The best and worst from the first day of NHL free agency

Tampa Bay Lightning center Steven Stamkos.

Day 1 of NHL free agency was nothing short of pure chaos. Players flew off the board in near rapid succession as teams loaded up for the 2024 season.

In total, 185 players were signed on Monday with teams collectively spending more than $1.2 billion, per CapFriendly. Here is the best and worst from Monday’s free-agent frenzy.

Best contract: Matt Duchene, C, Dallas Stars

Contract: one year, $3 million

Duchene played on the same one-year deal in 2023 and produced a 25-goal, 65-point season, the fourth-best of his career in terms of point production. Moving back to center from the right wing was a move that Duchene wanted but never got during his time in Nashville, but it’s a position that suits him best in Dallas’ lineup.

If the Stars can get another 20-goal, 60-point season out of Duchene for only $3M this deal will look even better than it already does.

Worst contract: Yakov Trenin, RW, Minnesota Wild

Contract: four years, $14M (3.5M per year)

Trenin split last season between the Predators and Colorado Avalanche, notching just 12 goals and 17 points in 76 games. The 27-year-old Russian has never scored more than 17 goals or 24 points in a season, and he’s a bottom-six role player who adds physicality more than any offensive skill, which makes the Wild’s decision to more than double his $1.7M salary from last season to play on their third or fourth line a puzzling one.

Best signing: Steven Stamkos, C, Nashville Predators

Outside of defenseman Roman Josi and forward Filip Forsberg, the Predators don’t often boast superstar scorers. Adding Stamkos, a two-time Rocket Richard Trophy winner, seven-time All-Star and two-time Stanley Cup champion who ranks second in the NHL in goals (555) and third in points (1,137) since 2008, gives them not only some much-needed star power but a true top-line threat in the offensive zone and on the power play (his 422 power-play points is third-most since 2008 as well.)

Worst signing: Joel Edmundson, D, Los Angeles Kings

Edmundson is a decent NHL defenseman, but that’s about it. Perhaps out of desperation, the Kings gave him a four-year contract worth $3.8M per year, which seems a little pricey for a 31-year-old defender who’s averaged less than 18 minutes of ice time per game each of the last two seasons and along with a combined 19 points.

Which team had the best Day 1?: Nashville Predators

In the span of about 15 minutes on Monday, the Predators went from a likely one-and-done playoff team to a potential Stanley Cup contender. Adding Stamkos bolsters the top six and the power play. Signing 2023 Conn Smythe winner Jonathan Marchessault, who’s coming off a 42-goal season, will also strengthen the top six and give Nashville some much-needed depth scoring.

Adding Brady Skjei gives the Predators a top-four defenseman with some offensive pop to replace Ryan McDonagh, and backup goaltender Scott Wedgewood will take Kevin Lankinen’s spot as the No. 2 guy behind Juuse Saros. It’s hard not to like the moves general manager Barry Trotz pulled off on Monday.

Which team had the worst Day 1?: Los Angeles Kings

L.A. lost a couple key pieces to other teams in forward Viktor Arvidsson (Edmonton Oilers), defenseman Matt Roy (Washington Capitals), goaltender Cam Talbot (Detroit Red Wings) and its only notable acquisition was forward Warren Foegele. After Day 1 of free agency, the Kings are worse offensively, defensively and in net than they were before it.

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