NHL Power Rankings: Rating the Savviness of Each Team's GM in Free Agent Market

Signing free agents is obviously only one facet of an NHL general manager’s duty. He has to, among other things, draft well, develop players well and execute smart trades.

Some teams, like the Rangers, Maple Leafs and Penguins, that are located in big-time hockey markets rely more heavily upon free agents, although all teams must use the open market at some point—this is America (kind of), home of capitalism.

Over time, GMs have found that a hockey team cannot be built entirely upon free agents. There is a salary cap. It is a physical sport—there must be team chemistry. And hockey players tend to sign long contracts that keep them in one place for a significant amount of time.

The result has been parity, generating interest in hockey from cities ranging from New York to Tampa to San Jose to Vancouver and everywhere in between.

In this slideshow, GMs are evaluated not only on the talent they bring in, but how they use their free agents to compliment their teams.

Therefore, if you’re Glen Sather in New York, are you bringing in superstars that make the big bucks?

If you’re Steve Yzerman in Tampa, are you complimenting the talent you already have, namely Steven Stamkos, Vincent Lecavalier and Martin St. Louis?

If you’re in St. Louis or Washington, are you bringing in veterans to compliment a young core?

If you’re in Pittsburgh or Chicago, are you filling gaps left by cap casualties following the Stanley Cup championship?

And if you’re in Columbus, well, what the hell are you doing?

30. Winnipeg Jets: Kevin Cheveldayoff

The Skinny: Upon moving from Atlanta, the hottest place on the planet, to Winnipeg, the coldest, the Jets cleaned house. Gone was president Don Waddell and GM Rick Dudley. In came Chevaldayoff. Because he is a new arrival, it is hard to evaluate his first year as GM. Time will tell if the move pays off—after all, eventually, the honeymoon will end in Manitoba.

29. Montreal Canadiens: Marc Bergevin

The Skinny:

After a terrible season last year, the Habs decided to part ways with Pierre Gauthier and brought in Marc Bergevin. He’s got a big task ahead of him: making one of the NHL’s premier franchises relevant again.

28. Columbus Blue Jackets, Scott Howson

Notable free-agent signings

Kristian Huselius

After two strong seasons in Calgary when he scored 34 and 25 goals, respectively, the Blue Jackets signed Huselius to a four-year, $19 million contract. He hasn’t really panned out since, having only played 41 games in the past two seasons. It’s hard to tell if Huselius has been a bust or he’s just a product of a bad team.

Derek MacKenzie

MacKenzie was brought over to Columbus in 2008 after years of bouncing between the Thrashers and their minor league affiliate. He’s played 60-plus games in the past two years.

Aaron Johnson

Originally drafted by Columbus in 2001, Howson brought Johnson back last season with a one-year contract. The 29-year-old defenseman played 56 games.

Vaclav Prospal

The 37-year-old forward has been good for around 20 goals each year. Prospal gave the Jackets just that last season, netting 16 goals and accruing 55 points in 82 games.

James Wisniewski

Jeff Carter is not on this list because he was dealt to Los Angeles, but the Carter and Wisniewski signings look like big busts so far. The former defenseman began the year with a suspension for drilling Minnesota’s Cal Clutterbuck at the end of regulation in a preseason game and finished with only 48 games under his belt. That’s a rough start.

The Skinny

This team is in trouble. Free agency can’t take the brunt of the blame, but Howson has to be feeling a little bit uncomfortable right now.

27. Calgary Flames: Jay Feaster

Notable free-agent signings:

Tim Jackman

A good find for Feaster, Jackman was a guy that couldn’t escape the minor-major league bubble for most of his career, but had two good years with the Islanders. Although he had 10 goals in 2010-11, Jackman is known more for his physical presence on the team.

Olli Jokinen

Bring the boys back home, I guess. Jokinen had his best years in Florida, but had two seasons late in his career with Calgary that looked like a swan song before being dealt to New York in the 2009-10 season. Feaster brought him back in 2010, though, and he put up 23 goals last season at the age of 33.

Alex Tanguay

Feaster also reached out to another one-time Flame, Alex Tanguay, offering him a one-year, $1.7 million contract for the 2010-11 season. His 69 points that season were enough for Feaster to give the winger a five-year, $17.5 extension the following year.

Scott Hannan

Hannan got a contract because, well, he’s on the wrong side of 30 (Calgary seems to like elderly players), had some great years in San Jose and Colorado and, well, why not? What’s the harm? In fact, it’s panned out so far. He played 78 bruising games for Calgary last year.

The Skinny

Feaster is the man who brought Tampa Bay a championship in 2004. The acting GM since 2010, he’s got a big task ahead of him: turn around a beloved franchise that is aging and does not have a lot of young talent that has proven itself in the NHL. He has often gone back to the old well to find talent for his team.

