The NHL unrestricted free-agent season begins today. Players eligible for unrestricted free agency and not under contract with their current teams are free to sign with any team. Under NHL bylaws, players eligible for unrestricted free agency must be 28 years old and/or have seven years of NHL service. Here are some notable signings, good and bad:
BEST FREE-AGENT SIGNINGS
Dominik Hasek – Took the Detroit Red Wings to a conference final this past season, on a one-year, $750,000 salary.
Brett Hull and Luc Robitaille – Helped the Red Wings win a Cup in 2002 after signing as free agents.
Paul Kariya – Gave Nashville two good years.
Cory Stillman – Helped the Carolina Hurricanes win it all in 2006.
FREE-AGENT BUSTS
Martin Lapointe – The Boston Bruins gave him $6 million a year. He gave the Bruins little, scoring 40 goals in 205 games.
Doug Gilmour – The Chicago Blackhawks overpaid for him when he was at the end of his effectiveness.
Theo Fleury – The New York Rangers and Blackhawks paid him a lot of money, but drug problems derailed his career.
Valeri Kamensky – The Rangers signed him to a big-ticket contract after some good years with the Avalanche, but he was soon out of the league.
Pierre Turgeon – Dallas gave him a $6 million per year, multiyear deal, but his career stalled.
Rob Blake – Had a disastrous year for the Kings, finishing at minus-26 with 34 points in 72 games, after signing a two-year, $12 million deal.
Teemu Selanne – He is a Stanley Cup winner now, but his one year with the Avs as a free agent was a disaster. Scored a career-low 16 goals and was a healthy scratch in a playoff game.
Bobby Holik – Signed a five-year, $45 million deal with the Rangers in 2002. Two years later, he was a third-liner in Atlanta.
AVS’ BEST SIGNING
Tyler Arnason (left), 2006 – Was rewarded with a two-year deal last week after posting 49 points in 82 games.
AVS’ WORST SIGNING
Teemu Selanne, 2003. See Busts.
DID YOU KNOW?
Joe Sakic got the richest free-agent contract in NHL history 10 years ago. Sakic signed a three-year, $21 million offersheet with the Rangers that included a $15 million, up-front signing bonus. His 1996-97 salary of $17 million ($2 million, plus the $15 million bonus) remains the highest in league history.
