Two sentences on every notable free agency signing

Parameters are pretty simple: two sentences for all contracts signed on July 1^st that were worth a million dollars in AAV or more. Let’s get to it! 

When the Ducks lost Gudas, Trouba, and Carlson, they were gonna need a few reliable adults back there. Not sure it moves the needle much, but Jensen can at least plug some leaks. 

Seems like goalies who’ve played NHL games cost at least a million. Here’s some cheap/credible insurance for the Dobes and Fowler. 

At first glance, it seems like an absolutely mental number for a guy who’s been a fringe sixth- or seventh-man in the league. Like, how many teams were all over Desharnais? But at second glance … OK, it’s still high, but he’s got all the desirables, from size to handedness to age to underlying numbers.  

Bjorkstrand is one of those guys who, with favourable deployment, can get some numbers. He can shoot it. Don’t think he moves the needle much without help, though.  

Marchment has made more money than I’d bet even he ever thought he’d make in the league as a former ECHL guy. But it’s a cool story (his Dad’s former team, same number), and he’s got both skill and toughness, which show in flashes before periods of dormancy. 

Has played good minutes with Dakota Joshua in the past, kills penalties and knows his role. Nothing special or flashy for the Leafs, but a good bet on a short deal to improve a formerly putrid bottom-six. 

His goaltending brain is elite, so it’ll be up to what his body — something he takes good care of — can do over the next few years. A bounce-back after a write-off year in Florida isn’t out of the question, but there’s risk here for the Leafs (as there is with about 50 of the 64 goalies in the league). 

At some point, the Canucks need NHL bodies in their lineup, and Cotter can skate and has put up a little offence in New Jersey in the past. He’s young enough that if he finds his game there, the Canucks can use him past this contract. 

Goalies with NHL experience, signed to provide insurance, cost a million as the floor. As noted with Kaapo Kahkonen, that’s all this is here. 

Schwartz, surrounded by some talented Avalanche forwards, has the skills and brains to make the most out of his roster spot. He’s a Cup champ to go with many in that room, so I like this as a depth add for the Avs. 

Hey, they traded for the guy; it only makes sense to pay him to stay. He’s young and has upside, and should fit in perfectly with the Kraken (take that however you like).

This is one of those contracts that everyone knows isn’t serious — that the player has no intention of playing through — so it keeps the AAV down. But Gudas has struggled to defend as he’s gotten older, and I can’t believe there’s going to be much value pulled from the deal anyway. 

Good pro, respected, valuable contributor. You can see the way numbers are going for top-end guys, so this falls in line comfortably. 

The value of anybody with an ounce of snarl to their game has gone through the roof. Douglas has more than an ounce. 

Truly cannot believe Bogosian is just 35, it’s felt like he’s been 35 for five straight years. A good competitor who defends his butt off, but a seventh D who’s starting to struggle with the pace. 

Boone Jenner feels like a born Washington Capital, out of the Lars Eller mould. A solid depth guy and good pro, you worry about how his game will look as he keeps getting older, but you can see what the Caps like. 

Feels like Dubas’ thing is to bet on high upside guys while their stock is low, and you’re bound to hit on a few winners that way. But they won’t all pan out, and when they don’t, you want the term to look like this: one single year. 

Truly one of the NHL’s most fascinating, respectable, purely mid players. This will make it nine straight NHL seasons where Kerfoot has earned either three or three-point-five million, as he can do a little bit of everything and do it decently well. 

Ah, the ol’ “teacher in the room while we’re bad” job. No better pro to choose for that role, but it could be a long year. 

I have about as many Joe Veleno takes as you’d expect. Not yet had a 30-point season, but has enough NHL experience that he should be fine. 

Arvidsson is one of those guys who, when he’s healthy, is easy to love. Small but lays it all on the line, goes to the net, but his availability will be a question mark. 

As I said about toughness, it’s at a premium these days, as evidenced by the 32-year-old Johnston getting three years. He’s tough as nails, though, so if you’re going tough, you could do worse. 

Mikheyev is fast, PKs and creates pucks to the net. I can see the Lightning thinking they’re getting “faster Nick Paul,” which is true in theory, but not sure he’s got the sense for the game that Paul does. 

Toughness has value, and the fans in Columbus will love the Lomberg show. He works for everything he gets. 

If you’re Connor Bedard, I’m sure you’re just dying for the team to turn the corner. Cole has done his share of winning and should help the Blackhawks get moving in the right direction. 

Ersson is funny, because the numbers don’t like him any more than the next goalie, but the people who’ve watched him see potential. I’m not sure why he got the dollars he got, exactly, but it sounds like he’s got upside. 

One of the several older UFAs the Kings signed, Haula was a player who made a difference for years. The bet that that’s going to continue to happen is getting harder to see. 

Luostarinen is essentially the league’s most perfect third-line winger, alongside Anton Lundell. Assuming he’s good for another few years, the contract should age fine. 

Anaheim lost Jeffrey Viel and wanted some toughness. Congratulations are in order, as they found some. 

It’s a little funny how every team that signed a sorta-back-up, sorta-third-string guy just gave them about a million and called it a day. I like Comrie as a back-up. 

