The initial wave of the annual free agent frenzy has slowed down, so let’s take a breath and ask the big question: Class, what have we learned today?
Lesson: Being heartless is the new market inefficiency
Jonathan Marchessault not being in Vegas feels wrong. Steven Stamkos not being in Tampa feels worse. Both players leaving on the same day, and essentially admitting that it was the teams’ call and not theirs, is enough to make even the most hardened cynic need a moment.
Lesson: The Predators are back, baby
By landing Stamkos and Marchessault, not to mention signing Brady Skjei today and extending Jusse Saros a few days ago, the Predators are making it clear that they expect to be right in the mix for the Central and beyond.
Lesson: As always, term is what matters
Whenever a new deal gets signed, hockey fans want to know the AAV. That’s important, but for a lot of contracts, it’s not the most important number. Once a player gets out of their mid-20s, it’s the term that often matters most.
In related news, NHL teams don’t seem to have any issue giving out big-time term to guys who are really old.
Read the rest of lessons learned on the first day of free agency.
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NHL free agency: 10 lessons we learned from a wild first day
