Who Were The Best NHL Free Agent Signings Of Summer 2013?

Unlike the NHL Entry draft, assessing the success or failure of free agent signings is a more immediate process.  Unrestricted free agents are, for the most part, veterans who are expected to make an immediate impact on the teams that sign them.  While for those who sign long-term contracts there is still time to prove their worth, I am sure the teams signing them didn’t want to wait.

Dec 18, 2013; Newark, NJ, USA; New Jersey Devils right wing

(68) skates with the puck past Ottawa Senators left wing

(16) during the third period at the Prudential Center. The Devils defeated the Senators 5-2. Mandatory Credit: Ed Mulholland-USA TODAY Sports

While coming up with the tops in each position was difficult, it was so for different reasons.  The goaltenders and defensemen weren’t exactly a bumper crop, while there were a number of forwards who made comparable, if not spectacular contributions.

So, of all the free agents that were signed to new teams, who has delivered the most so far?….

GOALIES

Jan 11, 2014; Newark, NJ, USA; Florida Panthers goalie Tim Thomas (34) makes a save during the second period against the New Jersey Devils at the Prudential Center. Mandatory Credit: Ed Mulholland-USA TODAY Sports

Tim Thomas, FLA (1 yr, $3.75M)

Although his dream of coming back to play for the US in the Olympics was snuffed out, Thomas wins this category almost by default.  The rest of the free agent crop of 2013 consists primarily of backups and old veterans.  Ray Emery didn’t push for the #1 role like I though he would in Philadelphia, and Anton Khudobin had the opportunity to stand out in Cam Ward‘s absence but got hurt himself.  Thomas’ numbers aren’t spectacular, but solid for having taken a full year off at his age.

DEFENSE

Jan 11, 2014; Saint Paul, MN, USA; Colorado Avalanche defenseman Andre Benoit (61) against the Minnesota Wild at Xcel Energy Center. The Avalanche defeated the Wild 4-2. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports

Andre Benoit, COL (1 yr, $900K)

The former Ottawa Senators blueliner went from being a part-time player who averaged 16 minutes per game when he got into the lineup has become a mainstay on the Colorado Avalanche blue line, averaging over 20 minutes per night and playing in 44 of the Avs’ 45 games so far.  He is second on the Avalanche in scoring from the point and third in ice time.

RIGHT WING

Jan 4, 2014; Buffalo, NY, USA; New Jersey Devils right wing Jaromir Jagr (68) skates with the puck against the Buffalo Sabres at First Niagara Center. Mandatory Credit: Timothy T. Ludwig-USA TODAY Sports

Jaromir Jagr, NJD (1 yr, $4M)

The 41 year old winger has become a mercenary in recent years, and although he has slowed down a bit, he still affects a game like he used to.  He leads the Devils in scoring by a country mile (11 points over his closest teammate), and perhaps even more impressive is that he is +13, while the closest teammate to him is +7.  The days of a point per game are behind him, but he was a very nice pickup for the Devils.

CENTRE

Jan 5, 2014; Anaheim, CA, USA; Vancouver Canucks center Mike Santorelli (25) celebrates after scoring during the third period against the Anaheim Ducks at Honda Center. The Ducks won 4-3 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports

Mike Santorelli, VAN (1 yr, $550K)

While Valtteri Filppula, Mikhail Grabovski, Derek Roy and Mike Ribeiro are all in the same ballpark (and even a little more productive) in terms of stats, Santorelli’s conribution to the Canucks while being a minimum wage earner has been pretty remarkable.  Santorelli’s +9 rating is also better than the four previously mentioned centres.

LEFT WING

Jan 11, 2014; Nashville, TN, USA; Nashville Predators defenseman Shea Weber (6) defends Ottawa Senators left wing Clarke MacArthur (16) during the first period at Bridgestone Arena. Mandatory Credit: Don McPeak-USA TODAY Sports

Clarke MacArthur, OTT (2 yrs, $6.5M)

With all due respect to the seasons that Dustin Penner and Mason Raymond are having in Anaheim and Toronto respectively, MacArthur has been Ottawa’s most consistent player.  For a signing that came together quickly after the Daniel Alfredsson departure, he has exceeded expectations from an Ottawa fanbase who was skeptical after seeing how his tenure in Toronto ended, as a third or fourth liner.  As it turns out, it might have been less MacArthur and more Leaf mis-management.

So, what can we gleam from this list of free agents?  For the most part, shorter term contracts seem to be the way to go, and taking a chance on finding a diamond in the rough for cheap might be a better way to go than to try to hit a home run with a big name, long term, big money deal.

I will post my list of the worst signings of the summer a little later…