In 2027, there could be a huge free agent hitting the market. In 2026, there were supposed to be multiple big-time free agents, but they never hit the market due to contract extensions. As it stands now, though, there could be huge players becoming unrestricted free agents in 2027.
This includes guys like Jason Robertson, Cale Makar, and Quinn Hughes. But the MVP of the 2025-26 season, or the winner of the Hart Memorial Trophy, Nikita Kucherov, is among the most interesting names that could hit the market.
Could Kucherov actually become a free agent?
One has to imagine that Robertson, Makar, and Hughes won't hit the market because of their age and superstar status. Kucherov is just as good, if not better, but, unlike the others, is on the older side. Kucherov is 33 years old now, meaning that an expensive contract extension would be risky for the Tampa Bay Lightning.
There are several questions to be answered as well. With some contracts reaching new heights, will Kucherov demand a high AAV? Despite his age, Kucherov's offensive production is insane, so demanding a high AAV could be expected. At the moment, Kucherov is under some heavy criticism for how he and the Lightning have performed in the postseason.
The Lightning have been great over the last decade, especially in the early 2020s with two Stanley Cups. However, they seem to be failing to get past certain Eastern Conference teams like the Florida Panthers, Carolina Hurricanes, and now the young and explosive Montreal Canadiens. That doesn't make Kucherov any worse, as the superstar has averaged well over 110 points for a while now.
The Utah Mammoth may be more interested in developing their young talent to get a player of that caliber, but if Kucherov were to hit the open market, then many teams could be willing to pay a ton of money for him. Kucherov has said that he isn't even thinking about his extension, so the chances of him becoming a UFA seem higher than others.
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