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Thanks to last summer’s $4.5-million jump in the salary cap, the 2024 free agency period was juicy for the NHL.
But big contracts don’t always deliver big outcomes. And some value signings will outperform expectations.
Because the Tampa Bay Lightning traded for his rights, Jake Guentzel’s seven-year, $63-million deal tends to fly under the radar, overshadowed by the dramatic departure of Steven Stamkos.
But Guentzel has been nothing but steady with his new team, with 22 points in 23 games. Meanwhile, Stamkos, Jonathan Marchessault and Brady Skjei are still trying to hit the right notes in Music City.
Here are six other free-agent signings who have found good chemistry on their new teams though the first third of the 2024-25 NHL season.
Brandon Montour, D, Seattle Kraken
Seven years, $7.143-million cap hit
Fresh off his Stanley Cup win with the Florida Panthers, Montour signed the biggest July 1 deal of any defenseman when he joined the Seattle Kraken.
Through his first 25 games in the Emerald City, the 30-year-old is leading his team in ice time at 23:44 per game. And while the Kraken are still outside the playoff cutline, they’ve improved by three points from the same time last year and have allowed 14 fewer goals against while improving their overall goal differential from minus-22 to minus-3.
Montour is also second in team scoring, with 17 points, and his possession numbers at naturalstattrick.com show that he makes his teammates better no matter who else is on the ice.
Tyler Toffoli, RW, San Jose Sharks
Four years, $6-million cap hit
Now on his seventh NHL team, Toffoli has bounced around a lot. But he has put the puck in the net wherever he’s played.
Eyebrows went up when he chose the San Jose Sharks on July 1. But his wife is from California, and Cup champion experience and soft hands have been a boon to a Sharks squad that is improving much more rapidly than expected.
Toffoli is currently skating on a revamped second line with Luke Kunin and another new arrival, Alex Wennberg, and he’s anchoring the first unit on a solid power play. With 10 goals so far, he’s on pace to crack 30 for the third time in his career.
As of Dec. 4, the Sharks have played two more games than last season. They’ve scored 33 more goals, improving their differential from minus-55 to minus-17, and picked up 11 more points in the standings.
Related: Four Veteran NHL Stars Who Are Better Than Ever In 2024-25