Adam Proteau: Much of NHL's free-agent frenzy was spending for spending's sake The NHL's first day of unrestricted free agency this summer turned into a massive exercise in spending by league GMs – and in many cases, the salary cap space they surrendered was unnecessary. That speaks to the desperation teams have to improve – but it isn't an excuse for the behavior, and it certainly will hurt some of those teams in the long run.

Leaf fan

The Islanders signed 30-year-old winger Andrew Ladd to a five-year, $27.5-million pact

It's 7 years/$38.5M

Where did you hear 5/$27.5?

Well, as much as NHL Gms spent, the NBA dished out $1.7BILLION in day 1!!
As an Oiler's Fan, i'm still upset at the loss of Hall for so little...there was no rush in moving him and there should have been a better D available in another deal later this summer after the FA frenzy dies down & teams know where they sit with rosters.
As for Lucic, I'll take him rather than Backes who is 4 years older. He sounds more mature now and has a plan to keep fit throughout the contract term. He also has leadership qualities and is stoked to be playing on McDavid's team, but we could have had him and Hall, so it's not all roses.
I do agree that GMs spent too much in some cases, but man, did Stevie Y do well!

No problem Just raise ticket prices and everything is just fine People a suckers and will pay the price. That is the way it always turns out. Just like the government, raise taxes and problem solved. Same old Same old and then repeat again

I really like the Vanek deal, 20 goal scorers for 2.5 mill. Low risk high reward. This is exactly the deal I wanted the flyers to make.

Of all the contracts handed out Lucic's was the best after seeing what else happened:
Ladd is 2 years older, not as effective offensively or otherwise and received the same term (7 yrs) for only 1/2 a million less per season. Okposo has the same term and salary and I don't think anyone would take Okposo over Lucuc. Hwever he is younger so there is a plus there, but not enough to make it a good deal. Backes signed for the same money as Lucic and only 1 year less but is already 32 yrs old.
Also there was no way the Oilers or any team would to tie up 12M in 2 wingers. In reality the writing was on the wall with Hall anyway, between his inability to stop turning pucks over every game and the comments about him in the locker room he was their PK Subban. Sometimes great ingames but other times a mess on the ice. And a bigger mess in the room. So Lucic comes in with offensive talent , grit and toughness that was sorely lacking on the oil squad.

@braddos
Agree on Lucic's contract. I Love his attitude and that McDavid will well protected with him, Maroon & others in the lineup.
There's been some rumours about Hall's attitude & possible negative impact "in the room". If that was well known around the league, that would partly explain why the return was so low, being a largely unproven D prospect. I still think that Chiarelli could have waited and continued to work on a better trade over the summer. Our D is now better, but how much won't be known for some time.

So eberle and lucic are not.making a combined $12 million?

I, for one, was actually shocked that not one deal made my head spin.

Every single year in free agency, there are always 2-3 deals that I find incredulous. Say, David Clarkson. When that deal was signed and announced I immediately called a friend of mine (who just happens to be a HUGE Leafs fan) and laughed (while he cried). Nonetheless, that day we both knew that Clarkson was a MAJOR mistake.

To quickly review a few of my thoughts on some of the contracts:

Loui Eriksson - I think the Canucks overpaid here by about $500k per year, but this is an organization in trouble and players recognize that. He has an opportunity to play with the Sedins and after watching him play in the top 6 in Boston last year (finally....idiots) he showed he has the talent to still put up a lot of points. I would have hated just about any other UFA signing for the Canucks, but this one makes sense.

Kyle Okposo - a big, fast winger who shoots the puck a ton and puts up .8 PPG....how many of those are there in the league? The number is VERY low. And he is only 28. I believe he was misused by the Isles last year and for anyone that was watching, you will know that he produced a ton of his points away from Tavares. The Isles knew he was leaving and they weren't about to give him all of the playing time with JT. I think he will be a tremendous fit for ROR in Buffalo.

Milan Lucic - He is the type of player Edmonton needs, and even more he is the type of leader that Edmonton needs. Hall was a partier, not sure why nobody talked about this, but it is true. Every year people wonder 'why isn't Edmonton coming around??' And it was partly because their players were out late, ripping rails and drinking their faces off. And I am speaking about during the season. Eberle is also a problem and NUge fell into it to. McDavid is above that and Lucic brings added presence to a team that needs it. He may not be putting up 60 points in 7 years, but he could be special for the next 5 and should be effective throughout all seven years. I also think that McDavid can help Lucy fix his power play woes.

Andrew Ladd - this is probably the deal that I like the least of all of them. The thing is, the term is a little long, but the dollars are actually quite reasonable when comparing to comparables.

Frans Neilson - it is, what it is. He is a decent player who will fit into the system well in Detroit. They needed a C. The term and the dollars are not going to handcuff them down the road and Frans will bring value right to the final day of the agreement.

David Backes - Another player this is a little old to be getting five years, BUT....Backes is a competitor, he doesn't put up huge points anyway and I bet he is just as good in five years as he was this year. Guys like this can just keep going. Add that to his dressing room presence and just the 'Backes belongs on the Bruins' feel and I actually like this signing (once again).

Add to the fact all of the food RFA signings (ok, Ekblad may be a shade high) and the smaller value UFA signings and it was a good day all around.

So settle down people....there are no David Clarkson, Scott Gomez, Martin LaPointe or Shaun Avery signings in this group. Feel good about your team's acquisitions and I don't see any of the big ones coming back to haunt anyone down the road.

D2D

I don't get the move for the lucic deal. Too long for a guy of his miles.
Going to wear badly on Edmonton in 3 years.