by Christopher BottaFiled under: Blackhawks, Canucks, Coyotes, Flames, Kings, Western, NHL Free Agency
On July 1 of each NHL offseason, general managers can often be like the most passionate of fans. There are available players they just have to have. More often than not, the teams overpay. More often than not, the purchase does not make the team significantly better.Now that the 2010-11 season is approaching the midway mark, it's time to review some of the noteworthy free agent signings of last summer. We begin with the Western Conference, where the Vancouver Canucks got it right.
Dan Hamhuis, Vancouver -- Six years, $27 million: Give the Canucks credit for identifying what they wanted and going hard after it. Hamhuis was never a star in Nashville and isn't going to be one in Vancouver, but he is a reliable defenseman in his prime who should be able to provide Vancouver with 23 minutes a game for the duration of the contract. Hamhuis actually turned down a few higher offers to play near where he was raised. It's a lot of money, but everyone seems happy. That is the essence of unrestricted free agent. Grade: B+
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