26. Edmonton Oilers: Steve Tambellini

Notable free-agent signings:

Nikolai Khabibulin

In 2009, the Bulin Wall was signed to a four-year deal. In that span, he’s played 104 games, but also been arrested for speeding and driving under the influence. Goaltending is a need for Edmonton, but there’s some question of if the 39-year-old goaltender, who played for the first incarnation of the Winnipeg Jets, can fit the need.

Darcy Hordichuk

Who said the Oilers don’t sign exciting free agents? After signing a one-year deal with Oilers last season, he put a bounty on the Sedin twins, only to injure himself playing against the Canucks.

Eric Belanger

Belanger has looked like a bust in the first year of his three-year, $5.25 million deal. He only had four goals in 78 games played—a career low.

Ben Eager

The burly Eager signed a three-year deal with the Oilers after advancing to the Western Conference Finals with the Sharks last season.

Corey Potter

Signed to a two-year deal last season, the defensive defenseman played well for 62 games before suffering a concussion after being hit by Anaheim’s Bobby Ryan.

The Skinny

Two years after the Oil went to the Stanley Cup, Tambellini was brought in to resurrect a popular franchise that went from worst to first within only a few years. He’s tried to through the draft, often getting lucky with the lottery and supplementing the talent with older players.

25. Nashville Predators: David Poile

Notable free-agent signings:

Francis Bouillon

After spending the majority of his career in Montreal, Bouillon joined Nashville, a team he spent the 2002-03 season with, via tryout. He played 81 games in 2009-10, but only played 44 and 66 in following seasons.

Jack Hillen

Poile signed Hillen after three years with the Islanders, and the defenseman suited up for 55 games this season.

The Skinny

Poile has turned the Nashville Predators into a perennial playoff team and has done so using mostly homegrown players. He is considered one of the NHL’s premier GMs, but often, free agency works against him—he tends to lose more talent than he brings in.

24. Minnesota Wild: Chuck Fletcher

Notable free-agent signings:

Jared Spurgeon

When the New York Islanders failed to sign Spurgeon, a player they drafted, the Wild swooped in and picked him up, inviting him to training camp during the 2010-11 season and offering him a three-year deal. He split his first year between the AHL and NHL, but played a complete season in 2012.

Matt Cullen

A Virginia, Minn. native, Cullen returned home as an aging Stanley Cup winner when he signed a three-year deal in 2010.

Warren Peters

Since signing a two-year deal back in 2010, Peters has split time with the Aeros and Wild, but managed 58 games with the big-league club this season.

The Skinny

When Fletcher joined the Wild in 2009, the team had just lost their cornerstone player, Marian Gaborik, to free agency and had blown five straight draft picks. Despite significant interest in the team when the NHL returned to the Twin Cities in 2000, fans were becoming upset with a lack of success, and Fletcher found himself between a rock and a hard place: he had to win and build on the go.

23. San Jose Sharks: Doug Wilson

Notable free-agent signings:

Michal Handzus

After four years in SoCal, Handzus joined the Sharks on a two-year, $5 million deal. After playing four complete seasons, Zeus could not stay on the ice this season, playing 67 games and only mustering seven goals.

Colin White

The longtime New Jersey Devil had his contract bought out and signed a one-year deal with San Jose. He played a career-low 51 games last season.

Brad Winchester

Winchester signed a one-year deal with the Sharks last season and suited up for 67 games.

Jim Vandermeer

Vandermeer, 32, was brought in on a one-year deal, but could not stick in the lineup. He only played 25 games last season.

The Skinny

Under Wilson’s watch, the Sharks have become perennial contenders in the Western Conference. After an early playoff exit, however, the Sharks may be in trouble. His team has traditionally been homegrown, but Wilson may dip into free agency more frequently in order to improve his team in the future.

22. Carolina Hurricanes: Jim Rutherford

Notable free-agent signings:

Chad LaRose

Not a bad free-agent signing here. LaRose led the Plymouth Whalers (OHL) in scoring in 2002-03, but was never drafted and latched on to the Canes as a free agent in 2003. He’s been a member of the team ever since.

Jay Harrison

A nifty little pickup in 2009, Harrison was a player on the AHL-NHL bubble at the time, but the defenseman has played 72 games with the Hurricanes in the past two seasons.

Tim Brent

Another non-impact player, Brent is not a volume scorer, but suited up for 79 games last season, and it’s hard to argue that Rutherford missed here.

Anthony Stewart

Rutherford came in and swooped Stewart away from the Thrashers-turned-Jets during their transition period, obtaining a player that scored 14 goals for the zombie Thrash last season. He only netted nine in 2011-12, however, despite playing in 77 games.

The Skinny

This guy’s been around so long he can claim he was the GM of the Hartford Whalers. Signed in 1994, he moved with the team in 1997 and has remained at his position ever since. Most of his talent is homegrown, but Rutherford has some notable signings on this roster.

21. Colorado Avalanche: Greg Sherman

Notable free agent signings:

Jean-Sebastien Giguere

Giguere was brought aboard as a veteran backup presumably to mentor Semyon Varlamov. If Chris Pronger retires this season, Giguere will be the only remaining Hartford Whaler left in the NHL.

