Players Eligible For Salary Arbitration In 2026
The 2026 salary arbitration period is upon us, and with it, a host of players are eligible to file for arbitration. This process, while rare in hockey, is a crucial mechanism for resolving contract disputes between players and their teams. It's important to note that only restricted free agents are eligible, and even then, there are specific restrictions on which players can utilize this tool.
The eligibility factor significantly influences how teams approach negotiations, especially in the earlier rounds. Teams are cautious about being locked into awards they can't opt out of, especially below the $5MM mark. The undesirable hearing process can also strain long-term relationships between teams and players.
Most commonly, it's the player who initiates the arbitration process. However, teams can also file for arbitration if the player is eligible, albeit with added restrictions. These include a limit of two elections per year and the player being subject to one team election in their entire career. Additionally, a salary of $2.43MM or more in the previous season locks in the award at no less than 85% of the preceding salary.
Despite the potential for conflict, the vast majority of arbitration cases result in settlements before a hearing is reached. This can even happen after both sides submit their salary filings to the arbitrator, right up until the hearing begins.
The number of arbitration filings has been consistently decreasing since 2022, and it's unlikely to bottom out more than last year's figure. This trend is worth considering as teams and players navigate the complexities of salary arbitration.
Here's a comprehensive list of players who are eligible for salary arbitration this summer, categorized by team:
Avalanche
- FJack Drury
- FZakhar Bardakov
- FTaylor Makar
- FChase Bradley
- FIvan Ivan
- FDaniil Gushchin
Blackhawks
- GDrew Commesso
- GOlivier Rodrigue
Blue Jackets
- FCole Sillinger
- DEgor Zamula
- GJet Greaves
- FHunter McKown
- FMikael Pyyhtia
Blues
- FJonatan Berggren
- DMatthew Kessel
- DLeo Loof
- FDylan Peterson
- FThomas Bordeleau
- GWill Cranley
Bruins
- DJordan Harris
- FRiley Duran
- GSimon Zajicek
- GLuke Cavallin
Canadiens
- FKirby Dach
- DArber Xhekaj
- FJoe Veleno
- FLuke Tuch
- FJared Davidson
- FSean Farrell
- DWilliam Trudeau
Canucks
- DPierre-Olivier Joseph
- FNils Åman
- DJack Thompson
- DCole Clayton
Capitals
- FConnor McMichael
- FHendrix Lapierre
- FRyan Hofer
- GJesper Vikman
- GGarin Bjorklund
Devils
- FArseny Gritsyuk
- FPaul Cotter
- FDylan Wendt
- FXavier Parent
- DCalen Addison
- GJakub Málek
- GNico Daws
Ducks
- F/DIan Moore
- FJaxsen Wiebe
- FJan Mysak
- DJeremie Biakabutuka
- GVyacheslav Buteyets
- GCalle Clang
Flames
- FJohn Beecher
- FRory Kerins
- FCarter King
- FSam Morton
- GOwen Say
Flyers
- FTrevor Zegras
- DJamie Drysdale
- DEmil Andrae
- GSamuel Ersson
- FPhilip Tomasino
- FJacob Gaucher
- DHunter McDonald
Golden Knights
- FPavel Dorofeyev
- GAkira Schmid
- DLukas Cormier
Hurricanes
- DAlexander Nikishin
- FNoel Gunler
- FSkyler Brind’Amour
- DRonan Seeley
- DDomenick Fensore
Islanders
- FMax Shabanov
- FMarc Gatcomb
- DAdam Boqvist
- FJoey Larson
- FCam Thiesing
- FAlex Jefferies
- FDaylan Kuefler
- FLiam Foudy
- DMarshall Warren
- GHenrik Tikkanen
Jets
- FCole Perfetti
- FDavid Gustafsson
- FJaret Anderson-Dolan
- DTyrel Bauer
- GIsaac Poulter
Kings
- FAatu Jamsen
- FMartin Chromiak
Kraken
- GVictor Ostman
- FLogan Morrison
- FLleyton Roed
- DVille Ottavainen
Lightning
- DMaxim Groshev
Mammoth
- FBarrett Hayton
- FMichal Kunc
- DMaksymilian Szuber
Maple Leafs
- FMatias Maccelli
- FNicholas Robertson
- FJacob Quillan
- FRyan Tverberg
- DWilliam Villeneuve
- DHenry Thrun
- DJohn Prokop
- GVyacheslav Peksa
Oilers
- DSpencer Stastney
- FRoby Jarventie
- GConnor Ungar
Panthers
- FMackie Samoskevich
- DDonovan Sebrango
- FBen Steeves
- FWilmer Skoog
- DMikulas Hovorka
- DTobias Bjornfot
- DMichael Benning
- GCooper Black
Penguins
- FEgor Chinakhov
- GArturs Silovs
- DAlexander Alexeyev
- GJoel Blomqvist
Predators
- DJustin Barron
- FDalton Bancroft
- FMassimo Rizzo
- FRyder Rolston
- DChristoffer Sedoff
Rangers
- DBraden Schneider
- GDylan Garand
- FBrett Berard
- FBrendan Brisson
- GHugo Ollas
- GTalyn Boyko
Red Wings
- FCarter Mazur
- FAlexandre Doucet
- FJakub Rychlovsky
- FMichael Milne
- FWojciech Stachowiak
- DWilliam Wallinder
- GCarter Gylander
Sabres
- FPeyton Krebs
- DMichael Kesselring
- DZachary Jones
Senators
- DJordan Spence
- GLeevi Merilainen
- FArthur Kaliyev
- FXavier Bourgault
- GMads Søgaard
Sharks
- FPhilipp Kurashev
- DShakir Mukhamadullin
- FEthan Cardwell
- DNoah Beck
- GGabriel Carriere
Stars
- FJason Robertson
- FMavrik Bourque
- FArttu Hyry
- FHarrison Scott
- FKyle McDonald
- FAntonio Stranges
- DLuke Krys
- Vladislav Kolyachonok
- DJeremie Poirier
- GBenjamin Kraws
Wild
- FBobby Brink
- DDaemon Hunt
- FCameron Butler
- FBradley Marek
- GSamuel Hlavaj
