Out of the 100+ signings in the off-season this year one of the questions has become what were the best and worst signings of this years off-season. A lot of people might say that the worst could be the Hossa or Campbell signings well some say the best are the Malone and Redden signings.
Here are my choices for the best and the worst signings of this year's off-season.
Best
No. 54 D Brian Campbell—Chicago—Eight years, $56.8 million
I know that some of you are going to leave a comment about these saying "are you serious? Wow, your an idiot!" But Brian Campbell can be a powerplay QB. He is mainly a defensive player which you need one of on every powerplay unit so the puck stays in the zone.
He can also chip in a little on the offense with a goal. Last year he was a 62 point player (eight goals, 54 assists) and finished the season second in points on the Sharks. If he was still on the Sabres then he would have finished fourth.
So really if he is going to Chicago, a team similar to Buffalo, than he should finish about fourth in scoring. A good season, no matter who you are.
Worst
No. 38 G Cristobal Huet—Chicago—Four years, $22.4 million
The Blackhawks have now got the best and worst signings of the off season. Yes, Huet is a good goalie, but not only did they pay to much for him (which got them over the salary cap) but they already have Nik Khabibulin who can give them quality starts, maybe not every game, but he gets the job done.
So now Chicago has a worse goalie controversy than the Maple Leafs did at the beginning of the 2007-2008 season.
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Best—Honorable Mentions
No. 31 G Curtis Joseph—Toronto—One year, $700 000
No. 18 F Marian Hossa—Detroit—One year, $7.4 million
No. 20 F Kristian Huselius—Columbus—Four years, $19 million
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Worst—Honorable Mentions
No. 29 G Alex Auld—Ottawa—Two years, $2 million
No. 6 D Ron Hainsey—Atlanta—Five years, $22.5 million
No. 22 D Josef Melichar—Carolina—One year, $1 million
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28 days ago
I'm not gonna say that the Blackhawks signing Campbell is necessarily a bad thing. I just don't understand it. This is a team that's supposed to have a lot of good young players on defense, Duncan Keith, Brent Seabrook, Cam Barker, and to me Campbell just isn't necessary.
28 days ago
While free agency is all about overpaying to get the player you want, that's just too much money on too-long a term for Brian Campbell imo.
I have the same problem with Wade Redden's deal, too long and too much money.
Although really I'm not a fan of long-term deals in general.
Some of my worst signings would include Raycroft and Theodore.
27 days ago
Jeff Finger is going to be one of Cliff's best signings. My buddy at work , who is a huge Av's fans saw every game last season, and he said the Finger was a real stud. He as really sorry to see him go. And for all of those experts out there, who thought that Cliff signed the wrong D-man (he meant Kurt Sauer), my buddy says there is no comparison. Not only is Finger alot tougher ,his blocked shots and hits were almost double that ofSauer. He will be our best shut down defence, and half way thru the season, all those "Finger signing bashers will never be heard from again
from 27 days ago
Ya I agree, he is a good player but 3.5 is a little much for some one who has only played 1 full season. If Schenn plays next year then I think that Schenn will be their best shutdown man. He could go up against Datsuyk, Ovie, Crosby all the "scoring gifted" players in the NHL. Finger will be good for blocking shots and shipping in a couple goals here is there, I say he gets about 5 goals next season.
from 27 days ago
Jeff Finger is hardly the person your buddy makes him out to be! He forgot to mention that it was Sauer not Finger that shut down the other teams top line down, and while Finger is a good open ice hitter, he is SLOW (the slowest on the avalanche) and most fowards in the NHL can slip around an open hit. Finger is no doubt a tough player, yet his play in the corners is questionable at best, also his vision of the ice is not very keen and he makes bad defencive desisions. Look, the Avs will miss his hitting but they are in a more dire need of a complete d-man like Sauer.
27 days ago
Huselius on the "best" list? I don't think so. Pretty high price for a streaky offensive threat with absolutely zero heart. Jackets would've been better off keeping Zherdev.
I don't know who Melichar is but I hardly think almost anyone (including Auld) could be considered a bad signing for $1 million per year. That's pretty cheap in today's market.
Agree with Huet though.
from 27 days ago
yeah, but Columbus had to pay him a lot so they could get to the minimum cap. I think that 1 mil is a little pricy for Auld, espaicilly for someone that is worse then Cujo, as good at best. Cujo was a good signing because he took what the deserved, not 2-3 mil.
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