The NHL has had a busy month of July. Since free agent signing began on July 1st many teams have come unraveled, and others have become Stanley Cup contenders. This edition of Rank examines the ten most significant free agent signings.
10. Erik Cole - Montreal Canadiens
$4.5M - 4 Years
The Canadiens have signed a pure goal scorer. Last season Cole scored 26 goals for the Carolina Hurricanes. In the 05-06 season Cole received a Stanley Cup ring with the Canes, even though he only played in two playoff games. Montreal already had some dangerous scorers and this only adds to that. They certainly could beat out Boston to win the division next season.
9. Tomas Kaberle - Carolina Hurricanes
$4.25M - 3 Years
Kaberle has been to four all-star games and got his first Stanley Cup ring last season with the Boston Bruins. Kaberle has always been a very good offensive defenseman and excellent power play point man. He adds some much needed stability to Carolina's blue line. Even with this signing it is going to be hard for a team like Carolina to surpass Washington and Tampa Bay in that division.
8. Sheldon Souray - Dallas Stars
$1.65M - 1 Year
Not too many guys have a slap shot like Sheldon Souray. He is a two time 20 goal scorer, which is unheard of for defenseman in the modern NHL. Souray fell off the map last season in Edmonton, but then again so did Edmonton. Poor play and a broken hand led to playing 40 games in the AHL and a lack of interest in free agency. That explains the cheap, short term deal. However, when healthy Souray can still be an all-star caliber defenseman and will certainly make the Stars better.
7. Ville Leino - Buffalo Sabres
$4.5M - 6 Years
The embarrassing Philadelphia Flyers cap issues helped lead to Ville heading to Buffalo. He busted out in the 2010 playoffs and continued through last season. He is 27 years old and really hitting his stride. Last season he scored 19 goals and was a +14. He is a perfect player for the Sabres, I cannot think of any forward that fits their system better. I must also mention that Ville Leino is the most stylish dresser in the NHL, so thats an added bonus.
6. Simon Gagne - Los Angeles Kings
$3.5M - 2 Years
When healthy Gagne is one of the best left wings in the game. The problem is he has never played a full 82 games. Even though he missed 19 games with Tampa Bay last season he was a big reason they made it all the way to a game seven in the Eastern Conference Finals. He is a two time 40 goal scorer and has a knack for big moments. Now joining a great young Kings team Gagne can help them become a serious Stanley Cup contender.
5. Jaromir Jagr - Philadelphia Flyers
$3.3M - 1 Year
Jagr surprised everyone by signing with the Philadelphia Flyers. The biggest question mark is who is he now? He spent the last three years in the KHL, so no one is really sure how he will play in the NHL. In his last NHL season with the Rangers, Jagr scored 25 goals and had 71 points. Can he still put up numbers like that or is 39 too old to be a dominant wing in the NHL? A lot of the Flyers season depends on how he plays.
4. Michael Ryder - Dallas Stars
$3.5M - 2 Years
Ryder has been an excellent winger since he broke into the league with Montreal. He truly became a stud last season while helping Boston win the Stanley Cup. He made big plays all over the ice and scored key goals for the Bruins. I must say I was very surprised he did not get a bigger long term contract, and I was disappointed the Penguins didn't take a run at him. Dallas got the most scoring possible this offseason with Ryder and Souray.
3. Tomas Vokoun - Washington Capitals
$1.5M - 1 Year
There is no secret the Capitals only weakness has been goalie. Their plan is now for two time all star Tomas Vokoun to fill that hole. The problem is Vokoun is 35 years old and has never played for a winning team. I am not sure how he would react to being in a pressure playoff situation, considering he has spent the last four seasons with the laughable Florida Panthers. With such a minuscule contract it appears Washington does not have a lot of confidence in him.
2. Brad Richards - New York Rangers
$6.66M - 9 Years
Brad Richards was the prize of the free agent season. He has never been a big time goal scorer, but has always been a very good playmaker. He won the Conn Smythe Trophy when Tampa Bay won the Stanley Cup in 2004. It was blatantly obvious last season the Rangers needed a playmaking center for Marian Gaborik. Now they have that and may be poised to make a serious run at winning the division.
1. Ilya Bryzgalov - Philadelphia Flyers
$5.66M - 9 Years
For the last few seasons Bryz has been an outstanding goalie in Phoenix. He has been mentioned in MVP and Vezina Trophy conversation repeatedly. He took Phoenix from being the laughing stock of the Western Conference to a serious contender. The Flyers may have overhauled their whole team, but they may come out better than before only because of Bryzgalov. He may be the one reason the Flyers stay atop the Atlantic Division.
