I just looked at the top 50 UFA Signings from this summer and it is staggering as to how BADLY the 2019 UFA crop has impacted this season...
Of the top 50 UFA's signed I had a hard time coming up with the players who made a major difference and were worth the money spent.. The ones I consider at least impactful (for the money spent) I put in bold...Who was the best signing?
Here were the top 50 (per sporting news) 1. Artemi Panarin LW Rangers (7 years, $81.5 million)
2. Matt Duchene C Predators (7 years, $56 million)
3. Sergei Bobrovsky G Panthers (7 years, $70 million)
4. Joe Pavelski C Stars (3 years, $21 million)
5. Corey Perry RW Stars (1 year, $1.5 million) 6. Robin Lehner G Blackhawks (1 year, $5 million)
7. Wayne Simmonds Devils (1 year, $5 million)
8. Mats Zuccarello Wild (5 years, $30 million)
9. Marcus Johansson Sabres (2 years, $9 million) 10. Gustav Nyquist Blue Jackets (4 years, $22 million) 11. Tyler Myers D Canucks (5 years, $30 million)
12. Jake Gardiner Hurricanes (4 years, $16.2 million) 13. Anders Lee LW Islanders (7 years, $49 million)
14. Ryan Dzingel C Hurricanes (2 years, $6.75 million)
15. Anton Stralman D Panthers (3 years, $16.5 million)
16. Micheal Ferland LW Canucks (4 years, $14 million)
17. Patrick Marleau C Sharks (1 year, $700,000) 18. Semyon Varlamov G Islanders (4 years, $20 million)
19. Joe Thornton C Sharks (1 year, $2 million) 20. Petr Mrazek G Hurricanes (2 years, $6.25M)
21. Brett Connolly RW Panthers (4 years, $13 million)
22. Brandon Tanev LW Penguins (6 years, $21 million)
23. Brian Boyle C Devils/Predators Panthers (1 year, $940,000) 24. Cam Talbot G Flames (1 year, $2.75 million)
25. Justin Williams RW Hurricanes
26. Dion Phaneuf D Kings 27. Valeri Nichushkin RW Avalanche (1 year, $20 million)
28. Ron Hainsey D Senators (1 year, $3.5 million)
29. Derick Brassard C Islanders (1 year, $1.2 million) 30. Pat Maroon LW Lightning (1 year, $900,000)
31. Valtteri Filppula Red Wings (2 years, $6 million)
32. Joonas Donskoi Avalanche (4 years, $15.6 million) 33. Jason Spezza Leafs (1 year, $700,000) 34. Mike Smith G Oilers (1 year, $2 million)
35. Curtis McElhinney Lightning (2 years, $2.6 million)
36. Andrej Sekera Stars (1 year, $1.5 million) 37. Tyler Ennis LW Senators (1 year, $800,000)
38. Deryk Engelland Golden Knights (1-year, $700,000)
39. Noel Acciari C Panthers (3 years, $5 million)
40. Nathan Beaulieu D Jets (1 year, $1 million)
41. Thomas Vanek LW Red Wings
42. Luke Schenn D Lightning (1 year, $700,000) 43. Pierre-Edouard Bellemare C Avalanche (2 years, $3.6 million)
44. Riley Sheahan C Oilers (1 year, $900,000)
45. Richard Panik RW Capitals (4 years, $11 million)
46. Gregg McKegg C Rangers (1 year, $750,000)
47. Ryan Hartman RW Wild (2 years, $3.8 million)
48. Jason Pominville RW Sabres
49. Keith Kinkaid G Canadiens (1 year, $1.75 million)
50. Michael Del Zotto D Ducks (1 year, $750,000)
The Best Signings?
1. Well obviously Panarin has been amazing...but the Rangers haven't really benefitted enough...
2. Jason Spezza...Since the coaching change he has been all the Leafs paid for and more.
3. Three Goalies...Varlamov, Lehner and Mike Smith have all been great.
4. Tyler Ennis for 800k was a steal.
5. Anders Lee went to July 1....but he stayed and was great as expected...
What say you?
Tonight's Picks and Updated Projected Final Standings...
Last night's Predictions: 3-3
Thoughts on last night...
*Hell of a comeback by Columbus to take the Canucks.
*The Wild may have lost to the Caps, but they showed they are absolutely a force.
*The Flyers are playing their best hockey in maybe a decade. The Rangers are being negatively affected by their goaltending right now. But even with the two losses the Rangers aren't out of this yet.
*NJ and LA continues to be impressive since trading away so many key players...how long can you look better than you were before you traded away talent?
*The Panthers don't look like a playoff team and with the Leafs playing better since the Carolina Massacre it really looks like the three playoff teams from the Atlantic are going to be Tampa, Toronto and Boston....again
Season So Far: 23-27
*********************** Tonight Predictions:
Colorado over Detroit
Nashville over Edmonton
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