Best fits from the first day of 2026 NHL free agency

Jaden Schwartz steps into big shoes with the Colorado Avalanche

This one is somewhat out of the ordinary for a Colorado team that places a premium on skating and pace. Schwartz no longer really has NHL-average wheels, but the Avalanche are banking on the winger's offensive production bouncing back after a season where he played a high level of minute difficulty for Seattle while grading out favorably, according to HockeyStatCard's offensive and defensive Net Rating metrics. Colorado has had to part ways with forward Ross Colton, Jack Drury and Valeri Nichushkin, making scoring depth critical for the championship-hungry Avs.

New York Rangers, Utah Mammoth make mutually beneficial trade

This blockbuster trade shook loose as a result of the earlier events in the day. Center Vincent Trocheck is headed west to Utah after seeing his 12-team no-trade clause drop down to a 10-team on Wednesday. 

The Mammoth included a third-round draft pick and a promising former first-round center prospect (Cole Beaudoin), but the key difference that finally broke the Trocheck gridlock was the inclusion of right-handed defenseman Sean Durzi. The Rangers' single biggest need — outside of more goal scoring — was a right-handed puck-mover who could take some of the pressure off of former Norris winner Adam Fox. Fox has had bad injury luck in the past two seasons, and his absence from the lineup in 2025-26 torpedoed the Rangers' season. Durzi can't replace Adam Fox long-term, but a short-term injury should not be as destructive to the Rangers next season.

Trocheck, for his part, is a veteran do-it-all center who can slot in on either Utah's second or third line, play on the penalty kill and the power play effectively. Utah is aiming to make a run with one of the most talented forward units in the NHL. Trocheck is a significant addition that brings more offense than a typical forward, with the reputation of being defensively sound. 

Edmonton Oilers overhaul defense, including adding Ryan Shea

Edmonton has caught a lot of flak this offseason for the handling of the roster under GM Stan Bowman. This could go down as a very strong July 1 for the Oilers. The Oilers found a way to move off Darnell Nurse's bloated contract and returned a decent bet on young defenseman Shakir Mukhamadullin. The addition of Shea, who broke out in Pittsburgh, game at just $4 million per season for five years, which gives Edmonton a much more cost-effective third pair. Simultaneously, creating cap space will benefit the Oilers during the regular season when it starts to accrue, giving them a chance to be more active at the trade deadline.

Darnell Nurse may regain his form in San Jose, but Edmonton couldn't afford to wait for that possibility — particularly true as the Connor McDavid contract clock strikes closer to midnight.