Jan Hejda

Sherman brought in Hejda, a defensive defenseman, signing him to a four-year, $13 million contract. He played 81 games last season.

Shane O’Brien

O’Brien signed a one-year deal with Colorado last season. He played in 76 games and racked up 105 penalty minutes.   

The Skinny

Sherman is building his team through the draft and has not been splashy with his free-agent signings. The players he has brought have either served as a mentor or saw significant playing time—exactly what he was looking for.

20. Phoenix Coyotes: Don Maloney

Notable free-agent signings:

Adrian Aucoin

The defensive defenseman was signed in 2009, and while the 38-year-old is far removed from his prime years with the Canucks, he’s put together three full seasons with the Yotes.

Ray Whitney

A grizzled 40-year-old veteran, Whitney signed a two-year deal in 2010 and gave Phoenix two solid years. He finished up this season with 24 goals—his highest total since 2007-08.

Mike Smith

Signed to a two-year deal with the expectation that he will replace the production of Ilya Bryzgalov, Smith has done just that. He earned 38 wins in 67 games played this season after coming over from the Lightning and solidified himself as the No. 1 goaltender in Glendale.

Raffi Torres

Most hockey fans know this guy from his dangerous, head-hunting hit on Marian Hossa during the playoffs. He signed a two-year, $3.5 million deal with the Yotes last year.

Boyd Gordon

A longtime Washington Capital, Gordon signed a two-year deal with Phoenix in 2011 and played 75 games this season, tallying eight goals as a winger.

Taylor Pyatt

The former Sabre and Canuck signed with the Coyotes in 2009, and while he is not a volume scorer, he’s put together three solid seasons and scored 19 goals in 2010-11.

David Schlemko

After three years with the Medicine Hat Tigers (WHL), Schlemko went undrafted and signed with the Coyotes. He’s played half seasons with the team for the past two years.

Jason LaBarbera

The career backup netminder was signed in 2009.

The Skinny

An outstanding player for the Rangers, Maloney was signed in 2007 to do a little with a lot with the Coyotes. In short, he’s done what he’s been asked to do. Phoenix has been in the playoffs for the past three years and went to the Western Conference Finals this season.

19. Tampa Bay Lightning: Steve Yzerman

Notable free-agent signings

Brett Clark

A longtime member of the Colorado Avalanche, Clark, 35, signed with the Bolts in 2010. It was a good pickup. He played two complete seasons at defenseman.

Tom Pyatt

After two years with the Canadiens, 25-year-old Pyatt became a free agent and was picked up by Yzerman. The young pivot had 12 goals in 74 games for the Bolts last year.

Ryan Shannon

Shannon signed a one-year deal last year, but couldn’t stick with the team. He only played 45 games last season.

Marc-Andre Bergeron

In 2010, Tampa Bay signed the diminutive defenseman. He’s split time between the majors and minors.

Mathieu Garon

The 34-year-old was signed two years ago to split time at goaltender for the Lightning.

The Skinny

In 2010, Stevie Y, a hockey legend in Detroit, eschewed a potential front office job with the Wings to take the GM job with the Lightning—a team with superstars Steven Stamkos, Vincent Lecavalier and Martin St. Louis.

18. Chicago Blackhawks: Stan Bowman

Notable free-agent signings

Andrew Brunette

Signed to a one-year contract worth $2 million last season, Brunette brings veteran experience to a younger team. At age 38, his production is dropping—the 20-plus goal seasons appear to be over.

Jamal Mayers

Since his heyday in St. Louis, Mayers has bounced around a little bit. Bowman was the last guy to offer the 37-year-old a contract.

Sean O’Donnell

Another old man that signed with the Hawks under Bowman’s tenure, O’Donnell is 40 years old and got a one-year deal last season.

Daniel Carcillo

Carcillo played 76 games and had 12 goals as an enforcer for the Flyers in 2009-10, but only played 28 games this season, and his role in the league appears to be diminishing.

Ray Emery

Emery is probably best known for this fight or this fight, and oh yeah, he plays goalie every now and then. The pugilistic netminder had 15 wins in 34 appearances this year.

The Skinny

Dale Tallon built the team with Bowman as an assistant, but Bowman held the position during the Stanley Cup run. When he signed in 2009, Bowman had to deal with Tallon’s mess and the cap casualties, but the Hawks have remained respectable and should be back at it next season.

17. Ottawa Senators: Bryan Murray

Notable free-agent signings:

Matt Carkner

The hometown kid, Carkner joined the Senators as a career minor leaguer in 2007, but has stuck with the team ever since a strong 2009 campaign.

Sergei Gonchar

A longtime Washington Capital and Pittsburgh Penguin, Gonchar was signed to a three-year deal in 2010 to bring a veteran presence to this Ottawa team.

Zenon Konopka

Konopka joined the Senators in 2011 as an enforcer for the team after recording 307 penalty minutes with the Islanders in 2010-11.

