Whether it's Rafael Harvey-Pinard, Matthew Phillips or Jaret Anderson-Dolan, there were a ton of NHL free agency signings that went under the radar. Here's Jacob Stoller's top 20.
While many tend to grade a team’s free agency performance off of the big fish they reel in, the reality is that in a flat-capped NHL, value signings usually age out to be the biggest home runs.
Be it a minor-league player that helps stabilize an AHL affiliate — and plays a role in enhancing the development of the team's top prospects — or a depth signing that outperforms their cap hit, depth signings go a long way in building organizational depth.
Today, we’re going to take a look at the top 20 depth signings thus far in free agency. Our list includes a mix of $1 million dollar contracts, league minimum deals and two-way contracts.
The ranking order is based on which signings have the potential to have the greatest impact on the NHL parent club down the line.
1. Montreal Canadiens: Rafael Harvey-Pinard, two years, $1,100,000 AAV
No Habs prospect has raised their stock as much as Harvey-Pinard, a seventh-round pick in the 2019 draft.
After recording 20 points in 36 AHL games during the 2020-21 COVID-shortened season, he took a massive step forward in 2021-22 — finishing with 56 points in 69 AHL games, followed by another 10 points in 15 playoff contests.
This year, Harvey-Pinard took it to a whole other level. After being one of the best players in the AHL during the first half of the 2022-23 season, Montreal recalled the 24-year-old in mid-January, and it didn’t take him long for him to acclimate himself into the team’s top six. He recorded 20 points in 34 NHL games — while averaging 17:14 of ice time per game — and was a strong play-driver at even strength.
While he recorded an unsustainable 24.1 shooting percentage, Harvey-Pinard’s attributes go far beyond his offensive ability. He’s got a high-end hockey IQ and can adapt to any role he’s deployed in – be it on a line with top guns like Nick Suzuki or in a fourth-line checking role.
At this rate, it’s hard to foresee a situation where Harvey-Pinard’s play doesn’t live up to that cap hit, let alone exceed it.
2. Washington Capitals: Matthew Phillips, one year, one-way, $775,000 AAV
Matthew Phillips is about to have a prime opportunity to prove he’s much more than a career 'AAAA' type of AHL player.
Phillips has been a prolific AHL talent over the past three seasons, leading the AHL in 5-on-5 primary points (70) and totalling 144 points (third) through that span, according to AHLTracker.com.
But the 5-foot-7 Phillips was never given much of an opportunity with the Calgary Flames, who drafted him in the sixth round of the 2016 draft. He’s played just three career NHL games — two of which were last season — and it’s unsurprising that Phillips reportedly turned down a two-year contract offer to stay in Calgary.
In Washington, Phillips joins a team that not only has spots in the middle six up for grabs but also now has Mitch Love — Phillips’ AHL coach for the last two seasons — as an assistant coach. If worse comes to worst, Washington can always re-assign him to the AHL. If he passes through waivers, the Capitals — of all organizations – won’t be too bothered by giving their AHL affiliate, the Hershey Bears, such an elite talent.
For all the talk about Phillips’ size, it should be noted he’s far from a perimeter player. For what it’s worth, his even-strength inner slot chances per 60 have been elite in each of the last two seasons, finishing in the 91st and 99th percentile, respectively, according to InStat.
3. Florida Panthers: Lucas Carlsson, one year, two-way, $775,000 AAV
After playing in 40 NHL games with Florida the year prior, Carlsson spent the entire 2022-23 campaign, save for two NHL games, with the Charlotte Checkers.
The 26-year-old scored 20 goals (tied for the league lead among defensemen), was one of the best play-driving blueliners in the AHL and was named to the AHL second all-star team.
Carlsson won’t wow you with his raw ability, but he processes the game well and could flourish for a Florida team that’s in dire need of blueline support with Aaron Ekblad and Brandon Montour sidelined for the first chunk of the 2023-24 season.
