While the 2024 NHL free-agent class was top-heavy with big names and talented scorers, plenty of second-tier and depth players have inked contracts with new teams.
Here are the five best under-the-radar signings of free agency so far.
Kiefer Sherwood, LW, Vancouver Canucks | Contract: two years, $3M
It took Sherwood six NHL season, but he finally proved he belonged and carved out a solid bottom-six role for himself with the Predators last season. Sherwood is a fast, gritty, tough-to-play-against pest. He ranked third on the Predators with 234 hits, and he added 10 goals and 27 points, showing he can use his speed and physicality to his advantage to help generate some offense, and at $1.5M per season, that’s a steal.
Jack Roslovic, C, Carolina Hurricanes | Contract: one year, $2.8 million
There’s a lot to like about Roslovic. He’s a 27-year-old center with 20-goal ability who can play on the second or third line and on the penalty kill if needed. He plays with plenty of speed and skill, and he should help offset some of the point production lost with the departures of Jake Guentzel, Teuvo Teravainen and Stefan Noesen.
Nate Schmidt, D, Florida Panthers | Contract: one year, $800K
The Panthers are taking nearly zero risk with the potential for a big payoff with Schmidt. Paying less than $1M for a mobile, puck-moving defenseman who’s defensively responsible and can stabilize the third pairing on a defending Stanley Cup winner is a coup for general manager Bill Zito.
Erik Brannstrom, D, Colorado Avalanche | Contract: one year, $900K
A top-15 pick of the Vegas Golden Knights in 2017, Brannstrom was traded just two years into his tenure to the Ottawa Senators in a package for high-scoring forward Mark Stone. He never really found his footing with the Senators, either, after five seasons, but he’s only 24 and he contributed 38 points over the last two seasons, which makes him the perfect buy-low option for the Avalanche.
Colorado needs to hash out its third pair, and Brannstrom could be another successful reclamation project for the team, much like Valeri Nichushkin and Jonathan Drouin have been.
Jeff Skinner, LW, Edmonton Oilers | Contract: one year, $3M
It’s rare a player the caliber of Skinner would be considered “under the radar,” but considering what the Oilers are getting for as little as they’re paying, this could be the steal of free agency. Skinner has five 30-goal seasons and one 40-goal campaign under his belt, and he’s consistently in the 50-60 point range.
Adding a player who’s that big of a potential scoring threat to a lineup that already features Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl, Zach Hyman, Evan Bouchard and Evander Kane (for just $3M at that) and it’ll be hard to win games by simply outscoring the Oilers next season.