Jesse Winchester

A collegiate free-agent signing, Winchester joined the Senators after playing at Colgate University in 2007 and has stuck with the team ever since.

Bobby Butler

Another college player, Butler signed with the Sens after four years at the University of New Hampshire. A bubble player in 2010-11, Butler stuck with Ottawa last season, suiting up for 56 games.

Alex Auld

Auld joined the Senators for a second stint this season.

The Skinny

A longtime GM and coach, Murray is trying to bring back the Senators to respectability and rejuvenate professional hockey in Canada’s capital.

16. Toronto Maple Leafs: Brian Burke

Tyler Bozak

After two years at the University of Denver, Bozak was a heavily pursued collegiate free agent. He split time between the minors and majors in 2009-10, but played two complete seasons in the past two years.

Mike Komisarek

After six seasons with the Canadiens, Komisarek joined the Leafs on a five-year deal in 2009. His first season was rough, he played only 34 games, but he suited up for 75 last season.

Jonas Gustavsson

Signed in 2009 after years of playing overseas, Gustavsson played 42 games and earned 16 wins during his first season, but was demoted to the minors in his second. This year, his third, he played 42 games and earned 17 wins.

Clarke MacArthur

The Buffalo Sabre product signed a one-year deal in 2010 and earned another contract after a 21-goal season.

Tim Connolly

Another Buffalo product, Connolly signed a two-year, $9.5 million deal and scored 13 goals for the Leafs last season—the exact amount he had the year before.

Colby Armstrong

After two solid seasons in Atlanta, Armstrong signed a three-year, $3 million deal. He’s struggled in Toronto, playing only 79 games in the past two seasons.

The Skinny

Burke is probably the most scrutinized GM in the NHL. While he has a great city and fanbase to sell to free agents, the team’s track record of losing is something he has to work against.

15. Buffalo Sabres: Darcy Regier

Notable free-agent signings:

Christian Ehrhoff

After two straight 14-goal seasons, it’s hard to argue with Regier signing Ehrhoff to a five-year, $23 million contract. The defenseman only played 66 games this season, however, and could only find the net five times. It was a risky signing, Ehrhoff was hit-or-miss in San Jose and hockey fans in Buffalo are hoping he’s not a huge miss.

Ville Leino

Another large signing for Regier, Leino inked a six-year, $27 million contract with the Sabers in the offseason after a 19-goal season with the Flyers last season. Like with Ehrhoff, Leino had a tough going last season. He only scored eight goals in 71 games for Buffalo.

Jordan Leopold

A journeyman defenseman, Regier offered Leopold more money than any other team has ever given him. He signed a three-year, $9 million deal in 2010. It wasn’t a bad signing, Leopold has hit the 10-goal mark in his first two years as a Sabre—exactly what the team expected from him.

The Skinny

This guy has been around for a long time. Buffalo is a draft-and-develop team and does not rely on free agency too much, but Regier has struggled with signings recently. This is a problem with new management that is willing to spend. Time will tell if these contracts pan out for the veteran GM.

14. Anaheim Ducks: Bob Murray

Notable free-agent signings:

Saku Koivu

Anaheim picked up the longtime Montreal Canadiens captain in order to bring a veteran presence to a young team. Before signing with the Ducks in 2009, Koivu had tied with Jean Beliveau as the longest serving captain on team history.

Although his numbers haven’t been outstanding—Koivu has yet to score 20 goals as a member of the Ducks—his value to the team is in the locker room rather than on the ice.

Toni Lydman

The former Calgary Flame and Buffalo Sabre was brought over as a defensive defenseman in 2010. Lydman fell out of favor in Buffalo—the locals call him “Turnover Toni”—but so far, he’s stuck in Anaheim, where he will enter his final year of a three-year, $9 million contract this season.

The Skinny

This team has been built through the draft or with trades. Ryan Getzlaf, Corey Perry, Bobby Ryan, Cam Fowler and Devante Smith-Pelly all came through the draft. Since 2008, when Murray was named GM of the Ducks, his two notable signings, Koivu and Lydman, have done well, but they are far from core members of the team.

13. Los Angeles Kings: Dean Lombardi

Notable free-agent signings:

Rob Scuderi

After winning the Cup with Pittsburgh in 2009, Scuderi ended up a cap casualty and signed with the Kings for four years, $13.5 million. The defensive defenseman has remained healthy at 33 years old and has had three full years with LA.

Simon Gagne

The Kings signed Gagne to a two-year deal in 2011, reuniting him with former Flyer teammates Mike Richards and, eventually, Jeff Carter.

Willie Mitchell

The Kings signed Mitchell, a veteran defenseman, to a two-year deal in 2010. Despite only playing 48 games in his final year with the Canucks, Mitchell has played in 50-plus games over the past two seasons.

Kevin Westgarth

An enforcer by trade, Westgarth made a big impact as an undrafted free agent two years ago. However, he only played in 25 games this season.

