NHL Free Agency Frenzy part 2: The Worst Free Agent Signings
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Frankie
July 24, 2022 (6:20 PM)
To continue our NHL Free Agency Frenzy coverage. It is now time to go over the top 2 worst signings during the offseason in NHL history. Now, these will be debatable, but one thing that can be agreed on- these signings are NOT good.
Jeff Finger- Toronto Maple Leafs
The Maple Leafs certainly thought they hit the jackpot with these two players. The Toronto Maple Leafs were looking to boost their blue line through free agency in 2008. In order to address their need, the Maple Leafs signed Jeff Finger to a four-year contract worth $14 million.
When the 2008-09 season finally began, the Maple Leafs were hoping Finger would be a strong defensive defenseman. In 66 games, Finger set his NHL career high with 23 points, yet failed to live up to the hype in terms of his strong play in the defensive end. His poor play limited him to 39 games with Leafs, in which he contributed 10 points.
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Eventually, the Leafs chose to waive Finger, sending him to the minors where he played parts of two seasons with the Toronto Marlies. In those two seasons, Finger played 23 and 31 games, the last of his professional hockey career.
Brad Richards-New York Rangers
In 2011, the Rangers made what turned out to be yet another terrible free-agent signing, securing the services of Brad Richards for nine years, at a cost of $60 million.
Richards, who entered free agency following a five-year, $39 million contract with the Dallas Stars, was the most sought-after player available in 2011 free agency. A proven number one center, Richards attracted league-wide interest before deciding to sign the Rangers.
Richards had been a consistent player offensively. With the Tampa Bay Lightning, Richards scored 489 points in 552 games, alongside winning the Lady Byng Trophy, Conn Smythe Trophy and the Stanley Cup, all in 2003-04. With Dallas, Richards' game continued to improve, scoring over a point per game with 227 points in 220 contests. Yet everything changed for Richards in his first season in the big apple.
After being demoted to the team's fourth line in the playoffs and rumors swirling that he would be made a healthy scratch, Richards was bought out by the Rangers at the end of the 2013-14 season.
The decision to buy out Richards meant that he would remain on the Rangers' books for the next 12 seasons, until the year 2025-26. During this immense stretch of time, Richards is owed an unimaginable $20.6 million to not play for the Rangers.
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