Free Agency Recap

Well, that was interesting. On a day that has historically been marked by excess and a devil may care attitude towards the future, National Hockey League general managers revealed a quality generally missing at the start of free agency; restraint.
Although the signings came fast and furious, the 2017 free agency class was marked by shorter terms and fewer dollars a nod to the recent expansion draft that redistributed some of hockey's wealth and the relative flat salary cap. That doesn't mean there weren't some head scratchers and there still may be some buyers' regret in the coming days, but here is a look at some of the more noteworthy signings as free agency began Saturday.

Martin Hanzal, center, signs three years, $4.75 million per year, Dallas Stars
You can never have too much depth at center and the acquisition of the big, two-way center creates lots of options for head coach Ken Hitchcock down the middle for a Stars team that has added key pieces behind the bench, in goal, along the blue line and now at center since the end of the season.
Kevin Shattenkirk, defense, signs four years, $6.65 million per year, New York Rangers
The Rangers shed themselves of aging veterans Dan Girardi (buyout) and Derek Stepan (trade) and then obtained the top free agent defenseman at a manageable cap hit and even more manageable term. Throw in a couple of young prospects and backup netminder Ondrej Pavelec and pretty good week's work for GM Jeff Gorton. Great landing spot for Shattenkirk after a disappointing turn in Washington after the trade deadline.
Karl Alzner, defense, signs five years, $4.625 million per season Montreal Canadiens
The term of this deal will almost certainly come back to haunt the Canadiens, but if Alzner, 28, can get over the core body issues that hampered his play last season he and Shea Weber are going to make playing in the Montreal zone very uncomfortable. At the end of the day, the Habs need to show netminder Carey Price, entering the final year of his contract, they're in it to win it and this deal reinforces that mentality, never mind how this plays out at the end of the deal.
Patrick Sharp, winger, signs one year, $1 million per season Chicago Blackhawks
Significant hometown discount (okay Chicago's not Sharp's hometown but when you win three Stanley Cups in one city you get to call it home) tells you all you need to know about how Sharp ended up back in Chicago. Hoping Sharp, a consummate pro, gets back to form after a difficult 2016-17 in Dallas where concussion issues and a hip injury kept him out of the lineup for much of the season. A word of warning though not all (any?) of the Blackhawks' recent reunion moves have worked out all that well.
Justin Williams, winger, signs two years, $4.5 million per year, Carolina Hurricanes
Wouldn't have been a surprise to see Williams end up in Dallas, but credit the 'Canes for coming to the table with a substantial offer to repatriate the former Hurricane (Williams won a Cup in Carolina in 2006). He'll be a boon to a young team on the cusp of something nice in Raleigh.
Nick Bonino, center, signs four years, $4.1 million per season, Nashville Predators
This might end up as the most impactful of all the signings to open the '17 free agency period. With Mike Fisher's future uncertain (and even if the veteran returns to Nashville) Bonino slides nicely into a number two center role with the defending Western Conference champs behind Ryan Johansen. A two-time Stanley Cup winner in Pittsburgh Bonino's addition, one that followed the shrewd trade of Colin Wilson to Colorado, means the Preds should be right back in the mix next season.
Trevor Daley, defense, signs three years, $3.178 million per year, Detroit Red Wings
Daley, like Bonino, is coming off two straight Stanley Cup wins in Pittsburgh. Not sure he's going to have to worry about a third ring with the Red Wings who seem caught in the no man's land between rebuild and contending.
Chris Kunitz, winger, signs one year, $2 million per year, Tampa Bay Lightning
The exodus from Pittsburgh has been significant with Kunitz joining Daley, Bonino, Marc-Andre Fleury and Ron Hainsey in donning new jerseys in recent days. This is a nice low-risk add for a Lightning team looking to rebound from last season's playoff miss. Kunitz played often with Sidney Crosby in Pittsburgh over the years will he get a shot to work with captain Steven Stamkos in Tampa?
Dan Girardi, defense, signs two years, $3 million per year, Tampa Bay Lightning
Have to admit we get the Kunitz signing a lot more fully than we do the Girardi signing given that the veteran New York Ranger was bought out earlier this week and has struggled with his game the past couple of seasons.
Brian Elliott, goalie, signs two years, $2.75 million per year, Philadelphia Flyers
The goalie carousel was spinning at warp speed Saturday and the Flyers are hoping they get the Brian Elliott of the last half of last season and not the Brian Elliott of the playoffs or the first half of the season. Which version they get will determine whether they're back to the post-season or not.
Steve Mason, goalie, signs two years, $4.1 million per year, Winnipeg Jets
The Winnipeg Jets are hoping Mason can break the franchise jinx that has seen them win exactly no playoff games dating back to their days in Atlanta. The problem is the former Columbus and Philadelphia starter has never quite managed to regain the form that saw him pitch 10 shutouts as a rookie in 2008-09 (under Dallas head coach Ken Hitchcock by the way) which makes this a no better than 50-50 proposition.
Chad Johnson, goalie, signs one year, $2.5 million per year, Buffalo Sabres
Last season Johnson saved the Calgary Flames' season when he came on in relief of a shaky Brian Elliott (see above) and now he returns to Buffalo where the Sabres hope he is part of a playoff revival in the Queen City.
Antti Niemi, goalie, signs one year, $700,000 per year, Pittsburgh Penguins
After being bought out by Dallas, Niemi lands as the backup to Matt Murray for the two-time Stanley Cup champs in Pittsburgh. Not a bad landing spot, although must admit thought there were better options for the Penguins in terms of relief help.
Ryan Miller, goalie, signs two years, $2 million per year, Anaheim Ducks
With John Gibson's durability an annual question mark Ducks fans may end up seeing more of Miller, the former U.S. Olympic hero from the 2010 Olympics, than they imagined. Not necessarily a bad thing.
Mike Cammalleri, winger, signs one year, $1 million per year, Los Angeles Kings
Lots of homecomings including the return of Cammalleri to the team with whom he first broke into the NHL back in 2002-03. Injuries have taken their toll on the 35-year-old sniper and he sure doesn't help the Kings get any younger but if he can stay healthy he's a low-risk addition for a year.
Sam Gagner, center, signs three years, $3.15 million per year, Vancouver Canucks
One of the game's true gentlemen, nice to see Gagner parlay a renaissance year in Columbus into a three-year deal with a Vancouver team still trying to find its identity. The concern is in asking Gagner to take on too big a role. If expectations are held in check, he'll be a nice add.
Dmitry Kulikov, defense, signs three years, $4.33 million per year Winnipeg Jets
This is a sneaky good signing by Winnipeg GM Kevin Cheveldayoff. Lots to like about the Jets' ability to get back in the playoff hunt provided Mason (see above) is the real deal.
This story was not subject to approval of the National Hockey League or Dallas Stars Hockey Club. You can follow Scott on Twitter @OvertimeScottB.