These Were the 5 BEST Contracts Given Out this NHL Offseason
The big players in free agency are all taken care of and there was a lot of money spent, some of it wasted in free agency. But there were also plenty of gems given out this offseason. Contracts that look like they are going to be incredible value to the teams that gave them out and extensions that will look like absolute bargains in a few years. So today, let’s look at the five best contracts that were given out by teams in the free agency period. Now, let’s start with the Vancouver Conucks who did a very smart thing in my opinion by extending goalender Thatcher Demco to a three-year deal worth $8.5 million per year. Now, that AAV is slightly higher than what he was projected to get. Uh, AFP Analytics had him projected to get a 7×5, but in exchange for that higher AAV, Vancouver got a shorter deal, which I actually really like for them. Demco is coming off an injury riddled season. Vancouver is kind of in a weird spot right now where they’re going to be a little bit competitive, but they also might pivot to a full-on rebuild depending how things shake out, especially with Quinn Hughes. And so not having Demco locked into a longerterm contract theoretically would make him easier to trade in the future. But even if they decide to ride it out with Demco for the full length of the contract, they’re paying him a pretty fair value considering how good of a goalender he is. I would say he’s in the tier just below elite. And Vancouver isn’t overpaying him. They’re paying him very good goalender money, but they’re not paying him great goalender money like the Rangers give out at the Eor Stirkin. Another contract extension that I really liked was by the Utah Mammoth, who upon acquiring JJ Purka immediately signed into a 5-year extension worth $7.7 million a year. And not only was that contract value right dead on with what he was projected to get about seven to eight million dollars per year, it’s just good business for the Utah Mammoth who are under new ownership and kind of trying to build a new culture to lock up a young ascending player to a bare market value deal and especially have contract extension talks go smoothly with a guy who just came out of very messy talks in Buffalo. Purka is still very young. He’s only 23 and even though his current production hasn’t warranted a $7.7 million AAV, I am very confident that he will get at least close to that as he continues to develop and especially if, let’s be honest, the trend of players leaving Buffalo and immediately becoming a lot better continues. The third best contract of the 2025 free agency period was another extension, this time made by the Calgary Flames, who locked up Morgan Frost to a 2-year contract, $8.75 million total or 4.375 AAV. And I know on the services, this doesn’t seem like a great contract. Calgary is letting a 26-y old basically take a bridge deal into his UFA status when this expires. The big reason that I really like this contract is because of the value. $4.375 million for Morgan Frost is well below what he should be making at this stage. I had him pegged at about5 to 5.5 million. Again, like with Demco, it’s a short-term deal. So, if Calvary wants to get out of it, it’s very easy for them to do so. Although, there is a no movement clause in the second year. though if they do end up being stuck with the contract, it’s not going to bite them in the ass. But on Calgary’s side, I like the idea of letting a guy who’s kind of a tweener between a second and third line center kind of have a couple year audition to see if he can grow and develop into that second line center with him and then lock him up to extension. If he doesn’t, let him go to free agency. Somebody will overpay a third line center, but at least you know it won’t be to you. Now, the second best contract that was given out this offseason in my opinion was one of the biggest ones in terms of AAV. The Edmonton Oilers locked up their top defenseman Evan Bousard to a 4-year contract worth $10.5 million per year. A lot of the NHL has been critical of that the Oilers did this off season between the Trent Frederick signing and now this extension which basically creates another core four between Buchard Nurse McDavid and Dryidle. But I like the Bousard deal for a couple of reasons. First, kind of like with Frost and Demco, it’s not a long contract, just four years. There are no movement clauses in the last two years of the deal, but at the same time, is still giving themselves basically a two-year window to go for it. And if they don’t, they’ll still have the ability to get out of this contract via trade. And then again, the value is just really good. AFP Analytics projected that Bushar will get an 8-year deal worth around $11 million per year. Bushard is actually getting less term than that and a lower AAV. That’s kind of ridiculous. Usually you’re going to pay a little bit more in AAV to get a shorter term deal. But Bousard is one of the better offensive defenseman in the NHL. And I’m glad that the Imagent Wheelers locked him up not long-term so they’re not angered to him if they need to get out of this contract and resign McDavid. At least they’re taking care of their homegrown talent and at a very reasonable value. And last but not least, the best contract of the offseason. Actually, I wanted to shout it out just a few people who took really just teamfriendly discounts to either resign for a few years like Matt Duchain and John Tvaris or really good veterans who took short-term deals way below what they should be earning. Guys like Brent Burns, Claroo, Guinea Donov. But the best of both worlds has to be by the Dallas Stars who locked up their captain Jamie Ben to a one-year contract just a million dollar. That is ridiculously sinfully good value for the Dallas Stars. Ben was rejected to get around $5 million for two years on free agency. And yes, you’re only locking him up for one more year, but for just a million dollars, Jaime Ben is still an incredibly good top six forward. Even though he has a bit of a reputation as an agitator, I want you to keep in mind something that’s absolutely mind-blowing. Last year, Jamie Bennett, age 35, put up 49 points, which doesn’t seem all that impressive until you realize that Sam Bennett has only had one year in the NHL where he has had more than 49 points. And Bennett just got an EPE by Florida. And yes, Ben’s older, which is why he gets a lower AEV and a lower term. But still, getting a guy who’s going to easily give you between 40 and 60 points a year and a million dollars, even if he’s on the back nine of his career, is just an incredibly good deal for the Dallas Stars. [Music]
5 teams got away with absolute STEALS of contracts this offseason!
Follow me on other socials
Twitter: https://x.com/R1nkR4t
TikTok: @the.rink.rat
#nhl #hockey #2024nhl