NHL free agency is well known for the ridiculous, overpaid contracts handed out. Let’s take a look at five potential free agent bargains.
NHL free agency is nearly upon us. Usually, this time of the year is more known for the hilarious contracts handed out rather than the bargains. There’s a reason many hockey fans refer to the start of free agency as “silly season”.
Tyler Myers might make $7 million a year, so yup, it’s going to be silly season again this year. However, focusing on the negatives is never fun. Let’s look at the positives because I think there are some players who could be nice bargains.
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Getting bargains is critical for any Stanley Cup contender. For example, look at Brett Connolly. The Washington Capitals signed him to a bargain deal not once, but twice. He was a critical top-nine forward for them and proved himself to perhaps be more than that this season.
Another great example is Pat Maroon. Obviously, the St. Louis Blues had a bit of an unfair advantage, as he pretty much fell into their lap. Maroon wanted to be near his family and he lives in St. Louis. The Blues wouldn’t have won the Stanley Cup without their hometown hero.
Tyler Ennis gave the Toronto Maple Leafs a lot of value last season despite signing for under $1 million. So, as you can see, you can find bargain players in free agency. You just have to get lucky and you have to know who to target.
Each of these players has something they bring to the table that, if used correctly, could help provide whoever signs them with a nice bargain. These are the kinds of deals that help rebuilding teams because they can trade them for prospects and picks and help contenders because it helps them reach their ultimate goal.