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The start of the 2026 NHL free agency is rapidly approaching, as it is less than a week away. Soon, teams will have the chance to bring in new talent through the free agent market.
Due to this, we here at The Sporting News will be looking at the top five pending UFAs for each position. To kick off the series, let’s look at this year’s best NHL pending UFA goalies.
1. Sergei Bobrovsky, Florida Panthers
2025-26 stats: 27-23-1 record, 3.07 goals-against average, .877 save percentage
Sergei Bobrovsky is this year’s top pending UFA goalie by a significant margin. While the 37-year-old had a bad year for the Florida Panthers in 2025-26, the two-time Vezina Trophy winner has the potential to bounce back when looking at his incredible resume. The two-time Stanley Cup winner should receive plenty of interest if he hits the market.
There is a strong belief that most of Bobrovsky’s struggles were due to the injuries his team in front of him faced, and that with a healthy roster and better defensive coverage, Bobrovsky should be able to bounce back.
2. Frederik Andersen, Carolina Hurricanes
2025-26 stats: 16-14-5 record, 3.05 GAA, .874 SP
Frederik Andersen had a rough regular season but made up for it in a big way during the Carolina Hurricanes’ playoff run. He was a major reason why the Hurricanes made it to the Stanley Cup Final before he got injured, and Brandon Bussi took over the crease.
Due to this and his experience, Andersen is one of the top pending UFA goalies this year. Carolina could look to keep him around, though, because Andersen will likely thrive in a tandem situation.
MORE: Top 5 NHL free agents over the age of 35
3. Stuart Skinner, Pittsburgh Penguins
2025-26 stats: 23-17-9 record, 2.92 GAA, .888 SP
While Stuart Skinner has struggled with consistency in recent years, he is a goalie who should receive interest if he does not re-sign with the Pittsburgh Penguins. During his days with the Edmonton Oilers, he accumulated plenty of playoff experience, which adds to his appeal.
The 27-year-old could be a strong multi-year pickup for a team looking to add a 1B goalie to their roster.
MORE: Best available bargain free agents in the 2026 NHL off-season
4. Connor Ingram, Edmonton Oilers
2025-26 stats: 16-10-3 record, 2.60 GAA, .899 SP
Teams looking for a boost at the backup goalie position could consider making a push for Connor Ingram this summer. While he struggled with the Oilers during the playoffs, he performed well for Edmonton during the regular season after starting the year in the AHL.
The 29-year-old also had a .907 SV% in both 2022-23 and 2023-24, so he has shown that he can be an impactful netminder.
MORE: Top 30 2026 NHL UFAs: Alex Tuch, Rasmus Andersson, John Carlson highlight free agent board
5. Cam Talbot, Detroit Red Wings
2025-26 stats: 12-9-6 record, 3.19 GAA, .883 SP
Cam Talbot had a season to forget for the Detroit Red Wings in 2025-26. However, when looking at his recent other seasons, there is reason to believe that he could bounce back if he continues his career.
From 2019-20 to 2024-25, he had a .900 save percentage or better in all but one season. He also participated in the All-Star Game twice during that span, with the 2023-24 season being the most recent. Perhaps that could lead to a team willing to take a chance on the 38-year-old if he does not retire.
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