We find ourselves five months removed from the opening date (July 1st) of the latest NHL free agency period and now crossing the quarter mark of the 2023-24 league calendar. While 20-ish games may not be the most substantial sample size, it’s sufficient to discern which GMs completed some of the more astute signings and are now reaping the early rewards. It’s often said that bad free agent deals are what get general managers fired down the line, and while there’s truth to that statement (see Jim Benning and Peter Chiarelli), those who discover players who provide significantly more production than their contract value would suggest should be commended.

Florida Panthers: Evan Rodrigues & Oliver Ekman-Larsson

In the summer of 2021, restricted-free-agent (RFA) forward Evan Rodrigues found himself traded from Pittsburgh to his hometown Toronto Maple Leafs in the hopes of sealing a deal after an ‘okay’ season (14 points in 35 games played). The cap-strapped Leafs were unable to sign Rodrigues and so he returned to the Penguins on a 1-year deal. He is now on pace to record his 3rd straight 0.5 point-per-game season as he’s well ahead of that mark with 21 points in 26 games played as a Panther. Florida GM Bill Zito brought Rodrigues in on a $3-million x 3-year deal after his admirable performance in Colorado last season, recording 39 points in 69 games. Rodrigues was effectively signed by Zito as the Anthony Duclair replacement after the winger was jettisoned off to San Jose to clear up Florida’s crowded cap picture. Duclair will be a free agent this upcoming July and while it’s no guarantee he earns a pay-bump from his identical $3-million cap-hit, Rodrigues’ is locked in, and that’s looking like a smart bet by Zito.

Meanwhile on the blue-line, Florida entered the summer in dire straits after a deep playoff run to the Stanley Cup Finals with news that their top 2 defenders; Brandon Montour and Aaron Ekblad would be out long-term due to surgery and injury rehab. To address this, Zito brought in a trio of defensemen: Nikko Mikkola, Dmitry Kulikov, and Oliver Ekman-Larsson. While all have performed well, Ekman-Larsson has been the standout, exceeding expectations. His tenure in Vancouver was a rollercoaster, making it uncertain whether he’d live up to the $2.25-million contract granted by Zito. However, Ekman-Larsson not only kept the blue line afloat during the top pair’s 16-game absence but excelled in that role. Averaging 23:51 time-on-ice over that stretch, he played in all situations, recording 4 goals and 10 points. With Montour and Ekblad back, Ekman-Larsson can take advantage of a sheltered role while providing reassurance to Panthers coach Paul Maurice, knowing he can step into a bigger role if needed.

Detroit Red Wings: J.T. Compher & Shayne Gostisbehere

Red Wings GM Steve Yzerman, often lauded as one of the best across the NHL, has faced criticism for several signings in the past two free agency periods. In 2022, Yzerman brought in defensive defenseman Ben Chiarot ($4.75 million x 4-years) and middle-six center Andrew Copp ($5.625 million x 5-years), among others. This summer, he surprised many by signing offensive defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere ($4.125 million x 1-year) and another middle-six center, J.T. Compher ($5.1 million x 5-years). None of these deals earned immediate praise yet the Red Wings find themselves in a playoff spot this December, and there’s a real feeling they could hold it for good this time. Gostisbehere, signed in Detroit after a trade deadline addition to the Carolina Hurricanes last year, played 23 games for Carolina, averaging 16:59 time-on-ice and recording 10 points. In his first 25 games as a Red Wing, Gostisbehere is playing 19:25 each game with 19 points. While it may be unlikely to sustain this level of performance, Gostisbehere’s role in quarterbacking the power play has allowed Moritz Seider to develop his defensive game without being relied upon offensively. The Gostisbehere deal looks even better when compared to similar players and their deals; Arizona’s Matt Dumba ($3.9 million x 1-year, 4 points in 24 games played) and Toronto’s John Klingberg ($4.15 million x 1-year, LTIR and out for the year).

J.T. Compher’s best comparable might be his aforementioned teammate Andrew Copp especially when considering their nearly identical contracts. Copp signed in Detroit after being a fan favourite for years in Winnipeg, and again on the Rangers albeit for a much shorter time. Compher, with parts of 7 seasons with Colorado, is showcasing new offensive levels in his Detroit tenure with 19 points in 24 games played. While Copp and Compher carry hefty cap-hits individually, they combine for $11-million and that’s not an exuberant number to allot your 2nd and 3rd line center in the grand scheme of things, especially if Compher sustains his production.

Arizona Coyotes: Nick Bjugstad & Alex Kerfoot

Nick Bjugstad is in the midst of a career renaissance in Arizona after signing two summers ago and scoring 17 goals and 29 points in 2022. Notably, 6 of those points were recorded after being traded to the Edmonton Oilers where he was a natural fit in their bottom-six. Bjugstad chose to return to Arizona this past summer on a new deal that pays him $2.1 million for the next 2 seasons. He’s off to a red-hot start, averaging a career-high 17:33 time-on-ice while occupying the 2C role, putting up 6 goals and 17 points in 26 games played. Coyotes GM Bill Armstrong must be thrilled with Bjugstad’s contributions over the past 2 seasons, especially when considering the 3rd round pick he fetched from the Oilers.

Alex Kerfoot, often criticized during his time in Toronto, found a fresh start in Arizona where he signed a 2-year deal at a $3.5 million cap-hit; identical to his previous deal. Much like Bjugstad, Kerfoot is playing more than ever before (16:48 time-on-ice) and matching the best offensive production of his career, putting him on pace for roughly 50 points over 82 games played. He’s a valuable player, pushing the pace on a nightly basis, and has provided depth to a team that sorely needed it.

Nashville Predators: Ryan O’Reilly & Gustav Nyquist

The Nashville Predators had a busy offseason, with longtime coach and now rookie GM Barry Trotz leading the charge. After buying out Matt Duchene and Ryan Johansen, Trotz brought in replacement veteran leadership through free agency: center Ryan O’Reilly ($4.5 million x 4-years) and winger Gustav Nyquist ($3.185 million x 2-years). The O’Reilly signing was viewed by many as puzzling for a team expected to get younger, but the 32-year-old has quickly shown he has much more to give as a top-six center. O’Reilly is playing in all situations, as per usual, and scoring at a tremendous clip with 12 goals and 22 points in 27 games played. O’Reilly has an outside chance at eclipsing career-best marks in both categories, which are 28 goals and 77 points, respectively.

Gustav Nyquist, now 34, showing he’s still spry as well. Playing 1st-line minutes alongside O’Reilly and Filip Forsberg, he has accumulated 18 points to date. Nyquist’s 58 shots rank 4th on the team and his shooting percentage of 5.2% suggests he’s been snakebitten this year. Assuming that metric regresses close to his 11.2% career average, he should score 15-20 goals and 50 points. Not bad for just over $3-million a year.