Big UFA Signings That Actually Worked Out?

BruinsBtn

Registered User
Dec 24, 2006
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There are lots. Michael Ryder was a big fish in his time. 3 years, $4m to Boston and was huge in the playoffs.
He was also pretty good for Dallas as a UFA afterwards.
Another solid one was Ribeiro for Dallas. Not a superstar but he earned his paycheque there.
Hamhuis was a good one for Vancouver
Going back a few more years, Selanne was a great one for Anaheim.
 

BigBadBruins7708

Registered User
Dec 11, 2017
13,558
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Las Vegas
Gonchar in Ottawa actually ended up working out, even though he was 36 (I think) at the time of the signing.

And as it's been stated, Chara/Savard pretty much turned the Bruins around in on off-season.

to take it a step further, that entire offseason was absurd.

Chara
Savard
Kessel
Marchand
Lucic
Rask
 

The Macho King

Back* to Back** World Champion
Jun 22, 2011
48,540
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Marty St. Louis was picked up as a UFA for the Lightning. Then he won 2 Art Ross trophies, a Hart, a Pearson, and a ton of PPG+ seasons, ending in the HHOF (as well as being a key part of a Cup win to boot).
 

nbwingsfan

Registered User
Dec 13, 2009
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Marty St. Louis was picked up as a UFA for the Lightning. Then he won 2 Art Ross trophies, a Hart, a Pearson, and a ton of PPG+ seasons, ending in the HHOF (as well as being a key part of a Cup win to boot).
True, but he wasnt considered a very notable signing back then was he? Marchessault was also a no-name signing by Florida that ended great (for vegas...)
 

deckercky

Registered User
Oct 27, 2010
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Kovalchuk to New Jersey worked out well for New Jersey IMO. Without him that team never makes it close to the finals. His retirement resulted in a pretty irrelevant cap hit compared to the impact that his decline over the next ~10 years would have had.
 

Ducks in a row

Go Ducks Quack Quack
Dec 17, 2013
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upload_2018-12-6_12-56-20.jpeg


upload_2018-12-6_12-56-44.jpeg
 

Dr Jan Itor

Registered User
Dec 10, 2009
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MinneSNOWta
I’d argue they’d have been better off rebuilding and the Suter/Parise contracts are preventing them from that. While both players are still good, Wild are stuck in mediocrity for a while

Could have been better off. Maybe not. Trying to make consecutive trips to the top of the draft starting in 2013 could've netted us Drouin/Lindholm, Bennett/Dal Colle, Strome and Puljujarvi just as easy as MacKinnon/Barkov, Draisaitl, McDavid/Eichel and Matthews/Laine.
 

migi

Registered User
Feb 25, 2015
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Marian Hossa
Zdeno Chara
Scott Niedermayer

The big three after dead puck era and no-one is even close to them.
 

Blackhawkswincup

RIP Fugu
Jun 24, 2007
186,761
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Chicagoland
To the OP no one should consider Seabrook a UFA signing since he never even reached UFA status

He was an extension a season before even reaching UFA

Hossa on other hand was a big star UFA that worked out and it could be argued Campbell was essential for Hawks gaining credibility back with FA's the summer before

+ Campbell did play big part in 2010 cup win
 
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patnyrnyg

Registered User
Sep 16, 2004
10,838
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Sutter and Paraise has worked out ok for Minnesota. They’ve at least been a consistent playoff team every single season.
But, has their production warranted the money they were given?

The only UFA, during the salary cap era, who was worth the money was Chara. The rest were grossly overpaid for what they produced. The players who are actually worth that kind of money never become UFA's until they are way past their prime as their teams lock them up beforehand.
 

WesMcCauley

Registered User
Apr 24, 2015
8,616
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Eric Staal. Gets paid 3.5 million a season and has put up 60-70ish points his first two years and is on pace for another 30 goal and 60 point campaign for the Wild. Great signing.
Ye he has been fantastic in Minnesota and has easily played like he was worth twice as much in todays market.
He didnt get more because he was absolutely awful in the months he played in NY and was very average in Carolina that year before he got traded to NY.

He suddenly turned around and became the old Eric Staal who we all have seen before. Weird how he dropped off that much in a couple years and had a good first season in Minnesota and scored 42 goals and 76 points at the age of 33 in his second season. Looked like he was declining very fast but then just became very good again... Impressive
 
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CupofOil

Knob Flavored Coffey
Aug 20, 2009
46,148
39,190
NYC
Rebuilding teams don't always succeed. For every Buffalo Sabres, there is an Edmonton Oilers, or Arizona Coyotes. The Wild are doing fine.

Since when did the Sabres become a success story?
The Leafs can be used as an example of a successful rebuild, not Buffalo.
 
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