4. Detroit Red Wings: Alex Lyon, two years, one-way, $900,000 AAV
Before Sergei Bobrovsky turned back the clock and returned to elite form, Lyon was the Panthers’ No. 1 netminder. The 30-year-old posted a .943 save percentage and 6-1-1 record during Florida’s final 10 games of the season, which clinched them a playoff spot.
Dating back to the 2016-17 season, Lyon — who is one year removed from hoisting the Calder Cup with the Chicago Wolves — has combined for a .933 save percentage in 25 AHL playoff games, according to AHLTracker.com.
Lyon will battle with James Reimer for the Red Wings’ backup goalie job behind Ville Husso. If he doesn’t secure a spot out of camp, he could be placed on waivers – which Detroit has seemingly accounted for, given that they gave him a two-year deal. The term tends to scare teams away from the waiver wire.
At the very least, Lyon’s arrival will create internal competition in net at Detroit’s training camp.
5. Washington Capitals: Pierrick Dube, two-year, entry-level contract, $950,000 AAV
Dube has the potential to become the next heralded diamond-in-the-rough signing.
The 22-year-old forward started last season on an AHL PTO with the Laval Rocket, but Dube — who registered a goal and an assist in his AHL debut — was sent to the ECHL in October after just three games with the Rocket.
After recording 14 points in nine ECHL games, Laval recalled him in December, and he quickly evolved into a key cog for Laval. He finished the year with 32 points in 44 AHL games — with 28 of those coming in his final 31 games — and was an elite play-driver at even strength. Dube is a hardworking, nose-to-the-grindstone type player, and he’s got a quick release on his shot.
6. Los Angeles Kings: Jaret Anderson-Dolan, one year, $750,000 AAV
The Kings opted not to qualify Anderson-Dolan, an RFA after last season, but found a way to re-up him on a league-minimum, team-friendly term.
‘JAD’ has all the tools to be a high-end fourth-liner, and he could provide some real surplus value at that dollar figure. The 23-year-old is a strong forechecker who can generate chances off the cycle and kill penalties if needed. This past year, he was a 13th forward for the Kings — spending long stretches of the season in the press box during the regular season before ultimately suiting up for four of the Kings’ six playoff games.
7. Pittsburgh Penguins: Alex Nedeljkovic, one year, one-way, $1,500,000 AAV
Nedeljkovic is a perfect addition for a Pittsburgh team poised to have three NHL goaltenders on its roster next season. While the last two years didn’t go great for him in Detroit, Nedeljkovic’s best season came in the 2020-21 season when he posted a .932 save percentage in 23 games. Maybe the sweet spot for Nedeljkovic is to play between 10 to 20 games, and if that’s the case, that’s some shrewd, forward-thinking by Kyle Dubas.
8. Florida Panthers: Mike Reilly, one year, one-way, $1,000,000 AAV
Despite the cap-strapped Bruins burying him and his $3-million AAV in the minors last year, there’s little doubt Reilly is a serviceable bottom-pairing defenseman. He’s a weapon in transition, with a knack for leading breakouts and facilitating as a puck transporter. For a third of the price of his last cap hit, he’s a steal.
9. Tampa Bay Lightning: Calvin de Haan, one year, one-way, $825,000 AAV
Calvin de Haan could be a safety blanket to the edges of Tampa Bay’s back end. He’s certainly an upgrade on Haydn Fleury on the third pairing, and in the event of an injury, he’s probably better suited to step up into top-four minutes than Haydn Fleury, Darren Raddysh or Zach Bogosian.
10. New York Rangers: Erik Gustafsson, one year, one-way, $825,000 AAV
How is it that a defenseman coming off a 42-point campaign is being signed for so little? Well, there’s a small shelf life for offensive defensemen who aren’t exceptional enough offensively to offset defensive deficiencies. Gustafsson falls into that category. That said, Gustafsson is solid insurance for the Rangers if Zac Jones can’t handle full-time NHL duty next season.
