Team-Player Free-Agent Matches That We Didn't Expect to See

Every summer, NHL teams head to free agency with a big bag of money and a long list of needs. Fans peruse the cap space and available free agents and discuss possible fits—and hockey fans are very good at finding good fits for their favorite teams.

The problem comes down to supply and demand. There are 30 teams, and all of them have interest in several free agents, so the first flurry of action usually gobbles up the best options. After that, teams begin to check down to their second or third choices, and at that time, the fun begins.

There are a few unusual matches this summer, and fans have every right to be scratching their heads. Here are eight free-agent signings that surprised us the most this summer.

Arizona Coyotes: Antoine Vermette

Charles Rex Arbogast/Associated Press

The Signing: The Arizona Coyotes traded Antoine Vermette to the Chicago Blackhawks in time for him to win the Stanley Cup this spring. On July 1, the Coyotes signed Vermette back, and the entire story is covered here for NHL.com. 

Why Is It Unusual? Vermette spent some of his time with Chicago as a bit player, but he came in very handy deep into the playoffs, scoring four goals on just 16 shots. Under normal circumstances and with Chicago in need of help at center, one could assume Vermette would sign with the champions. The salary cap made that idea impossible. 

Will It Work? Vermette returns to the scene of some of his most successful NHL seasons, and he's a good bet to continue being a productive player.

Colorado Avalanche: Francois Beauchemin

Jae C. Hong/Associated Press

The Signing: The Colorado Avalanche signed defenseman Francois Beauchemin to a three-year deal, as reported by Rick Sadowski of NHL.com. Sadowski's story also details that Beauchemin will play on the top pairing with Erik Johnson.

Why Is It Unusual? At the time of his signing, Beauchemin was 35, and the Avalanche are a young, building team. The three-year deal at 35 means there's a good chance Colorado will get less than three productive seasons from a big investment. 

Will It Work? Beauchemin is an effective defenseman now and should help in a big way in 2015-16. History suggests the following two seasons will see erosion, and the chances of the contract being a three-year solution are not high. By the time Colorado is ready to contend for the Stanley Cup, Beauchemin will either be retired or ready for another contract.

Edmonton Oilers: Andrej Sekera

Marcio Jose Sanchez/Associated Press

The Signing: The Edmonton Oilers signed defender Andrej Sekera to a six-year contract in the opening hours of free agency on July 1. NHL.com had the story and contract details.  

Why Is It Unusual? Sekera's arrival at free agency coincided with a relatively weak crop in 2015. It's likely he could have chosen any number of teams, most with a better chance to win this coming season. The term was likely a big factor, as he's set for a long run with the Oilers.

Will It Work? Edmonton's acquisition of Sekera should be a successful addition based on player ability and team need. It coincides with a few major changes over the summer, including winning the lottery and selecting Connor McDavid No. 1 overall. The addition of Todd McLellan as coach is also a major positive, so Sekera's landing with his new team is part of a massive summer of positives.

Nashville Predators: Barret Jackman

JAMES A. FINLEY/Associated Press

The Signing: The Nashville Predators signed defenseman Barret Jackman to a two-year deal on July 1. NHL.com's Robby Stanley had the details on the deal, along with confirmation of the Mike Ribeiro signing. 

Why Is It Unusual? Nashville is loaded with defensemen, and Jackman's playing time is likely to be reduced compared to last year. Jackman has faced the Predators 63 times in his career, most of any NHL team according to Hockey-Reference.com. He's fought a lot of physical battles against the team he's going to play for next season.

Will It Work? The Predators don't need Jackman to play much, and he'll give them a physical element and a veteran presence. It's an unusual investment because defense was already an area of strength, but he'll be good insurance against injury further up the depth chart.

New Jersey Devils: John Moore

John Minchillo/Associated Press

The Signing: The New Jersey Devils signed defenseman John Moore to a three-year contract, as reported by several sources, including NHL.com.

Why Is It Unusual? Moore is a fine young defender and a free agent at 24—that's extremely early for unrestricted free agency. He has substantial regular-season and playoff experience and should be productive past the three years he's signed for currently.

Will It Work? The Devils have a strong group of young defensemen, and Moore adds to the list of quality youth already in the NHL. There's much work to do in New Jersey, but this smaller signing is an excellent transaction.

Pittsburgh Penguins: Eric Fehr

Nick Wass/Associated Press

The Signing: The Pittsburgh Penguins signed center Eric Fehr to a contract on July 28. Wes Crosby of NHL.com reports it is a three-year deal for $2 million per season and coincides with a major trade that sent Brandon Sutter to the Vancouver Canucks. 

Why Is It Unusual? The Penguins added two useful players via trade—Nick Bonino and Adam Clendening—while signing Fehr to replace Sutter with the money saved from the trade. It's a brilliant and creative bit of team tweaking, and credit Pittsburgh with using all of the available avenues to get this done.

Will It Work? It's a fantastic bet by the Penguins and one that should work. Fehr can take on tough competition, as Cullen describes in his article, and Bonino can add to the offense, as shown via behindthenet.ca. This is an outstanding bit of dealing by the Penguins.

Toronto Maple Leafs: Daniel Winnik

Gene J. Puskar/Associated Press

The Signing: The Toronto Maple Leafs signed Daniel Winnik—again—as a free agent on July 1. Details come via NHL.com, which also noted that Toronto traded him to the Pittsburgh Penguins at the last trade deadline. 

Why Is It Unusual? Winnik is a fine two-way player, perhaps most useful to an NHL team looking to win the Stanley Cup. He's an effective checker and can be absorbed onto a roster without an exorbitant cap hit—that's an ideal trade deadline candidate. So it's somewhat surprising that Winnik signed in Toronto, a team that is unlikely to make the playoffs in 2015-16 and may in fact trade him again! 

Will It Work? The Leafs win either way: Winnik plays two seasons of effective two-way hockey for an excellent price or they trade him again for useful assets. It's a mystery why a more competitive team wouldn't pick him up for the entire year.

Washington Capitals: Justin Williams

Danny Moloshok/Associated Press

The Signing: The Washington Capitals received the best value of any team in free agency when they signed winger Justin Williams to a two-year, $6.5 million contract. Details and reaction came swiftly, as NHL.com chronicled on July 1. 

Why Is It Unusual? The only way Williams found his way to free agency came due to cap pressures for the Los Angeles Kings—they'll go younger and less expensive at the position next year. Williams is a proven veteran of the highest order, and it is unusual to see a player of his calibre walk from a team determined to compete next year.

Will It Work? This signing was a home run because of player and price. The Capitals are a Stanley Cup contender, and Williams' specialty is top-flight performance in big games—especially Game 7—as Chris Johnston reported on the Los Angeles Kings website via Sportsnet.ca.