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Six Notable NHL Players Who Have The Most To Prove In 2026-27
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Many NHLers have something to prove in 2026-27, but a handful of players stand out as particularly in need of proving something next year. Here are six notable players who have the most to prove next season
When the NHL’s 2026-27 season begins, most, if not all, players will have something to prove. Whether it’s rookies trying to make their mark or veterans still trying to win a Stanley Cup, there’s no shortage of NHLers who need to demonstrate their value
However, some big-name players in particular have something more to prove. Most of whom are joining a new team, earning an elevated role, signing a new contract or working toward a new deal
In alphabetical order, here are six of those players
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If Bowen Byram’s acquisition by the Chicago Blackhawks from the Buffalo Sabres didn’t put enough pressure on the 25-year-old defenseman – Chicago traded the fourth-overall draft pick in exchange for Byram – he signed a massive contract extension paying him $12.5 million beginning in the 2027-28 season. And that contract extension has instantly, drastically ratcheted up expectations on Byram, even if his salary doesn’t rise exponentially until after this coming campaign
The Blackhawks will be paying Byram like a superstar, but the best single-season numbers he’s produced thus far in his career are 31 assists and 42 points. That’s not truly elite. So Byram must either evolve into a No. 1 D-man for Chicago, or hear all sorts of criticism of his new deal
<img src="https://todaytrendnews7.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/2302f0dc-c8a7-482f-afea-70620fb7f42c-1.jpeg" alt="With over three weeks of the NHL's free agency period passed, here are the top five worst contracts signed since July 1.”>
thehockeynews.comTop Five Worst NHL Contracts Signed By UFAs Since July 1With over three weeks of the NHL’s free agency period passed, here are the top five worst contracts signed since July 1.
Darnell Nurse’s tumultuous career with the Edmonton Oilers ended July 1 when he was traded to the San Jose Sharks essentially in a salary dump. The 31-year-old blueliner is on a contract paying him $9.25 million for four more seasons
Although many Oilers fans are glad Nurse is gone, he generated six assists in 10 games at the 2026 IIHF World Championship – and that’s what Sharks GM Mike Grier wants to see from Nurse
The Sharks are moving straight ahead into a new generation for the franchise, but their D-corps needed experience, and that’s what Nurse brings. He’s no superstar D-man, but he still has good hockey left in him. Nurse is now under pressure to show what he can do after a change of scenery
Darren Raddysh emerged as a high-impact defenseman this past season, producing 22 goals and 70 points in 73 games with the Tampa Bay Lightning. The 30-year-old converted that into a stunning pay raise after the Bolts traded his signing rights to the Toronto Maple Leafs in late June
But Raddysh must demonstrate he can generate that type of offense and impact year in and year out and that 2025-26 wasn’t a fluke
Raddysh’s new contract pays him an average of $8.5 million per year for the next eight seasons. Considering he’ll turn 31 in February, that’s a significant gamble by the Leafs
Raddysh doesn’t need to lead the league in scoring, but he does have to consistently contribute an above-average amount of points. If he can’t, the Maple Leafs are going to find Raddysh’s contract an albatross
thehockeynews.comSix Maple Leafs Who Have The Most To Prove Going Into The 2026-27 NHL SeasonGoing into the 2026-27 NHL season, here are six members of the Toronto Maple Leafs who have the most to prove.
Jason Robertson entered this off-season as one of the most high-profile RFAs – and the Dallas Stars had to either allow Robertson to go into arbitration or sign Robertson to some sort of deal for the 2026-27 campaign. And that latter move is what transpired when Dallas signed Robertson to a one-year, $12-million contract. But Robertson’s new contract walks him to being a UFA next summer
Thus, Robertson has great motivation for this coming season. At 27 years old, he’ll want to hit a home run with his next contract. Whether that comes with the Stars or a different team is to be determined, but consistent 40-goal-scorers like Robertson don’t come along every day, and now he must prove he’s worth a long-term investment.
thehockeynews.comWhy The Stars, Robertson Could Both Be Winners And Losers After One-Year Contract AgreementWith Jason Robertson and the Dallas Stars avoiding arbitration with a one-year contract, here are some reasons why both parties could be winners or could be losers following this deal.
As the centerpiece of one of this off-season’s biggest blockbuster trades, Brady Tkachuk joins brother Matthew to form one of the NHL’s most-frightening sibling acts
The price the Florida Panthers paid to acquire Brady Tkachuk from the Ottawa Senators wasn’t small, but now he must prove Florida GM Bill Zito was right to give him his best chance at a championship
Tkachuk has two years left on a contract paying $8.2 million per season, and he now has to show that scoring over 30 goals and 70 points, feats he reached in two separate seasons, is something he can do again. The Panthers are challenged to make the playoffs in the hyper-competitive Atlantic Division, but the 26-year-old has to show he’s an elite performer.
thehockeynews.comWhy Panthers Still Must Prove 2025-26 Was A One-Off Before Stanley Cup ExpectationsThe Florida Panthers have a fair excuse for why they missed the playoffs this past season, with long-term injuries to key players. But with a new-look goaltending tandem and another star in Brady Tkachuk, the Panthers must prove they’re back to being a Stanley Cup favorite.
Not only did Alex Tuch get a gigantic raise on the $4.75 million he made this past season in Buffalo, but his new salary of $10.5 million per season makes him the Washington Capitals’ highest-paid player next year
Tuch has produced at least 30 goals in three of the past four years, but nothing less than a 30-goal campaign in 2026-27 will satisfy Washington fans who want their team back in the post-season after the Caps failed to get there in 2025-26
Tuch is now 30 years old, and he’s got to keep his nose to the grindstone as the Capitals move into a new generation. The Caps will depend on Tuch to put up solid offensive numbers, and his contributions as Washington’s power forward will go a long way toward determining how successful the Capitals will be next season
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florida panthers•san jose sharks•toronto maple leafs•dallas stars•buffalo sabres•nhl
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