AIK, SHL)

As one scout put it, “Hugg deserves a look – but if it was going to happen, wouldn’t it have happened already?” Hugg’s’ SHL deal with Skellefteå AIK lasts until 2027, but the time might be perfect for him to leave. The former Kitchener Rangers forward cracked the 55-point mark for the first time in his career, finishing second in scoring behind teammate and former NHLer Oscar Lindberg. At 27, Hugg is at the age where you know exactly what you’re getting from him – a good passer with a powerful release. Some scouts liked him back in junior, but at 5-foot-10, his frame was working against him. If he’s not signed this year, that might be it for his NHL dream.

Vasili Machulin, LHD, 23 (HK Sochi, KHL)

At 6-foot-4 with an unrelenting mean streak, Machulin should attract some NHL attention. The Sochi defender plays 22+ minutes a night while shutting down opponents with both an active stick and his big body. Machulin has a big, powerful shot, and while he doesn’t score often, he does a good job of at least getting toward the net with some oomph behind it. His puck game overall needs work – that’s one of the things that could prevent him from sniffing the NHL. But for a big guy, he’s mobile and defensively responsible. Teams could definitely look to use him as a No. 6/7.

Nick Malik, G, 23 (HC Plzeň, Czechia)

Malik was a draft pick of the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2022 after rising to prominence earlier, notably through his strong early national team play with Czechia. But after a couple of wonky World Junior outings and middling success in Finland, Malik was ultimately left unsigned by the Bolts and became a free agent. But teams have circled back to the 6-foot-2 goaltender. He has been downright dominant for Plzeň in the top Czech league, besting his strong numbers from a year ago. Malik has a Czech league deal until 2028, but he’s young enough that a team could look to bring him over to the AHL next year, or at least keep him in their long-term plans (he’ll be 25 when his deal ends).

Vitaly Pinchuk, C, 24 (Dinamo Minsk, KHL)

This is the guy everyone’s chasing. Pinchuk’s name surfaced as a potential UFA signing early in the season, with several teams reportedly interested in the 6-foot-3 center. Pinchuk previously earned some NHL Draft attention in 2020 and 2021, but the COVID-19 pandemic likely didn’t help his stock. He didn’t play a ton early in his KHL career. But with 64 points in 62 games this season, Pinchuk has been absolutely lights out in his fourth full campaign. He plays with pace and confidence and can absolutely dominate down the middle while still offering off-puck support. It’ll be a surprise if Pinchuk isn’t in the NHL next season – he’s legit, and he’s younger than many other recent KHL free agents we’ve seen make the move over.

Patrik Puistola, LW, 25 (Örebro, SHL)

Puistola was a third-round pick by the Carolina Hurricanes in 2019 and, at one point, was one of the most promising young Finnish forwards. But he was always pegged as a goal-scorer and nothing else. That’s a really good trait to have, but when you can’t do that at the next level, concerns start to get raised. Puistola struggled early in his Finnish pro career but became a legit threat in 2022-23. He moved to the Swedish league in 2024 and has been a consistent producer since. Puistola is a better skater than he was in his draft year (albeit the bar was low), and his raw skill and hockey sense definitely rank with the best among European players I’ve watched this year. Could a strong World Championship performance lead to an NHL deal?

Théo Rochette, C, 24 (Lausanne HC, NL)

Rochette has a deal until 2031, but NHL teams have kept a close eye on him. There was some decent draft interest in him a few years back, but scouts were worried he wasn’t big enough for the next level. At 5-foot-11, there’s still concern there. But his production, both in junior and in the top Swiss league, has been tremendous. Rochette has averaged just under a point per game this season and could finish as high as second in scoring in goals. Like Lassila, Rochette is still young enough and skates quickly enough to at least attempt snagging an NHL contract. Whether he’ll get one is a totally different question, but I really think a team should have taken a chance on him by now. Fun fact: Rochette represented both Canada and Switzerland during the 2018-19 season.

Alexander Smolin, G, 22 (Metallurg Magnitogorsk, KHL)

Smolin’s name started to appear in NHL rumors last year while he was a backup with Magnitogorsk. He still played fewer games than Colorado Avalanche prospect Ilya Nabokov, but Smolin’s numbers were far better this season. He had a 44-save shutout a couple of starts ago, which many scouts kept a close eye on. He’s 6-foot-2, quite mobile and never gives up on the play. He’s a good skater, often moving quickly without wasting many movements. Smolin has quick, active hands, and his legs are some of the quickest of any goalie in the KHL. At 22, he’s young enough that he could come over, play a year or two in the AHL, and see where his head’s at from there.

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