NHL Free Agent News: The 13 Most Overrated Players on the Market This Summer

At this stage in the free agency game, there are few, if any, overrated players available.

The fact that there have been no offers for their services is evidence that they are not over-valued by NHL teams.

If bums like those Stamkos and Doughty kids were all that great, they would have received some interest by now, right?

I'm kidding, of course.

Alex Kovalev and Jarkko Ruutu do not have a deals because there isn't a demand, so it would be tough to call them overrated free agents.

Yet, there were a number of players over whom many teams... or at least one anyway, seemed to fawn over and may have placed a little too much stock in how they may improve their team.

Here are 13 players that have a cost/benefit ratio that is out of whack.

13. Jamie Langenbrunner: St. Louis Blues

Cost: One-year, $2.8 million cap hit

Benefit: Perhaps had the Blues signed the Jamie Langenbrunner of the picture above, which was taken when he was one of the better two-way forwards in the game, he would not be on this list.

However, the Langenbrunner they did sign recently, is a player whose play has dropped off precipitously in past two years.

Once a threat to score 20 goals and make life miserable for opponents, Langenbrunner should reasonably be expected to score half that amount, make a few hits and maybe kill a few penalties.

Sure he can be a mentor for younger players, and it's only for one year, but the Blues would have been wiser investing nearly $3 million elsewhere.

12. Scottie Upshall: Florida Panthers

Cost: Four-years, $3.5 million cap hit

Benefit: Scottie Upshall is coming off the best statistical season of his NHL career.

Twenty-two goals, 34 points, minus-7 in 82 games with Phoenix and Columbus.

It should be noted that it was also the first time Upshall had laced them up for more than 61 games at the NHL level.

Upshall shows great determination and effort. He can contribute solid even strength minutes and won't quit until the buzzer.

However, he doesn't contribute much to special teams.  Doesn't throw many hits, block many shots, nor is he considered a defensive wiz by any means.

How does that translate into $3.5 million?

To put it in perspective, Upshall will count just $250 less against the cap than Claude Giroux.

11. Drew Stafford: Buffalo Sabres

Cost: Four-years, $4.0 million cap hit

Benefit: What? Drew Stafford overrated?

Stafford had a career year. 31 goals, 11 power play goals, a plus-13 in only 62 games!

Outrageous right?

Two words: contract year.

Where was this kind of production before this season? Stafford's previous goal scoring mark was 20, which he accomplished only once before.

His fans will astutely point out that a power forward's game takes longer to develop and that last season was indication of his true potential.

Maybe so.

But in today's game, a power forward that rakes in $4 million per season, will be expected to contribute 30+ goals every season.  They will be expected to use their 6'2" 214 lb. frame to block more than just five shots, and dish out more than a pedestrian 53 hits... or the same number of hits that 5'5" teammate Nathan Gerbe dished out last season.

10. Troy Brouwer: Washington Capitals

Cost: First-round selection, 26th overall in the 2011 NHL craft, two years, $2.35 million cap hit

Benefit: It's pretty clear that the Washington Capitals want to be a tougher team to play against.

Troy Brouwer will help them accomplish that aim.

He is a hitting machine, plays in the dirty areas, will punch in 15 goals, can stand in front of the net on a second line power play and rarely takes penalties.

The problem for Washington is that guy disappears in the postseason. Everyone hits in the playoffs, so Brouwer's contributions there are marginalized. He seems to take more frequent penalties and is useless in the offensive zone.

Hasn't playoff success been what has eluded the Capitals in recent years?

Brouwer's cap hit, while not offensive, is a bit inflated, but the big cost is exchanging his services for a First Round selection.

Wouldn't a team want a little more production from a top selection?

9. Erik Cole: Montreal Canadiens

Cost: Four years, $4.5 million cap hit

Benefit: Erik Cole is an effective scorer and physical presence... when healthy... AND playing in Carolina.

Yet these are real concerns.

OK, playing less effectively in Edmonton may well have been a fluke and a source for poor excuses of puns, but the issue is legit.

2010-2011 was only the second full regular season for Cole in the past six.  His rugged style has taken a toll on him as much as it has on opponents.

At this stage of his career, he is a threat for 20 goals, not 30. His defensive game has suffered a bit with the age and mileage.

With the risks involved, Cole just isn't a great bet at such an expensive clip.

8. Joni Pitkanen: Carolina Hurricanes

Cost: Three year, $4.5 million cap hit

Benefit: Puck-moving blueliners come at a premium.  Joni Pitkanen can bring the puck out of the zone, make a crisp first pass, skate and quarterback the power play, and doesn't embarrass himself defensively either.

The Canes judged Pitkanen to be a worthy of a premium paycheck. Carolina will pay him like they will new teammate Tomas Kaberle.

However, the checks come with high expectations, which may prove to be too lofty for a defenseman who will annually post 35-45 points and is just so-so in his own zone.

Like Kaberle, Pitkanen may just become the subject of constant trade speculation and a scapegoat for a myriad of team issues.

7. Christian Ehrhoff: Buffalo Sabres

Cost: Fourth-round selection of the 2012 NHL draft, 10 years, $4.0 million cap hit

Benefit: At first glance you will notice that Ehrhoff led all Vancouver defensemen in scoring both in the regular season and the playoffs.

Impressive considering that many believed the Canucks had the best overall group of blueliners heading into the post season.

