2014 NHL Free Agent Busts: Return to Sender

Apr 30, 2014; Denver, CO, USA; Minnesota Wild and Colorado Avalanche fans pose for a photo before the start of game seven of the first round of the 2014 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Pepsi Center. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

The holidays are a wonderful time to celebrate all of life’s joyous blessings.  And let’s face it, nothing makes our face light up as we tear into that beautifully wrapped gift box under the tree with our name on it.  The moment of excitement and wonder and happiness all wrapped with a pretty little bow on top.

As you tear open the box your face lights up with…sadness.  Hey, thanks for the purple sweater grandma.  Next time just light $50 on fire and save us both the trouble (my personal favorite was receiving a woman’s sweater from my wife’s aunt, complete with shoulder pads and all…needless to say I never removed the tags on that one).

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So how does this relate to hockey?  Well, do you think there are a few hockey fanbases out there today that have this same feeling, only a few months after the joy of a free-agency frenzy?

Here at TMMOTS we went through the significant summer free agent signings to see which ones undoubtedly are giving their fanbase buyer’s remorse as they become free agent busts.  Unfortunately none of these player contracts came with a gift receipt, but we can still point out how ridiculous they are.

There were plenty of candidates thanks to general managers who enjoy nothing more than spending frivolously.  Think we missed a better one?  Let us know below (note all statistics through December 17th).

Nov 16, 2014; Saint Paul, MN, USA; Minnesota Wild forward

(26) against the Winnipeg Jets at Xcel Energy Center. The Wild defeated the Jets 4-3 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports

Thomas Vanek ($6,500,000/year, 3-year contract)

What happened to this guy?  It’s no secret he ended up with the Minnesota since everyone in the hockey world except Garth Snow knew he had his eyes on the Wild all along (despite reports the Islanders offered him $50 million over seven years to ride shotgun to John Tavares).  But any dream scenario that he’d return to the area where he played his college hockey, riding in on a white horse, have quickly been erased.

Through 30 games Vanek has scored only four goals to go along with his 14 assists.  One of those three goals was on the power play, so by most people’s math, that means he’s only scored twice at even strength.  He’e playing 16:38 a game and over three minutes on the power play a night, so he’s had plenty of opportunity to get going offensively.  Most night’s he’s been invisible.  Last year he put up 68 points while bouncing between three different teams.  This season he’s on pace for less than 50 points.

The Wild currently sit fifth in the Central Division, albeit with a few games in hand.  The team advanced to the second round of the playoffs last year, and the addition of Vanek was supposed to give them another elite option up front in a loaded Western Conference.  The offense has been middle of the pack, and if things don’t turn around this season, it’s not as if the Wild are flush with cap space to make a lot of moves next summer.  According to capgeek.com they have over $60 million committed to 16 players next season, and with a projected cap ceiling to be in the $73 million range, that doesn’t leave much room for significant upgrades.

If the Wild are going to continue to get this lack of production out of their $6,500,000 winger, not only will they fail to build on last year’s success, they’ll fail to make the playoffs and damage the team in the upcoming years.  Certainly this is one present the Wild wish they could send back as he’s arguably the biggest free agent bust from this past summer.

Sep 22, 2014; Dallas, TX, USA; Dallas Stars right wing

(83) watches from the bench during the game against the St. Louis Blues at the American Airlines Center. The Stars defeated the Blues 4-3. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

Ales Hemsky ($4,000,000/year, 3-year contract)

Remember when Hemsky was known as an all-star talent who just needed to stay healthy to show what he could do? Well, the good news is he’s been relatively healthy during his first season with the Dallas Stars.  The bad news?  Well, he kinda stinks.

Hemsky just returned to the lineup after being a healthy scratch for two games.  Coach Lindy Ruff is hoping it wakes up his slumping winger who has produced a paltry two goals, six assists, and an ungodly -12 in 27 games this season.  Hemsky was supposed to be a driving force on the Stars’ second line after its elite top unit, but instead has been a big reason why the Stars’ forwards outside its big three of Tyler Seguin, Jamie Benn and Jason Spezza have only scored 35 goals in 29 game this season.