The Skinny

Lombardi has built his team through the draft despite operating in sunny LA. His tactics worked, of course, but there will be some who criticize him for missing out on big-name free agents when they became available.

12. Detroit Red Wings: Ken Holland

Notable free-agent signings:

Daniel Cleary

Brought in on a one-year deal after the lockout, Cleary has become a staple player on the Red Wings roster. The defensive winger has spent the last seven years in Detroit.

Todd Bertuzzi

Hockey fans all know about the Steve Moore incident, and Bertuzzi has not been the same player since leaving Vancouver. An aging star, the 37-year-old is good for roughly 15 goals per season now.

Patrick Eaves

Never a high-volume scorer, Eaves played 60-plus games his first two years in Michigan, but only suited up for 10 last season.

Ty Conklin

In his first stint with the Wings, Conklin earned 25 wins in 40 games as a relief goaltender to the aging Chris Osgood. In his second stint, backing up the younger Jimmy Howard, he only got 15 games.

Ian White

The 28-year-old defenseman played 77 games for the Wings after splitting last season between the Flames, Hurricanes and Sharks.

The Skinny

After sharing GM duties for three seasons, Holland became the sole voice at the position in 1997. His team has been built through the draft, but Holland’s free-agent pickups appear to have served Detroit well.

11. New Jersey Devils: Lou Lamoriello

Notable free-agent signings:

Anton Volchenkov

The Russian defenseman was considered a big grab in 2010 when he signed a six-year, $25.5 million deal with the Devils. The former Senator has been a lockdown blueliner for the past two seasons.

Dainius Zubrus

Zubrus is entering his final season of a six-year, $20.4 million contract. For four of those five years, he has been a healthy and productive player and has scored at least 10 goals in all five. The Devils got what they expected when they signed him.

Henrik Tallinder

A longtime member of the Sabres organization, Tallinder signed a four-year, $13 million contract with the Devils in 2010. He had a good first season, but the defensive defenseman struggled to stay on the ice this season. He only played 39 games.

Johan Hedberg

A notable Thrasher-backer, Hedberg left the Atlanta organization and joined the Devils to become a backup to Martin Brodeur in 2010.

Eric Boulton

Another erstwhile Thrasher, the 35-year-old enforcer signed a two-year deal with New Jersey to protect former Atlanta teammate Ilya Kovalchuk.

Petr Sykora

After a 2009-10 season in Minnesota that lasted 14 games and two years overseas, it looked like Sykora was washed up. Then, he signed with the Devils on a tryout and scored 21 goals in 82 games. Lamoriello has to feel good about that pickup.

Steve Bernier

The former first-round pick appears to be sputtering after a strong 2008-09 campaign with Vancouver. He only played 31 games with the Devils this season.

The Skinny

The team general manager and president since 1987, Lamoriello has been a part of the Devils organization for all but five years of their time in New Jersey. He’s led the team to three Stanley Cup victories despite playing in a market saturated by Rangers and Flyers fans. His track record in free agency is solid. He tends to like to bring back players that began their career with the Devils or played with one of the players on his roster.

10. Philadelphia Flyers: Paul Holmgren

Notable free-agent signings:

Daniel Briere

Leaving the Sabres as an unrestricted free agent in 2006-07, Briere chose to join the Flyers, rather than his hometown Canadiens, and hasn’t looked back. Coming off a 30-goal season in Buffalo, he’s been a productive player, but saw his numbers drop this season when he only had 16 goals in 70 games played.

Ilya Bryzgalov

This was a major signing in the offseason, and there is still question as to whether Bryzgalov was just a product of the Phoenix system or if he was really that good. There’s also some question as to where his focus is. He seems very perplexed about the universe. Either way, his nine-year, $51 million deal is going to be heavily scrutinized in the City of Brotherly Love.

Sergei Bobrovsky

The Russian netminder appeared to be the go-to guy after a solid 2010-11 campaign, but the Flyers went out and got Ilya Bryzgalov from the Phoenix Coyotes—meaning Bobrovsky only got 29 starts last season. Jury is still out on how good an undrafted free-agent signing Bobrovsky was.

Matt Read

An undrafted guy out of Bemidji State, Read produced 24 goals in 79 games this season. I’d say that was a good signing.

Jaromir Jagr

He’s 40. He’s three years removed from the NHL. He was a Pittsburgh Penguin for a long time. Still, this was a damn good signing.

Maxime Talbot

A Stanley Cup winner in Pittsburgh, Talbot could not come to terms with the team and ended up signing with the in-state rival Flyers for five years, $8.5 million. He had a good year last year, his first in Philly, setting a career high in goals with 19.

Andreas Lilja

A Stanley Cup winner with the Wings in 2008, the 36-year-old winger signed a two-year deal with the Flyers in 2011.

Blair Betts

Betts looked like a solid pickup when the former Rangers joined the team in 2009-10 on a tryout. He missed the entire 2011-12 season, however, after being waived and failing a physical.

