This year’s free agent period is still going, but it’s never too early to look ahead to what’s coming after next season.

Of course, the biggest storyline is Connor McDavid. His eight-year, $100 million deal wraps up after the 2025-26 season. If, for some reason, he’s still unsigned by July 1, 2026, he won’t just be the biggest free agent of the year — he’ll be one of the biggest ever.

That said, it feels nearly impossible that the Oilers don’t get something done, even if it’s not a max-term contract.

One name that could hit the market is the player drafted right after McDavid in 2015: Jack Eichel. He’s coming off a career-best season with 28 goals and 94 points, plus 10 points in 11 playoff games. The Golden Knights are tight against the cap, as always, but they’ve shown they’re not afraid to make bold calls.

Eichel was traded to Vegas back in 2021, with Alex Tuch going to Buffalo in return. Tuch matched his career high with 36 goals and put up 67 points on a bad Sabres team. With a $4.75 million cap hit in 2025-26, he’s a trade candidate.

Kirill Kaprizov is another big name to watch. Part of the loaded 2015 draft, he took the long route to the NHL after five KHL seasons but has been a force ever since. He has 185 goals and 386 points in 319 games, plus another 21 points in 25 playoff games. He’ll be the top goal scorer available.

Right behind him is Kyle Connor, who had a career-high 97 points last season and scored 41 goals. Over nine seasons with the Jets, Connor has racked up 284 goals and 582 points in 613 games, plus 49 points in 58 playoff games.

And then there’s the greatest goal scorer of all time. Alexander Ovechkin broke Wayne Gretzky’s all-time record during the 2024-25 season with his 894th goal. He finished with 44 goals and 73 points in just 65 games, helping the Capitals finish first in the East. If he plays another year and doesn’t return to the KHL, it’s hard to imagine him playing anywhere other than Washington.

Another Russian to keep an eye on is Artemi Panarin. Oilers GM Stan Bowman knows him well from their time in Chicago. Panarin won the Calder in 2015-16 with 77 points in 80 games and has been elite ever since. He has 870 points in 752 regular-season games and 61 points in 73 playoff games. He’ll be 34 when his current deal ends.

Adrian Kempe is another name worth watching. The Kings winger has become one of the more underrated forwards in the league, with 194 goals and 401 points in 630 games. Fifteen of those goals came in the playoffs, and nearly all of those games were against Edmonton.

On the blue line, Cale Makar could hit the market too. He’s the best defenceman in hockey and is coming off a season where he scored 30 goals and 92 points in 80 games. He has 429 points in 395 career games, all with the Avalanche, and 85 points in 79 playoff games.

Other names to keep in mind: Sergei Bobrovsky, Jacob Trouba, Patrik Laine, John Carlson, Mattias Ekholm, Evander Kane, Charlie Coyle, Vladimir Tarasenko, Jordan Eberle, and Rasmus Andersson.

The 2026 free agent class has the potential to be absolutely stacked. That said, most of these guys will probably sign extensions before it gets that far. But not everyone will. Just look at Mitch Marner. He seemed headed for free agency before the Leafs worked out a sign-and-trade with Vegas.