The only piece of good news is the Stars are in good shape salary cap-wise over the remainder of Hemsky’s contract, so his anchor shouldn’t prevent them from trying to improve the club in the off-season.  Other than that his signing has been a huge blunder by general manager Jim Nill.

The Stars made a surprise playoff appearance last year and had a strong round one showing against the Anaheim Ducks.  Hemsky was supposed to help this team to the next level.  So far it’s been nothing short of a disaster.  They are sixth in the Central Division and any notion of making a repeat trip to the playoffs seems far-fetched.

Nov 2, 2014; Buffalo, NY, USA; Buffalo Sabres left wing

(26) heads up ice with the puck against the Detroit Red Wings during the second period at First Niagara Center. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Hoffman-USA TODAY Sports

Matt Moulson ($5,000,000/year, 5-year contract)

This is worse than any “Jelly of the Month” Club someone could give you.  At least those have an end in sight.  This is much worse.

It pains me to include Moulson on this list because I personally like the guy.  The former ninth round pick toiled away in obscurity before hitting the jackpot and being placed on a line with good buddy John Tavares with the Islanders.  Moulson rewarded the Islanders with three consecutive 30-goal seasons before being dealt away for Vanek last season.

He re-signed with the Buffalo Sabres this summer after a brief stint with the club last season.  The Sabres were banking on the fact that Moulson wasn’t just a product of good linemates and instead was an offensive catalyst.  Well, so far, not so good.

Through 32 games he’s scored seven goals and collected eight more assists to add to his -7 rating.  His 19-goal pace would be his worst over a full season since he became a regular in 2009/10.  He’s not a particularly good play maker, nor defensive dynamo.  He’s being paid to score goals, and as the highest paid forward on the Sabres, is not doing enough of it.

The 31-year old has four more seasons on his contract after this season.  He can absolutely be a useful piece to a contender looking for some offensive punch and has an open slot next to a playmaking center.  If this were a two or three year contract, I think most fans would have been okay with it.  At five years though?  Fans should be demanding their money back.  At least Moulson can claim he was the most expensive free agent bust on this list.  That counts for something, right?

Nov 1, 2014; Edmonton, Alberta, CAN; Edmonton Oilers left wing

(67) skates with the puck against the Vancouver Canucks during the third period at Rexall Place. Vancouver Canucks won 3-2. Mandatory Credit: Sergei Belski-USA TODAY Sports

Benoit Pouliot ($4,000,000/year, 5-year contract)

It seems like all the rage these days is to pick on the Edmonton Oilers.  But when you hand out mind-numbingly bad contracts to mediocre players, you make this list, sorry.

The 28-year old winger never accumulated more than 36 points with any of his previous five teams, but the Oilers figured the sixth team was the charm when they handed him a lucrative contract on July 1st.  So far Pouilot has rewarded them with three goals and five assists in 20 games played, and is currently on injured reserve with a broken foot.  While no one could have predicted the injury, his production during his healthy times had him on pace for 33 points this season, or a typical Pouliot season.

And in case you’ve been under a rock the past few days, heads have rolled in Edmonton with the firing of coach Dallas Eakins as general manager Craig MacTavish will assume interim coaching duties for the time being.  This is the same man who constructed a roster than is last in the NHL and has won once in its last 16 games heading into Tuesday night.  I mean, what could go wrong?

There’s a reason why Pouliot is on his sixth different team in six seasons.  Yet the Oilers figured his play warranted a five-year deal.  Too bad for the fans they can’t return MacTavish and Pouliot back to whatever stage of hell they brought them in from.

So remember when you open that hideously awful gift you have to pretend to love, you can at least return it.  The players on this list?  Not so much.