Jody Shelley

The enforcer signed a three-year contract with the Flyers in 2010, but saw his playing time reduced in half over the past two years.

The Skinny

A member of the Flyers organization as player, coach and GM, Holmgren has put together a perennial playoff contender in Philadelphia. He has shown that he is willing to blow up a core and sign players through free agency to fill voids on the team.

9. Vancouver Canucks: Mike Gillis

Notable free-agent signings:

Dan Hamhuis

After six seasons in Nashville, Hamhuis became a huge free-agent catch for the Canucks when he inked a six-year, $27 million deal in 2010. His 64-game 2010-11 campaign was his shortest, but he played a complete season this year and racked up 37 points from the blue line last year.

Manny Malhotra

After a solid year in San Jose when he scored 14 goals in 71 games, Gillis offered him a three-year, $7.5 million deal. He has not hit 14, a career high, in Vancouver, but he’s been named an alternate captain and played two complete seasons.

Aaron Rome

In 2009, Rome, an unrestricted free agent, signed with the Canucks on a one-year deal, and he’s stuck with the team despite a devastating hit he laid on Boston forward Nathan Horton in Game 3 of the Cup finals last season. He only played 43 games last season.

The Skinny

Drafted by the Colorado Rockies, the hockey team, fifth overall in 1978, Gillis is another player-turned-GM. In 2008, he was tasked with putting together a Stanley Cup winning team for a franchise that has not had luck building a contender in the past. He has been rather successful in free agency.

8. Pittsburgh Penguins: Ray Shero

Notable free-agent signings:

Zbynek Michalek

The older brother of Milan, Zbynek, the former Coyote, was considered a free-agent catch when he signed a five-year, $20 million deal. Two years in, it’s looking like a good contract.

Paul Martin

Shero signed the former Devil to a five-year, $25 million deal in 2010. Like the Michalek contract, the Penguins appear to have gotten what they asked for with Martin.

Steve Sullivan

An aged veteran, Sullivan, 37, joined the Penguins on a one-year deal last season after spending time with the Maple Leafs, Blackhawks and Predators. He played 79 games last season and scored 17 goals.

Matt Cooke

The agitator was brought in in 2008 on a two-year, $2.4 million contract. He has made a name for himself often for the wrong reasons, but the oft-suspended winger has changed his game, and by the time he signed his second contract, he had reduced his penalty minutes. Cooke scored a career high 19 goals last season.

Ben Lovejoy

Shero signed Lovejoy as an undrafted free agent out of Dartmouth College. The defenseman has bounced around between the majors and minors, but his 95 games played indicate they made a good choice.

Deryk Engelland

A career minor leaguer when he was signed in 2007, Engelland joined the Penguins as an enforcer in 2009 and racked up 123 penalty minutes in 2010-11, but saw his role diminish in 2011-12.

Richard Park

After stints with the Wild and Islanders, Park spent a year in Switzerland’s National League A before signing a one-year contract with Pittsburgh, a team he played for in the mid-90s.

Arron Asham

Asham signed a one-year deal in 2010, moving over from the crosstown rival Flyers.

Brent Johnson

Johnson was brought in in 2009 to back up Marc-Andre Fleury. His job may be in jeopardy now that Tomas Vokoun has come into town.

The Skinny

Shero came into a situation where he had Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin and was expected to win with the homegrown talent. His team won the Cup in 2009, but suffered some cap casualties. Shero has managed to keep his drafted talent in Pittsburgh, however, and the Penguins remain a competitive team since winning it all.

7. Florida Panthers: Dale Tallon

Notable free-agent signings:

Tomas Fleischmann

So far, Fleishmann has been Tallon’s best signing. The 28-year-old former Washington Capital signed a four-year, $18 million contract with the Panthers and netted a career high 27 goals last season.

Matt Bradley

Another guy Tallon poached from the Capitals, Bradley did not work out as well. After signing a two-year deal, he played only 45 games for the Cats last season.

Sean Bergenheim

Bergenheim really turned it up during the playoffs with Tampa last year, and the Panthers went in and swooped him away from their Floridian brethren. The winger signed a four-year, $11 million deal and rewarded his team by netting a career high 17 goals this season.

Ed Jovanovski

Florida brought back the man they drafted first overall in 1994 and paid him handsomely. The 35-year-old defenseman inked a four-year, $16.5 million deal last year.

Scottie Upshall

After signing a four-year, $14 million deal with Florida, Upshall struggled to stay on the ice. He only played 26 games for the Panthers last season.

Jose Theodore

Years removed from his heyday in Montreal, the 35-year-old netminder signed a two-year deal last season and became Florida’s go-to guy in net this season.

Scott Clemmensen

The first person born in Iowa to play in the NHL, Tallon brought Clemmensen in on a three-year deal to be his backup goaltender.

John Madden

No, not that John Madden. This John Madden was brought in via free agency last season. He joined former Blackhawk teammates Kris Versteeg, Brian Campbell and Tomas Kopecky.