The better teams, however, exposed Ehrhoff, like the rest of the team defensively and physically.  When the vaunted Canucks offense tanked, Ehrhoff's stout plus-19 from the regular season plummeted to a team worst minus-13 in the playoffs.

The Sabres have sorely missed Brian Campbell's production since he moved on from Buffalo.

With Ehrhoff and a free spending new owner, the fans will be treated to Campbell-esque puck rushes and blueline goals, but they will also experience many of the same head-in-hand moments of giveaways, missed assignments and general lack of physicality that they witnessed in Campbell's early years... for a long, long time to come.

6. Sean Bergenheim: Florida Panthers

Cost: Four years, $2.75 million cap hit

Benefit: With nine goals scored in this year's playoff run in Tampa, Sean Bergenheim assured himself of a nice pay raise.

This July 1, the Panthers signed a guy who scored more goals that Steven Stamkos in the postseason at a fraction of Stamkos' cost.

How many teams could expect that?

The issue with Begenheim is that his nine goals were about on par with what could be expected from him over the course of any other regular season campaign during his career.

In Bergenheim, Florida added one of this past postseason's great surprise performers, but will he even have the chance at an encore with his new team?

If he reaches his career high of 15 goals in a season this year, will the Panthers have gotten their near $3 million's worth?

5. Ilya Bryzgalov: Philadelphia Flyers

Cost: Third-round selection in the 2012 NHL draft, Matt Clackson, and future considerations, Jeff Carter, Mike Richards, nine years, $5.666 million cap hit

Benefit: I can already hear the blood boiling of the Philly Phaithful as they read the name of their new-found goaltending savior on this list.

But, before the strain of obscenities begin to escape the lips and re-appear in the comments section for besmirching Bryzgalov's entitlement to the Cup, please consider some relevant evidence.

Since arriving in Phoenix, Bryzgalov has consistently posted impressive numbers.  Topping out at 42 wins in a season, a scary good .921 save percentage mark twice, and a low GAA of 2.29 in '09-'10.

The issue with Bryzgalov has been in the playoffs. 

In the postseason, teams usually tighten up defensively. 

They allow fewer shots and opponent scoring chances. Yet, Bryzgalov's numbers pale in comparison after the regular season ends. 

His last two post season performance show a respective 3.44 and 4.36 GAA, and save percentages of .906 and .879.

Please also consider that the goaltending carousel comprised of Michael Leighton, Brian Boucher and Sergei Bobrovsky posted numbers over the past two seasons that were not as good as Bryzgalov's during the regular season, but were much better in the playoffs.

In addition, although it is exaggerated above, the hefty sum commanded by Bryzgalov's camp necessitated major cap saving moves by Philadelphia.

With all the upheaval surrounding his acquisition, all the pressure to win a Cup falls squarely on the goaltenders' shoulders.

Paid professional or not, it's a lot to place on one person... for nine consecutive years.

4. Ed Jovanovski: Florida Panthers

Cost: Four years, $4.125 million cap hit

Benefit: He's not an especially astute penalty killer, nor power play guru, nor frequent hitter, fighter, shot blocker, scorer, nor defensive specialist.

However, he does all of the aforementioned things in moderation.

What he will do especially well for the Panthers, on his second stint with the team, is mentor young players and take up a big enough chunk of cap space to keep them just above the cap minimum.

The Panthers are repeat offenders of overpayment this free agency period.

Why all understand the why, it's just the who that baffles.

3. Ville Leino: Buffalo Sabres

Cost: Six years, $4.5 million cap hit

Benefit: With a great Cup run with the Flyers a season ago and a nice regular season this year, the hockey world became a fan of the bargain Ville Leino.

From next season on the hockey world will witness the evolution of the well compensated Leino in Buffalo, who by the way is the same player who had posted just 11 career regular season goals entering the '10-'11 campaign with Philly.

Even if his career numbers were not what they are, I'd feel that the Sabres had just fallen victim to the hype surrounding a guy who has one nice postseason run and one 19-goal season under his belt.

Any way you slice it, $27 million is a lot for a guy with Leino's resume.

2. Joel Ward: Washington Capitals

Cost: Four years, $3.0 million cap hit

Benefit: Beginning to notice a pattern here?

One nice postseason performance can inflate a price tag, regardless of your career numbers.

Joel Ward led his team in scoring during last years playoffs with seven goals and 13 points over the course of just 12 games.

Now close your eyes for moment and imagine Ovie sitting across the dark and dank dungeon-like poker room from Ward, Matt Damon's stand-in.

Ovie recites verbatim the lines of Teddy KGB: "Pay hyim... Pay that myan hyis myoney."

Now imagine that Joel Ward is not the same guy who averages about 13 goals per season while trolling the third or fourth line in Nashville.

Joel Ward is a fantastic worker bee, with a nose for the net and tireless work ethic; but he is also the poster child for an inflated marketplace with a dearth of options from which to choose.

1. James Wisniewski: Columbus Blue Jackets

Cost: Fifth-round selection 2012 NHL draft, six years, $5.5 million cap hit

Benefit: James Wisniewski has long been undervalued.

He can skate, has a good shot, is an underrated passer and can play a really nasty game.

The days of flying under the radar are now gone.

"Wiz" was really the blueline gem to be had during free agency.  While more well known names were possibly rated a bit higher, at just 27 years old, he is just entering his prime and has been days ahead of him.

However, unless he manages to win the next handful of Norris Trophies, paying him just a hair below the likes of Nick Lidstrom is simply ludicrous.