With more than half the season in the bag and free agency just over five months away, I thought it’d be interesting to look at which pending unrestricted NHL free agents have helped their cause the most when it comes to getting a raise on their next contracts.
Let’s take a look at a few who stand out.
Sam Gagner – Columbus Blue Jackets – One-year, $650,000
Following a 16-point season in Philadelphia, Gagner struggled to find work in the summer and had to wait until August before landing a one-year deal with the Columbus Blue Jackets.
Surprisingly, they have been one of the NHL’s best teams this season and Gagner’s resurgence is a big reason why. Despite logging about ~13:30 on a nightly basis, Gagner is 5th in team scoring with 14 goals and 34 points in 48 games. He has chipped in offensively — and driven possession — while skating on the 4th line at even-strength and has been a key cog on the league’s best power play unit.
Even if Gagner slows down in the latter half, he has shown he is capable of not only playing in the NHL but producing at a good clip (he is averaging 1.87 5v5 points/60, good for top-90). Given scoring is at more of a premium than ever, Gagner will have no problem getting a raise, and perhaps more term, on his next contract.
Kris Versteeg – Calgary Flames – One-year, $950,000
When September rolled around Versteeg still didn’t have a contract and he settled for a professional tryout with the Edmonton Oilers. He showed well in the preseason and was eventually able to parlay that into a contract with the Calgary Flames.
That signing has certainly paid off as Versteeg is producing at an 18-goal, 43-point pace over an 82-game schedule. Versteeg has managed those solid numbers while logging 14:30 per night, which ranks 7th among forwards on their roster.
He hasn’t relied solely on the power play, either, as he’s averaging 1.71 points per 60 at 5v5. That puts him 112th among forwards, meaning he’s produced like a high-end 2nd liner (there are 180 top-6 spots).
His relative possession numbers aren’t as good as we’re accustomed to seeing — the Flames control 3.2% more of the 5v5 shot attempts without him on the ice — but that has more to do with being tied down by Troy Brouwer, his most frequent linemate, than anything else (they have a 44.9CF% together while Versteeg is over 50% when apart).
Assuming Versteeg can stay relatively healthy, and there aren’t any long-term injury concerns, he shouldn’t have to wait too long for a contract, nor sign for pennies, when he searches for a new deal in a few month’s time.
Patrick Eaves – Dallas Stars – One-year, $1 million
Perhaps no player has done more to raise his stock this season than Eaves.
The 32-year-old veteran is on pace for 30 goals, 50 points, and almost 200 shots, all of which would be career highs. It’s fair to be skeptical of a player smashing career highs more than a decade into his career, but the numbers suggest his goal total is increasing because of shot volume as opposed to unsustainably high shooting percentages.
As you can see, his shooting percentage this season isn’t really out of the norm. Even if it were to drop to, say, 12%, the lowest total he has posted in a season where he’s played 40+ games since 2010, he would still score 24 goals at the rate he is shooting at.
At Eaves’ age I doubt any team will throw significant money or term his way, nor should they, but he’s certainly playing his way into a nice raise from the $1 million he’ll make this season. Goals are valuable and he’s pretty good at piling them up.
Written by Todd Cordell (@ToddCordell)