Mike Weaver

The defensive defenseman has played two full seasons since signing in 2010. The 34-year-old appears to have plenty left in the tank despite spending most of his career on the minor-major league bubble.

Marcel Goc

A German player that came up through the Sharks system, Goc signed a three-year, $5.1 million deal with the Cats last season, but only played in 57 games.

The Skinny

After essentially building the Blackhawks team that won the Stanley Cup in 2010, Tallon was released due to his mismanagement of the salary cap. Florida brought him in the next year in order to do what he did in Chicago: rejuvenate an irrelevant franchise. So far, Tallon has relied heavily on free agency.

6. Washington Capitals: George McPhee

Notable free-agent signings:

John Erskine

The former Dallas Star and New York Islander was signed to a one-year deal in 2006 and has stuck with the team ever since. Last year was his sixth as a member of the Capitals organization.

Tom Poti

The veteran defenseman had long stints in Edmonton and New York before joining the Capitals in 2007. At 35, he’s showing his age—he only played 21 games in 2010-11 and recently failed a medical exam.

Mike Knuble

In 2009, Knuble signed with the Caps in order to provide a veteran presence in a young locker room. At 39, his best years are behind him, but he has played three straight full seasons in Washington despite seeing a dramatic decline in production from 24 goals in 2010-11 to six last season.

Roman Hamrlik

At 38, The Hammer has worn many sweaters—Lightning, Oilers, Islanders, Flames, Canadiens—but donned Capitals garb last season after signing a two-year deal.

Joel Ward

A rare Canadian collegiate player, the former Nashville Predator joined the Caps last season on a four-year, $12 million deal. His production has steadily declined. He had 17 goals in 2008-09, but only six this season.

Jay Beagle

The Guy that Got More Ice Time than Alex Ovechkin in the playoffs was an undrafted free agent out of college and picked up in 2008. He’s split most of his time between the minors and majors.

Jeff Halpern

A Jewish player that began his career in Washington before stops in Dallas, Tampa, LA and Montreal, Halpern returned to the team, and GM, that picked him up as an undrafted free agent back in 1999 after his four years at Princeton.

The Skinny

Taking over for current Nashville Predators GM David Poile in 1997, McPhee has turned a previously irrelevant Washington franchise into a contender through the draft with Alex Ovechkin, Mike Green, Nicklas Backstrom, Alexander Semin and Marcus Johansson. He typically uses free agency to add veteran leadership to a young team.

5. Boston Bruins: Peter Chiarelli

Notable free-agent signings:

Zdeno Chara

This was a good pickup. Simple as that. After stints with the Islanders and Senators, Chiarelli went out and gave the oversized defenseman to a five-year, $37.5 million contract with the Bruins. He was immediately named team captain, a role left vacant after Joe Thornton was dealt to the Sharks during the 2005-06 season. Chara remains team captain and a productive member of his team six years after the initial contract was signed.

Shawn Thornton

He doesn’t score. He doesn’t pass. He doesn’t dangle. He’s an enforcer. The bruiser is loved among the fanbase for his blue collar style of play and his ability to protect the team’s superstars.

Benoit Pouliot

A man with upside that never panned out, Pouliot was drafted fourth overall in 2005 by the Minnesota Wild, but had a falling out and was traded to Montreal in 2009-10. After two years with the Habs, Boston swooped in and grabbed him as a UFA for $1.1 million deal. Last year he tallied 16 goals and 32 points. Maybe we’ll see him blossom in Boston; otherwise, it’s not a bad use of a million dollars.

The Skinny

Chara is Chiarelli’s prized possession. He went out and got him immediately after singing his contract, and the defenseman has become a vital part of Boston’s Stanley Cup victory in 2011. Thornton’s impact on the team cannot go overlooked, and Bruins fans will cross their fingers hoping that Pouliot eventually realizes his potential. Chiarelli has proven that he knows what he’s doing when it comes to free-agent signings.

4. New York Islanders: Garth Snow

Notable free-agent signings:

Mark Streit

After a strong 2008 season with the Canadiens, Snow signed Streit to a five-year, $20 million contract. At that time, he became the second-highest paid Swiss athlete to Roger Federer. Since that time, Streit has become the first Swiss-born captain in NHL history and been one of the Islanders’ most consistent players on the ice.

Matt Moulson

Let’s just say it as it is—this was an outstanding find. Drafted in the junk rounds by the Penguins in 2003 and having only played 29 games in two years with the Kings, Moulson signed with the Islanders in 2009 and produced three straight 30-goal seasons.

PA Parenteau

A career minor leaguer before Snow found him, Parenteau has had 15-plus goals in two full seasons for the Islanders since signing in 2010.

Mark Eaton

Following his Stanley Cup victory in 2009, Eaton joined the Islanders as a free agent. His first year was rough; he only played 34 games, but he suited up for 62 this season. Eaton is the only NHL player from Delaware.