11. Pittsburgh Penguins: Will Butcher, one year, two-way, $775,000 AAV
Remember Will Butcher? Like, the NHL all-rookie team, Hobey Baker Award-winning Will Butcher? After playing in five NHL seasons straight out of college, the 28-year-old spent last season with the AHL’s Texas Stars. If injuries arise for Pittsburgh, Butcher can provide some upside in a sheltered third-pairing role. But above all else, signing Butcher will go a long way in replenishing a Wilkes-Barre Scranton team that was short on prospects and depth pieces last season.
12. Toronto Maple Leafs: Max Lajoie, one year, two-way, $775,000 AAV
Lajoie, the Wolves’ representative at the AHL All-Star Game this year, is another sturdy, reliable depth option. He was an anchor on the Wolves’ blueline during their 2021-22 Calder Cup run, with the 25-year-old logging a team-high 24:12 TOI per game in 18 playoff contests, according to InStat.
13. Toronto Maple Leafs: William Lagesson, one year, two-way, $775,000 AAV
No team knows the importance of defensive depth like the Leafs — a team that usually has the highest-caliber seventh, eighth and ninth defensemen in the league. It’s safe to assume the Leafs envision Lagesson being a big part of the Marlies’ back end. Lagesson, who has 60 games of NHL experience to his name, is coming off a strong AHL campaign where the 27-year-old posted strong underlying numbers in a top-four role on a weak Chicago Wolves team.
14. Buffalo Sabres: Devin Cooley, one year, two-way, $775,000 AAV
While his previous two goalie partners — Connor Ingram and Yaroslav Askarov — took up most of the spotlight in Milwaukee, Cooley was quietly a clutch post-season performer. In a combined 11 games over the last two playoffs, Cooley (.923 save percentage) outperformed Askarov (.903 in 12 games) and Ingram (.835 in four games) by a wide margin.
15. Edmonton Oilers: Noel Hoefenmayer, one year, entry-level contract, $845,000 AAV
Fresh off recording 40 points in 46 ECHL games the year prior, Hoefenmayer carved out a spot in the Toronto Marlies’ top four right from the get-go of the 2022-23 season. The 24-year-old recorded 38 points in 65 AHL games and earned an invite to the AHL All-Star Game, too. Hoefenmayer, widely lauded for his heavy shot and playmaking ability, played on the right side – his off-hand – out of necessity sometimes.
16. Arizona Coyotes: Alex Galchenyuk, one year, two-way, $775,000 AAV
In 42 games with the Colorado Eagles last year, Galchenyuk scored at a point-per-game pace and, under the tutelage of former Eagles coach and newly named Ducks coach Greg Cronin, demonstrated an uncharacteristically solid two-way game.
17. Winnipeg Jets: Jeffrey Viel, one year, one-way, $775,000 AAV
Viel is a hard-nosed, gritty forward who can provide some sandpaper to a Winnipeg Jets team that hasn’t had much physicality on its fourth line in a while. Viel isn’t afraid to drop the gloves — reflected by his penalty minute totals in the AHL (398 PIMs in 212 games) and NHL (139 PIMs in 49 games) — and he’s hard to knock off the puck.
18. Vegas Golden Knights: Mason Morelli, two years, two-way, $775,000 AAV
Morelli, 27, was a big part of the Hershey Bears’ Calder Cup Championship this past spring, recording 13 points in 20 playoff games. The undrafted forward has become one of the AHL’s best forecheckers over the last three seasons thanks to his unrelenting, gritty style of play.
19. Detroit Red Wings: Brogan Rafferty, two years, two-way, $775,000 AAV
Rafferty is coming off an exceptional season with the Coachella Valley Firebirds. From Detroit’s point of view, adding the second-team AHL all-star will go a long way in restoring some much-needed stability in Grand Rapids.
20. New York Rangers: Alex Belzile, two years, two-way in Year 1 and one-way in Year 2, $775,000 AAV
After stacking the Hartford Wolf Pack last spring in hopes of their AHL affiliate making a Calder Cup run — the New York Rangers are making another sizeable investment in Hartford with the addition of Alex Belzille. The 31-year-old journeyman worked his way up from the ECHL to become a high-end AHL player who displayed some NHL utility with the Montreal Canadiens this year – recording 14 points in 31 NHL games.