10. Erik Cole - Montreal Canadiens
The Canadiens have signed a pure goal scorer. Last season Cole scored 26 goals for the Carolina Hurricanes. In the 05-06 season Cole received a Stanley Cup ring with the Canes, even though he only played in two playoff games. Montreal already had some dangerous scorers and this only adds to that. They certainly could beat out Boston to win the division next season.
9. Tomas Kaberle - Carolina Hurricanes
$4.25M - 3 Years
Kaberle has been to four all-star games and got his first Stanley Cup ring last season with the Boston Bruins. Kaberle has always been a very good offensive defenseman and excellent power play point man. He adds some much needed stability to Carolina's blue line. Even with this signing it is going to be hard for a team like Carolina to surpass Washington and Tampa Bay in that division.
8. Sheldon Souray - Dallas Stars
$1.65M - 1 Year
Not too many guys have a slap shot like Sheldon Souray. He is a two time 20 goal scorer, which is unheard of for defenseman in the modern NHL. Souray fell off the map last season in Edmonton, but then again so did Edmonton. Poor play and a broken hand led to playing 40 games in the AHL and a lack of interest in free agency. That explains the cheap, short term deal. However, when healthy Souray can still be an all-star caliber defenseman and will certainly make the Stars better.
7. Ville Leino - Buffalo Sabres
$4.5M - 6 Years
The embarrassing Philadelphia Flyers cap issues helped lead to Ville heading to Buffalo. He busted out in the 2010 playoffs and continued through last season. He is 27 years old and really hitting his stride. Last season he scored 19 goals and was a +14. He is a perfect player for the Sabres, I cannot think of any forward that fits their system better. I must also mention that Ville Leino is the most stylish dresser in the NHL, so thats an added bonus.
6. Simon Gagne - Los Angeles Kings
$3.5M - 2 Years
When healthy Gagne is one of the best left wings in the game. The problem is he has never played a full 82 games. Even though he missed 19 games with Tampa Bay last season he was a big reason they made it all the way to a game seven in the Eastern Conference Finals. He is a two time 40 goal scorer and has a knack for big moments. Now joining a great young Kings team Gagne can help them become a serious Stanley Cup contender.
5. Jaromir Jagr - Philadelphia Flyers
$3.3M - 1 Year
Jagr surprised everyone by signing with the Philadelphia Flyers. The biggest question mark is who is he now? He spent the last three years in the KHL, so no one is really sure how he will play in the NHL. In his last NHL season with the Rangers, Jagr scored 25 goals and had 71 points. Can he still put up numbers like that or is 39 too old to be a dominant wing in the NHL? A lot of the Flyers season depends on how he plays.
4. Michael Ryder - Dallas Stars
$3.5M - 2 Years
Ryder has been an excellent winger since he broke into the league with Montreal. He truly became a stud last season while helping Boston win the Stanley Cup. He made big plays all over the ice and scored key goals for the Bruins. I must say I was very surprised he did not get a bigger long term contract, and I was disappointed the Penguins didn't take a run at him. Dallas got the most scoring possible this offseason with Ryder and Souray.
3. Tomas Vokoun - Washington Capitals
$1.5M - 1 Year
There is no secret the Capitals only weakness has been goalie. Their plan is now for two time all star Tomas Vokoun to fill that hole. The problem is Vokoun is 35 years old and has never played for a winning team. I am not sure how he would react to being in a pressure playoff situation, considering he has spent the last four seasons with the laughable Florida Panthers. With such a minuscule contract it appears Washington does not have a lot of confidence in him.
2. Brad Richards - New York Rangers
$6.66M - 9 Years
Brad Richards was the prize of the free agent season. He has never been a big time goal scorer, but has always been a very good playmaker. He won the Conn Smythe Trophy when Tampa Bay won the Stanley Cup in 2004. It was blatantly obvious last season the Rangers needed a playmaking center for Marian Gaborik. Now they have that and may be poised to make a serious run at winning the division.
1. Ilya Bryzgalov - Philadelphia Flyers
$5.66M - 9 Years
For the last few seasons Bryz has been an outstanding goalie in Phoenix. He has been mentioned in MVP and Vezina Trophy conversation repeatedly. He took Phoenix from being the laughing stock of the Western Conference to a serious contender. The Flyers may have overhauled their whole team, but they may come out better than before only because of Bryzgalov. He may be the one reason the Flyers stay atop the Atlantic Division.
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