Milan Jurcina

Health has been a concern for Jurcina, but he’s been a solid defensive defenseman when he’s available to play. He signed in 2010.

Marty Reasoner

A seasoned journeyman, Reasoner, 35, was brought in to provide veteran presence to a young team.

Steve Staios

At age 38, Staios is far removed from his prime, but still was able to play 65 games this season. He reached his 1,000th game on April 5.

Jay Pandolfo

Signed after a tryout in training camp, Pandolfo, a longtime Devil, played 62 games with the Islanders this season.

The Skinny

Turning around the moribund Islanders is no easy task. Since 2006, Garth Snow has been trying to do that. His free-agent signings have been great so far.

3. St. Louis Blues: Doug Armstrong

Notable free-agent signings:

Jason Arnott

After lengthy stints in Edmonton, New Jersey, Dallas and Nashville, Arnott, 37, signed a one-year deal with the Blues. It was a smart deal. He scored 17 goals in 72 games this season.

Jamie Langenbrunner

The 36-year-old spent most of his career as a Dallas Star and New Jersey Devil, but despite his age, he appeared to be a good one-year pickup by Armstrong. His production has dropped off—he only had 24 points this season—but the former captain should be a plus in the locker room.

Scott Nichol

After two years as a grinder in San Jose, Nichol inked a one-year deal with St. Louis. The 37-year-old played 80 games last season.

The Skinny

A disappointed fanbase was pacified when Armstrong was brought in in 2010. He got the Blues to the playoffs this season and has put together a core that should be good for years to come. He typically uses free agency to bring veteran presence to a young team.

2. Dallas Stars: Joe Nieuwendyk

Notable free-agent signings:

Adam Burish

Signed to a two-year deal in 2010, Burish was a member of the Stanley Cup-winning Chicago Blackhawks the year before he signed. He’s a physical presence and a locker room plus for the Stars.

Jake Dowell

After spending an entire season with the Blackhawks, Dowell was poached by the Stars as well. He only played 56 games last season.

Michael Ryder

Following Boston’s Stanley Cup run last season, Ryder was signed to a two-year deal. It’s looking good now. The 32-year-old had 35 goals last year, almost the exact amount he had the last two seasons in Beantown.

Sheldon Souray

Ostracized in Edmonton, Souray spent the last year of his five-year, $27 million contract in the AHL despite having scored 23 goals in 2008-09. He only managed six goals this season, but played 64 games for Dallas.

Vernon Fiddler

The longtime Nashville forward played 82 games for the Stars after singing a three-year, $5.4 million contract last season after spending two years with the Coyotes.

Radek Dvorak

After two lengthy stints with the Florida Panthers, Dvorak was brought over on a one-year deal and played 75 games for the Stars this season.

Adam Pardy

It’s hard to determine if the Pardy signing will pan out. He suffered a rib injury in the preseason and only suited up for 36 games for the Stars. He has another year left on his deal.

The Skinny

A player in the Dallas Stars organization for seven seasons in a career that spanned from 1986 to 2007, Nieuwendyk was brought into the Dallas Stars organization as a GM in 2009. His task is difficult: building a winner knowing owner Tom Hicks is having financial issues. His philosophy is to bring in guys that either spent long tenures with the same team or recently won a Stanley Cup. His Ryder and Souray pickups are looking pretty brilliant right now.

1. New York Rangers: Glen Sather

Notable free-agent signings:

Marian Gaborik

An injury-plagued franchise player in Minnesota, the Rangers went after Gaborik when he became an unrestricted free agent in 2009, and he’s been healthy ever since. In 2009-10 and 2011-12, he’s played 70-plus games and hit the 40-goal plateau.

Brad Richards

Another free-agent prize, Richards inked a nine-year, $58.5 million deal with the Rangers in 2011. He was reunited with John Tortorella, who coached him when he won the Cup with Tampa in 2004.

Daniel Girardi

Fair to say, Girardi should have been drafted in 2003. The former Barrie Colt and Guelph Storm (OHL) signed with the Rangers as an unrestricted free agent in 2003, and the defenseman has had six solid seasons as a member of the Blueshirts.

Michael Rupp

A player so good he was drafted twice, Rupp signed a three-year, $4.5 million deal with the Rangers in 2011 and appeared in 60 games this season.

Ruslan Fedotenko

The Russian winger is on his last leg, but the Rangers have gotten two 60-plus game seasons out of him and appear to have received the value they expected when they signed him after a tryout in 2010.

Anton Stralman

After stints with the Maple Leafs and Blue Jackets, the 25-year-old Swedish defenseman joined the Rangers on a tryout last season.

Martin Biron

The veteran backup has given the Rangers what they asked for when they signed him to a two-year, $1.75 million pact in 2010.

The Skinny

A great player and coach in his own right, Sather has used free agency not to build his team, but to compliment the homegrown talent from the Rangers pipeline.

Tom Schreier writes a weekly column for TheFanManifesto.com

Follow him on Twitter @tschreier3.