NHL Free Agency is when teams go bananas over very average players. However, some teams really took it to the extreme and made some rash decisions.
During July, the sun seems to get into all the NHL GMs’ heads and they temporarily lose their minds. Teams throw money at players who, frankly, shouldn’t be getting paid as much as they do. This summer, there have been a number of signings who teams will probably regret.
Here are the four worst UFA signings so far:
1. Leo Komarov
The New York Islanders signed left winger Leo Komarov to a four-year deal at $3 million per season. Last season, he played 72 games and had 7 goals and 12 assists. Komarov averaged 15 minutes a night and played on the penalty kill and unfortunately, the powerplay as well. On the penalty kill, he was really good. Komarov is very aggressive and can take the draws as well.
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For most of the season with the Maple Leafs, he played on a shutdown line with Nazem Kadri and Patrick Marleau, which meant he typically faced the toughest opponents every night. Komarov is a great defensive winger, but $3 million a year for four years is way too much for the 31-year-old.
I understand having quality players in the locker room is important for the team, but that’s a really expensive mentor that the Islanders just paid for.
2. Petr Mrazek
Petr Mrazek‘s career save percentage in the NHL is a .911. When he was traded from the Detroit Red Wings to the Philadelphia Flyers, he played 17 games with the Flyers and recorded a save percentage of .891. Now, the Carolina Hurricanes have given him a one-year, $1.5 million deal.
The Hurricanes have been haunted by horrible goaltending for the past ten years. They finally moved on from Cam Ward and now they sign Mrazek? Really? Now they have a goalie tandem of two backups who haven’t proven that they’re ready to play full time in the NHL.
In hockey, the most important position is goalie so it makes sense that teams have to overspend on them. However, if you’re going to overspend, use that money wisely and get a reliable goalie that will last you long term. Mrazek is not a good goalie and no matter how many times teams try to revive him, it did not and will not work.
3. Cam Ward
Yet another bad goalie signing, this time by the Chicago Blackhawks. They have signed long-time Hurricane, Cam Ward to a one-year, 3 million dollar deal. As of now, the Blackhawks have $2 million in cap space. Was Ward really worth all that precious room?
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Last season’s average save percentage was .912. The last time Ward recorded anything near that was way back in the 2011-2012 season when he had a .915. What do the Blackhawks see in him?
Their current goalie situation is a bit complicated. They have starter Corey Crawford for $6 million a year until 2021. The Blackhawks also have two backups in Ward and Anton Forsberg (one more year at $750,000).
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Forsberg had a .908 save percentage last season and Ward was worse, with a .906. If Chicago wanted an upgrade in the backup position, they picked the wrong guy and paid him at least triple what he’s really worth.
4. Jack Johnson
When will people understand that he is a bad player? But guess what, the Pittsburgh Penguins have signed him to a monster contract. 5 years and 3.25 million dollars per year. There’s a really good article on Sports Illustrated on how Jack Johnson is the most overrated player in the NHL. He’s constantly out of position and he can exit the zone properly. It’s like Jake Gardiner bad except for all the time.
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I don’t know what Jim Rutherford is thinking, but I will cut him some slack because he has two Stanley Cups in three years.
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