Best, worst value contracts signed so far in NHL free agency
By Natalie Vaitas
Jul 3, 2025 2:57 PM ET
NHL free agency opened on Tuesday, and, so far, 182 contracts have been signed worth almost $800,000,000 total, per PuckPedia.
Some teams filled their areas of need with high-end players on great deals; others overpaid after losing out on top names.
Which contracts will age well, and which had fans shaking their heads at the numbers? Let's take a look at the best and worst value contracts signed.
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Best value: Pius Suter, forward, St. Louis Blues
Coming off a career year with the Vancouver Canucks, Suter signed a two-year, $8.25 million deal with the Blues worth $4.125 million per year. The forward from Zurich is a Swiss army knife, capable of playing anywhere in the lineup at both center and wing positions.
Suter should immediately help shore up the Blues' center depth, and, with the seventh-most short-handed minutes among forwards last season, he should help improve the Blues' 28th-ranked penalty kill.
While he may not match his 25-goal total from last season, his two-way play should provide excellent value at $4.125 million per year.
https://www.yardbarker.com/nhl/articles ... n_42411260
Best, Worst Value Contracts Signed So Far In NHL Free Agency
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Re: Best, Worst Value Contracts Signed So Far In NHL Free Agency
8 Best Contracts Signed in NHL Free Agency 2025
July 5, 2025
by Alex Chauvancy
The dust has settled on what was a relatively underwhelming NHL free-agent class. There are still a few stragglers who could sign for cheap, especially the longer they stay unsigned, but all of the top names have found new homes. With that, let’s review some of the best contracts signed in free agency so far.
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4th Best: Pius Suter
Pius Suter was due for a pay raise after totaling 25 goals and 46 points with the Vancouver Canucks this season, but I’m still surprised he signed for the number he did. Looking for some center depth, the St. Louis Blues announced they had inked Suter to a two-year deal worth $4 million annually. Given what he produced this season, the Blues likely got him a bit under market value.
But while the Blues did get Suter for less than many of his contract projections, there are some concerns. His 2024-25 season was easily a career year, and he’s a prime candidate to regress in 2025-26 after shooting 18.1 percent this season.
Still, even though he’s due to regress, I’d be on Suter at least living up to a $4 million cap hit. He has great hockey sense and is one of the best defensive forwards in the NHL. Even if he returns to being a 35-40-point player, it’ll be hard to argue the Blues didn’t find value in signing him.
https://thehockeywriters.com/nhl-free-a ... e_vignette
July 5, 2025
by Alex Chauvancy
The dust has settled on what was a relatively underwhelming NHL free-agent class. There are still a few stragglers who could sign for cheap, especially the longer they stay unsigned, but all of the top names have found new homes. With that, let’s review some of the best contracts signed in free agency so far.
- clip -
4th Best: Pius Suter
Pius Suter was due for a pay raise after totaling 25 goals and 46 points with the Vancouver Canucks this season, but I’m still surprised he signed for the number he did. Looking for some center depth, the St. Louis Blues announced they had inked Suter to a two-year deal worth $4 million annually. Given what he produced this season, the Blues likely got him a bit under market value.
But while the Blues did get Suter for less than many of his contract projections, there are some concerns. His 2024-25 season was easily a career year, and he’s a prime candidate to regress in 2025-26 after shooting 18.1 percent this season.
Still, even though he’s due to regress, I’d be on Suter at least living up to a $4 million cap hit. He has great hockey sense and is one of the best defensive forwards in the NHL. Even if he returns to being a 35-40-point player, it’ll be hard to argue the Blues didn’t find value in signing him.
https://thehockeywriters.com/nhl-free-a ... e_vignette