NHL Free Agency: Hot and Cold Contract Signings

Day one of NHL free agency did not disappoint. Over $1.1 billion were handed out by teams on the first day of the month. Here let's take a look at 3 deals that I think were good signings and three that I'm trying to wrap my head around. The first we'll get to the first one I really liked was Steven Stamkos signing a four year deal with the National Predators, $8.5 million AAV there. It provides the Predators with the scoring punch in their top six. It will help their power play as well and you saw it throughout the year. Nashville, they need more scoring beyond their first line. Next up, Edmonton Oilers, Victor Arvidson signs A2 year deal with a 4 million AAV. This is the perfect signing for an Oilers team that needs more depth in the middle six of their lineup. There was great contributions for the year from their bottom six guys, but if someone's injured in the top six, they need someone to step up. And finally, Brett Pesci, great signing by the New Jersey Devils. They lock him down to a six year deal with a $5.5 million AAV. Pesci's an elite defensive defenseman that would be a perfect complement to a Luke Hughes, maybe the Simon Nemich and could really help the Devils hate that next step. Now here are three deals though that I just don't understand. Let's start with the trauma. Maple Leafs signing Oliver Eckman Larson to a four year deal with $3.5 million AV. I don't understand that because Oliver Eckman Larson, while he was a pretty good player in Florida, this is 1/3 pairing guy. He started the year in a top pairing role when Montour and Eclipse were injured, but for the most of the year in the cup run, he was a third pairing guy. That's a pretty hefty price to pay. Next is Sean Monahan, Columbus Blue Jackets. Speaking of hefty prices, you're paying a guy $5,000,000 a year. To come in and probably soon become your four or five center, you got a Fantilly Lindstrom, your top 212 punch, Boone Jenners or third line center. I don't know where Monahan is going to fit in soon. And I mean, it seems like a ridiculous price to pay in that case. And then finally, Los Angeles Kings signing Joel Edmondson to a four year deal with a $3.8 million AAVI. Don't understand why the Kings feel the need to allocate the extra cap space that they got here in the wake of the PL. Dubois trade on 1/3 pairing defenseman. They've got Gavrikov and Anderson in their first two pairings on the left. I don't know why you to spend that kind of capital. On 1/3 pairing defenseman for The Hockey News Calm. I'm Jacob Stoller.