30 National Hockey League clubs spent over $500 Million signing players on the opening weekend of free agency, but as is usual at this time of year, teams begrudgingly overpay in hopes of finding a difference maker and come to regret their decisions a few years down the road.
Quite often the margin between winning and losing is not just signing the right player, but getting him for a reasonable term and for an amount that doesn’t cripple a club’s salary cap. That proved to be the case with San Jose and winger Joel Ward (signed a three-year, $9.825 Million deal), who scored 21 goals to help the Sharks reach the Stanley Cup Final or Washington and Justin Williams (signed a two-year, $6.5 Million deal), whose 22 goals helped the Capitals win the President’s Trophy.
Here are the teams that may have found the best bang for the buck:
Arizona Coyotes – After overpaying in the minds of some on defenseman Alex Goligoski, GM John Chaika reeled in winger Jamie McGinn on a three-year, $10 Million contract. The 27-year-old McGinn scored 22 goals with Buffalo and Anaheim and could play in the top-six for the young Coyotes.
Boston Bruins – Goalie Anton Khudobin returns to Boston on a two-year, $2.4 Million deal to backup Tuukka Rask after two solid years in Carolina as a part-time starter and a third-stringer in Anaheim.
Calgary Flames – Troy Brouwer scored the game-winner for St. Louis in their first-round victory over Chicago and help the Blues reach the Western Conference Final. The 30-year-old has averaged 20 goals over the last seven seasons and while players of comparable age signed six or seven year contracts, Brouwer agreed to a four-year, $18 million deal with the Flames.
Chicago Blackhawks – Experimenting with Trevor Daley, Rob Scuderi and Christian Ehrhoff did not work for the Hawks defense, so they go back to Brian Campbell on a one-year, $1.5 Million deal. At 37, Campbell can still skate and gives the Hawks two solid and experienced defensive pairings.
Dallas Stars – GM Jim Nill is betting that there is still some tread left on the tires of veteran defenseman Dan Hamhuis, after signing the 33-year-old blueliner to a two-year, $7.5 Million deal. The contract pays Hamhuis $4.5 Million in the first year, so if he cannot keep pace or stay healthy, a buyout of the final year will not cripple the cap.
Detroit Red Wings – The poster child for low-risk, high-reward is Thomas Vanek, Fresh off of being bought out by Minnesota, the veteran winger signed a one-year, $2.6 Million contract with the Wings. Vanek has slowed down considerably, but scored 18 goals last season and can still put the puck in the net.
Minnesota Wild – The days of Eric Staal being a dominant center or power forward may be over with, but Minnesota GM Chuck Fletcher gambled on the 31-year-old with a three-year, $10.5 Million deal in hopes that he can be a viable second-line center behind Mikko Koivu. If Staal rebounds and scores 20 to 25 goals, the signing will be a coup for the Wild.
New York Islanders – With the departure of Kyle Okposo and Frans Nielsen, GM Garth Snow had to find wingers for center John Tavares. The Isles added two-time Cup winner Andrew Ladd on a seven-year deal, $38.5 Million contract, but the value signing may be former Tavares linemate P.A. Parenteau, who scored 20 goals for Toronto and signed for $1.25 Million on a one-year deal.
San Jose Sharks – One of the youngest free agents in this year’s class was 26-year-old Mikkel Boedker, who was dealt from Phoenix to Colorado at the trade deadline. The 2008 eighth overall pick scored 14 goals in a half-season two years ago and tied a career-high with 51 points last season. With a wealth of scoring forwards in San Jose, Boedker may take a significant step forward over the next four years, which would make his $4 Million salary a bargain.
Washington Capitals – The Caps could be the last and best chance for winger Brett Connolly to fulfill his potential. The 24-year-old was selected sixth overall in 2010 and after washing out in Tampa, the winger could not do much better with the Boston Bruins. Washington signed Connolly to a one-year, $850,000 contract and will give him a chance at earning an NHL roster spot, but GM Brian McLellan is hoping to get something more than just a bottom-six forward.