March 11, 2026
By Sam Weiger
For some the league’s top players, 2026 isn't just another season—it’s a chance to rewrite their career narratives. So here’s a look at some specific milestones, from deep postseason runs to individual accolades, that would transform the careers of these stars.
Jeff Babbitt: Win a Fifth Title
Jeff Babbitt is one championship away from matching Beau Kittredge’s record of five—the biggest hurdle in his quest for GOAT status. While Kittredge currently holds the rings argument and a reputation for unmatched big-game heroics, the rest of their resumes are pretty balanced.
Both players have two MVPs to their name. Babbitt leads Kittredge 4-2 in All-UFA First Team selections, but Kittredge has arguably had more MVP-caliber performances at Championship Weekend.
Much of the debate often centers on Kittredge’s historic postseason dominance, but the context has changed. In an era defined by deeper rosters and stronger defenses, Babbitt doesn't need to hunt for stats; he just needs to win a fifth title to completely change the way people view the GOAT debate.
Babbitt couldn’t be in a better position to chase his fifth championship. Boston returns its entire key championship rotation and adds intriguing names like Thomas Edmonds and Lander Decraene to the mix.
Anthony Gutowsky and Chad Yorgason: Earn First Team All-UFA Honors
Anthony Gutowsky and Chad Yorgason are both due for their first career First-Team selections.
Gutowsky
For Gutowsky, specifically, this would mean breaking a cycle of being the finishing “second” when it comes to league honors.
Despite being a prolific goal scorer over the last three seasons, Gutowsky has consistently received Second Team status:
In his rookie year, his 37 goals earned him an All-UFA Rookie Second Team nod. In year two, with 53 goals and 15 blocks, he ended up on the All-UFA Second Team. And last season, leading the entire league with career-high 55 goals, he was once again named to the Second Team.
At age 23, Gutowsky is entering the golden window seen in sports like basketball and tennis, where athletes often take a big career leap. Moving into the First Team in 2026 would signal his evolution from a stat-stuffer to one of the league's top stars. The primary criticism of Gutowsky has been his history of padding stats against weaker Central Division opponents. To elevate to First Team status, he needs to lead the Radicals to signature upsets against powerhouses like Minnesota, Indy, and Chicago.
Yorgason
Yorgason was agonizingly close to First Team All-UFA honors in 2025.
Yorgason’s 2025 season was a statistical masterclass, highlighted by a productive transition to the O-line. He shattered previous career highs across nearly every major offensive metric: assists (44), goals (30) hockey assists (32) total yards (6,600), and plus/minus (+53).
With the departure of key playmaker Will Selfridge, Yorgason could inherit an even larger playmaking role for Salt Lake this season, regardless of which line he’s on. An expanded role and a deep playoff run by the Shred give him the perfect runway to make his way onto the First Team ballot.
At 26, Yorgason’s resume is already decorated with honors, including his 2025 Second Team All-UFA selection, an All-Defense First Team selection, and an All-UFA Rookie First Team selection. He has become a fulcrum piece for the Shred. A First Team selection this season would bridge the gap between Yorgason and the franchise's biggest legend, Jordan Kerr. It would also provide the ultimate launchpad for a future MVP campaign.
Alex Atkins: Set a Career-High
Before a season-ending injury derailed his 2025 campaign, Alex Atkins was on an upward trajectory toward UFA superstardom. Now, the 27-year-old enters his prime with a point to prove.
Atkins has been a playmaker since the beginning—finishing with nearly 7,000 yards in 2024 and finishing top two in hucks per game and top three in plus/minus per game among all Apex players between 2022 and 2024.
After the Empire’s defensive dip last season and the signing of Daan de Marrée, Atkins is expected to anchor the defense. This shift maximizes his potential to break his career block record; despite his reputation as a disruptive force, he has never surpassed 13 blocks in a season. However, his 2025 trajectory suggests that he could surpass that mark: he racked up eight blocks in just four games before his injury.
Setting a career high wouldn’t just be a statistical milestone—it will be a definitive statement that he has reclaimed his place among the league's biggest game-changers.