See the above. Journeyman back-up banks another well-earned million. 

You can’t just build a team out of the same player, and Sissons is your quintessential quality depth centre. Reliable guy who can PK, win draws and take some D-zone starts off Matthews’ plate. 

Pretty unremarkable here, I like Clifton fine, pretty versatile D. Low-to-no-risk deal. 

I’m seeing this deal get killed by just about everyone, and yeah — not pretty in terms of cost-to-value ratio. But he’s a better D-man than the Sharks’ past depth, so the team gets better in the short-term, which appears to be their goal. 

I think the Isles lost Max Shabanov and just said, “let’s replace him with another smaller skill guy,” at least that’s the most sense I can make out of this. Maccelli is an NHLer, but if he’s playing meaningful minutes for your group, you’re probably not a great team. 

This seems to be the going rate for reliable depth. Pens are trying to hodgepodge things together at the fringes again, and TVR is at least a good pro. 

Actually quite like this bet. He’s a good age, he’s competitive, and they got him for a couple years at a nice price. 

It’s crazy that Stu Skinner is only 27 — it feels like he’s been in NHL headlines for a decade already. Not many guys with his size/experience available out there. If he’s your backup, you’re doing pretty well. 

I like Viel on a fourth line fine enough, and the Lightning have to deal with the Panthers, I get all that. But five years is crazy talk. 

This rules for the Flyers. Good player locked up long-term for cheap. 

I just cannot make sense of why a guy would sign up for eight years, given his talent and the direction of the cap. I think there’s a chance that in the last few years of this deal, he’s left five million on the table per season (which rules for Montreal). 

Stenlund is an excellent depth forward, which is why I’m surprised he couldn’t get two years. Utah is loaded up front, as evidenced by Stenlund being a clear fourth-liner for the side. 

Big, young, and actually had better numbers than Bobrovsky in Florida last year. The goalie market is a crapshoot, though, so who knows. 

I really should’ve taken these backup goalie contracts out of this “analysis.” Daws, a million per year… Sure. Fits what the rest of the league is doing. 

Not many players in the league are more solid than Acciari; players react to running into him like he’s pure granite. But he’s slowing down, and he already wasn’t fast, so I’m not sure what this will look like in year two. 

The Leafs signed a bunch of grinders, so it’s tough to blame them for chasing some speed to go with the ability to transport the puck. But I’m not sure he fits in the top-six, or in the bottom-six exactly either, so I’m curious to see if he finds a steady home in the lineup. 

If you’ve got talent for days, it’s good to have the odd thumper out there. Juulsen plays heavy and likely will occupy a sixth- or seventh-man role for Colorado. 

If you played meaningful minutes for Vegas, aren’t a star, and are owed any additional money, you’re almost definitely gone. Smith was that, and should provide some steadiness to a Blackhawks team trying to go forward. 

He had a great year, but it’s tough to love giving any goalie in the NHL five years who isn’t one of about five guys in the Hellebuyck/Shesterkin class. Still, they locked up a prime-aged good goalie for a low AAV, so here’s to hoping he’s the real deal. 

This is top pair D UFA money. Checks out. Andersson probably leaves a few bucks on the table because he wants to be in Vegas, so it seems like everyone gets what they want. 

A truly bonkers number, but he’s undeniably a help to their struggling roster, so they did what they had to do to keep him. It feels like he’s been one of those “never satisfied” guys so far. Now that he’s got the money and the top-pair role, I’d say the pressure is squarely on him. 

Fascinating signing, in that Freddy just played 16 of 19 games for the Canes en route to a Cup win, and he only got a year and under three million. But it just shows that people aren’t sold on what he is at this point in his career, which might be a tandem goalie who struggles to stay healthy. 

Love this for the Oilers, Shea was rock solid for the Penguins last year. With minimal responsibility, he should be a reliable guy. 

The kinda signing that makes you take Utah more seriously. No asset cost but the money, and he’s a big, heavy guy who’s been a captain in the league. A great addition. 

If you chase stars like Vegas, someone has to play cheap and hopefully contribute. “Vegas Vic” is back, and they’re hoping he shoots a few in the net yet again. 

When I see all these signings, it blows my mind that Kapanen can’t get more than a year of term. As good as depth scoring gets in the NHL, and can be effective without getting points. 

It’s quite a bit of money, but what should the Canucks care? You need some real players to keep from being a laughingstock, and Oleksiak is a big, mean defender. 

Love this by the Devils, and what a concept, right? The idea that you’d take competitive action to get a player from another team, even though they won’t like it? Hayton would help down the lineup, is prime-aged, and will be the type of depth the Devils could use. 

I like his skating for Edmonton in their bottom-six. Cheap, no-risk deal. 

Laughton is a good dude and solid player, smart, versatile, and with more skill than you’d expect. The Kings are kinda old, but Laughton can still skate. 

As noted, the Kings are old, but Zuccarello can still make plays. The Kings are creating the weirdest team, without much of a long-term forecast, but they should threaten the playoffs again next year. 

Great deal for the Jets for a good, prime-aged competitor. Surprised he didn’t cost more, quite honestly.