Every year, a handful of small free-agent investments pay surprisingly big dividends. Which unsung players could be smart spends this summer?
Dig around in the NHL bargain bin long enough, and you might find a steal of a deal. Robin Lehner is a prime example. After three up-and-mostly-down seasons as Buffalo’s starting goaltender, Lehner was just 26 when he cut loose by the Sabres last summer and became a UFA. With no takers on a big-money contract, Lehner accepted a one-year, $1.5-million pact from the New York Islanders and ended up exceeding all expectations, winning the Jennings Trophy with platoon mate Thomas Greiss and becoming a Vezina Trophy finalist on the strength of a stellar .930 save percentage, 2.13 goals-against average and six shutouts. Lehner was integral in the Isles’ return to the playoffs – he posted a 25-13-5 record in the regular season – and the team’s advancement to the second round for just the second time since 1992-93. All for an exceptionally low price, at least by NHL standards.
But Lehner isn’t the only UFA who was signed on the cheap last summer and then went on to deliver great bang for the buck. He’s not even the only No. 1 goalie to do so. Carolina secured 26-year-old Petr Mrazek to the same one-year, $1.5-million deal as Lehner’s, and Mrazek eventually settled in as the Hurricanes’ go-to guy in net, helping the young team reach the playoffs for the first time since 2008-09. Patrick Maroon, 30, agreed to a one-year, $1.75-million contract to suit up for his native St. Louis and provided the Blues with depth scoring and a physical presence, and his abrasive and intimidating style was at the forefront in the playoffs. Defenseman Roman Polak, 32, played top-four minutes on Dallas’ blueline, bringing his trademark toughness and veteran influence, for the very reasonable rate of $1.3 million.
Lehner, Mrazek and Maroon will graduate to higher pay grades on their next contracts this summer, while Polak proved he still has something left in the tank and surely earned himself another NHL deal with his performance, perhaps even a multi-year pact. All of them are success stories as high-value UFA signings – inexpensive players who meant much more to their teams than their paycheques would suggest.
This summer, with a stacked UFA class featuring plenty of high-priced talent up for grabs, there’s also a number of players who can be signed on a budget. Here are 10 players who will likely cost $2 million or less – and might end up paying off big-time.
Thomas Vanek, LW
This is what a hired gun looks like. Vanek, 35, has played for eight different NHL teams since 2013-14. He keeps getting signed because he can still score – Vanek had 24 goals in 2017-18 and 16 this season. At the very least, you can trade him at the deadline for a pick. His past two contracts were one-year deals. That sounds perfect.
Brandon Tanev, LW
Pretty much the anti-Vanek. Tanev’s next power-play point will be the first of his NHL career. The grinding 27-year-old is coming off his third big-league season, and it was his most productive with 14 goals and 29 points in 80 games. But Tanev isn’t about points. He’s a bottom-six energy winger who hits, blocks shots and kills penalties.
Mike Smith, G
He’s 37, and the past season-and-a-half has been a struggle. But Smith played well enough down the stretch to reclaim Calgary’s starting job in the playoffs, even delivering a 26-save shutout in Game 1 versus Colorado. His days as a No. 1 are surely over, but a team looking for a platoon or veteran mentor backup will give Smith a shot.
Tyler Ennis, LW
On a one-year prove-it deal with Toronto, Ennis, 29, showed he still has the speed and offensive knack to contribute. Coming off three subpar seasons due to injuries and a diminished role, he rebounded with 12 goals in 51 games as a fourth-liner. He has the talent to slot onto a scoring line when needed and played on the second power-play unit.
Keith Kinkaid, G
Everything that went right two years ago regressed to the norm this season. Kinkaid, 29, was a big part of New Jersey’s surprising playoff berth in 2017-18, but he couldn’t save the Devils this time and was dealt to Columbus. Is he the goalie who shone in his first chance as a starter two years ago or the guy who posted career-worst stats in 2018-19?
Valtteri Filppula, C
Just when it looked like the 35-year-old savvy veteran was skating into the sunset, he pots 17 goals with his standard solid two-way play as the third-line center for a playoff-bound Islanders team. Filppula still has the all-around game to play in any situation, though he’s more likely to be found killing penalties than on the power play.
Braydon Coburn, D
If you’re seeking a third-pairing D-man who brings physicality and a wealth of experience, you could do a lot worse than the bodychecking, shot-blocking, 34-year-old Coburn. He ranks among the top five active defensemen with 134 playoff games. Nobody’s going to sign him for his offense, but his 23 points were his most since 2011-12.
Pierre-Edouard Bellemare, C
Six goals and 15 points. That is what Bellemare’s next team can expect as far as offense goes. So, not a lot. But he’ll also capably fill the fourth-line center role, kill penalties and win faceoffs. He’s fast, he’s physical, and he doesn’t take bad penalties. A coach can send Bellemare, 34, over the boards for 10 to 12 minutes a game with confidence.
Ron Hainsey, D
Hainsey took some heat at times for defensive lapses, but he was also a 38-year-old blueliner who spent most of the season on Toronto’s top ‘D’ pair. And he still ended up in the NHL’s top 10 with a plus-30 rating, so the wily vet was doing something right. He’s a third-pairing defender who can move up when needed. Lots of leadership, too.
Brandon Pirri, C
He’s riskier than anyone on this list, but he might also deliver the biggest offensive payoff. Pirri, 28, has resided on the NHL fringe for nearly a decade. At his best, he’s the guy who scored 22 times in 49 games with Florida in 2014-15. Questions about his defense have prevented him from catching on. Give him a chance, he might pop 25 for you.