Travis Dunn: Capture the Elusive First Title
Travis Dunn, with or without a title, will go down as a UFA legend. He’s third all-time in total scores, assists, and total yards. He’s also fourth all-time in plus/minus. Plain and simple, Dunn has been the centerpiece of San Diego’s offense for the past nine years, maintaining a level of consistency that few in the league’s history have matched.
Dunn, now 35, is surely satisfied with his numbers and awards at this point. His eyes are likely focused on the achievement that has escaped him for a decade: winning a UFA title.
For Dunn, a UFA title would be career-defining. As the face of the franchise, leading the Growlers to their first championship would transform the organization from a UFA afterthought into a destination for stars and young talent, ensuring long-term success.
Beyond the team impact, a ring secures his personal legacy. Often viewed as a superstar stranded on a middle-of-the-pack roster, Dunn’s lack of a title is the biggest thing tethering his all-time ranking. Capturing the championship would propel him into the pantheon of the league's greatest players.
As the 2026 season approaches, the Growlers boast a roster with plenty of upside. By locking in veteran anchors Khalif El-Salaam, Brandon Van Deusen, and Steven Milardovich, adding the playmaking of Jonathan Lyle, and re-signing high-ceiling stars like Matt Miller, Max Gibson, and KJ Koo, San Diego has surrounded their franchise player with a dangerous supporting cast.
Allan Laviolette and Austin Taylor: Win an MVP
Last season, two of the UFA’s premier handlers defied the aging curve, delivering career-best performances well into their 30s.
Laviolette
The older of the two is 36-year-old Allan Laviolette. He’s got a title, two All-UFA First Team nods, and an assist title, so the only major accolade missing from his resume is an MVP award.
Laviolette reached a new gear last year when forced to shoulder the offensive load following the departures of Anders Juengst and Tobias Brooks.
While Brooks’ return this season might dilute Laviolette’s individual stats, it could ironically be his ticket to the MVP. Last year, Laviolette’s numbers were dampened when the Flyers fell short of the postseason—a setback that likely cost him his shot at the MVP, since postseason accomplishments are also taken into consideration.
For Laviolette, securing the elusive MVP would dramatically change his legacy, officially cementing his status as a historic icon of the UFA.
Taylor
While he doesn’t currently have a UFA Championship to his name, Austin Taylor’s individual resume is simply too massive to overlook. He currently sits at ninth all-time in assists—with a realistic shot to finish within top five this season—and has the second-most total yards and throwing yards of any player in UFA history. By the end of 2026, he could very well be the all-time leader in both.
On top of that, Taylor is considered one of the best deep throwers in league history. His efficiency is staggering, having completed a record 129 hucks at a phenomenal 74.14 percent clip.
At 34, Taylor finds himself in an ideal situation to win an MVP, thanks to Atlanta's championship caliber and his undisputed role as the Hustle’s primary handler. Winning the award would give him a serious shot at finishing his career as the greatest pure thrower in UFA history.
Walker Frankenberg: Make His Championship Weekend Debut
Walker Frankenberg has become the emotional and tactical heartbeat of the Spiders, a player who would give just about anything to get a win for his team. In 2025, he led Oakland to their best finish since 2015, only to fall by a single goal to Salt Lake in the West Division final.
Frankenberg’s individual excellence is undisputed; he was a First Team All-UFA selection in 2025 after recording 43 assists, 41 goals, and finishing third in the league with 6,884 yards. However, his revamped team struggled to execute when it mattered most, converting only 12 of 23 red zone opportunities in their 2025 playoff loss.
Could Frankenberg lead the Spiders back to the marquee stage for the first time in over 10 years? With Oakland’s maturing offensive core, the Spiders are positioned to finally break the Salt Lake stranglehold on the West. But the road to Championship Weekend likely requires a postseason breakthrough from their star playmaker.
While Frankenberg has delivered remarkable regular season performances against the Shred—highlighted by his 1,000-yard, 12-score performance last season—his playoff numbers against the Shred were much more modest. While he did manage to rack up nearly 500 total yards in last year’s divisional title game, he was held to just one goal and one assist.
For Frankenberg, leading the Spiders back to the final four would rewrite Frankenberg's narrative, shifting the focus from his elite stat lines to his proven ability to lead a team to the sports' biggest stage.
