5 Worst Signings Of NHL Free Agency Day 1

Free agency this year wasn’t that big considering the amount of players that re-signed the days leading up to July 1 and the final day of June. That being said, there was still a lot of money handed out to players. Many contracts look solid for teams, but there are the bad ones that stand out. That’s what we’re honing in on here. These are the five worst contracts signed on the first day of free agency.

Tanner Jeannot, Boston Bruins

I don’t know what the Boston Bruins were thinking giving Tanner Jeannot term and money considering what he has done in the NHL in all but one season with the Nashville Predators. Other than his 24-goal, 41-point season in 2021-22, Jeannot hasn’t topped seven goals or 18 points in a season and he’s had three seasons to do so on three different teams. He has size and hits a ton, but that doesn’t warrant a five-year deal at $3.4 million AAV that the Bruins gave him. A 1-2 year, $1.5 million AAV max deal is what any team should have given him. It’s no wonder he chose Boston with that offer after putting up seven goals and 13 points in 67 games.

Cody Ceci, Los Angeles Kings

Ken Holland did some poor work in free agency with almost all of his signings. This is not a way for the Los Angeles Kings to finally get by the Edmonton Oilers in the first round of the playoffs. The worst signing of the bunch was Cody Ceci at four years, $4.5 million AAV. First, the Kings have Drew Doughty signed for two more years and Brandt Clarke on the right side, so a $4.5 million defenseman will be playing third pairing minutes. This contract is tied with the highest AAV in his career and he’s gotten worse over the years. There was nothing he showed with the San Jose Sharks or Dallas Stars last season that warranted this term or money, especially when the Kings needed actual upgrades.

Christian Dvorak, Philadelphia Flyers

In comparison to the first two players, this contract isn’t horrible since the Philadelphia Flyers only signed Christian Dvorak to a one-year deal. Still, $5.4 million AAV is a fair bit more than he should have gotten this offseason, even if the center market is weaker. The Flyers didn’t even necessarily need another center as the team acquired Trevor Zegras a little while ago. Now it appears as though Dvorak may be the fourth line center for next season. He put up 12 goals and 33 points for the Montreal Canadiens last season, but it is both an overpayment for what he brings and where he projects to play.

Thatcher Demko, Vancouver Canucks

The Vancouver Canucks are using too much cap space on their goalies for the results that they got from them. Thatcher Demko, after struggling with injuries and not putting up good numbers, was vastly overpaid for three years at $8.5 million AAV since Kevin Lankinen was already under contract for five years at $4.5 million AAV. Demko had a 2.90 GAA and .889 SV% with a 1.44 goals saved above expected. Even though he was seen as an elite goalie for a few years, it’s very tough to justify giving him that much. Maybe $6 million AAV.

Brian Dumoulin, Los Angeles Kings

Holland and the Kings went into panic mode with the defense with Vladislav Gavrikov leaving. It is very tough to replace what he brought defensively and the team also decided to move on from Jordan Spence for a mid-round pick. While Ceci was the addition for the right side, Brain Dumoulin was the left side addition, so he and Joel Edmundson are to essentially replace the impact Gavrikov had on that left side. This is another overpayment for arguably too long when there is still Dmitry Orlov and Matt Grzelcyk unsigned.