5 questionable offseason NHL signings

The following five signings left NHL fans and analysts alike scratching their heads, wondering, "why?" Or, "that much?" These signings were not only questionable from Day 1, but could end up hurting their teams long term.

*Age is considered at the start of the season (Oct. 4).

Patrick Marleau, Maple Leafs

Age: 38
Term: 3 years
AAV: $6.25 million
NMC: Full

Adding Marleau as a veteran presence or as "a good locker-room guy" is understandable, but that could have been done on a one-year deal with a lesser player such as Jaromir Jagr, Scott Hartnell, or Mike Cammalleri.

The Maple Leafs undoubtedly have the most winger depth in the entire NHL. Kasperi Kapanen, 21, who was a point-per-game player in the AHL last year, and scored two huge playoff goals with the big club, now likely won't have a spot among their top 12 forwards. Nor will Josh Leivo, 24, who could only get into 13 games last year, but still managed 10 points.

Nonetheless, the Leafs decided to sign an aging Marleau for three years at an absurdly high salary, when they could have gotten similar (or possibly even better) production from Kapanen for a fraction of the cost. His salary won't necessarily hurt the Leafs right now, but in three years when Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner, and William Nylander are all making bank, and Marleau is 40, this contract will look awful.

Karl Alzner, Canadiens

Age: 29
Term: 5 years
AAV: $4.625 million
NMC: 7-team no-trade list

Alzner got a pretty hefty contract for a player who contributes absolutely nothing offensively. This must mean he's pretty elite defensively, but is he actually?

First off, Alzner only averaged 19:47 per game. Sure, Washington had a deep blue line, but if Barry Trotz really trusted him that much, Alzner would have played at least 20 minutes per night.

Here is how he performed while on the ice against some of the game's elite centermen at 5-on-5 this past season:

Opposition	TOI with	Scoring Chances For	Scoring Chances Against
John Tavares	48:06	21	25
Evgeni Malkin	23:21	3	23
Sidney Crosby	23:16	14	10
Mark Scheifele	23:07	2	17
Connor McDavid	22:24	9	12

As you can see, when Alzner was on the ice, his team was routinely outchanced by some of the game's best centers, but oddly enough, not Sidney Crosby. That is likely just an anomaly.

So if Alzner isn't fit to play against opponents' top lines, then he is being paid a lot into his mid-30s to be a stable second-pairing defenseman who generates zero offense.

Alexander Radulov, Stars

Age: 31
Term: 5 years
AAV: $6.25 million
NMC: Full NMC first two years, 15-team no-trade list last two years

Radulov will surely make the Stars one of the league's most potent offenses over the next couple of seasons, but it's the final few years of his contract that could turn out to be very ugly.

Radulov tallied 54 points last season. At best, he's probably a 65-point guy. What's he going to be like when he's 34, 35, and 36? A 45-point guy? Making $6.25 million per year? Yikes.

Furthermore, Radulov has a bit of a reputation as a party animal. Chances are he won't age like a fine wine.

Trevor Daley, Red Wings

Age: 33
Term: 3 years
AAV: $3,166,667
NMC: Full NTC first two years, 15-team no-trade list third year

It's amazing what a championship pedigree can do to a player's reputation. Daley - who won back-to-back Stanley Cups with the Pittsburgh Penguins - was able to earn a contract way over his head.

Daley is, at best, a fourth or fifth defenseman, and his play will only decline as he enters his mid-30s. Comparable defensemen, such as Michael Del Zotto, Ron Hainsey, and Dan Girardi, all received two-year deals with a lower AAV.

Moreover, the reason why this trade is a huge head-scratcher is because the Red Wings already have a glut of bad contracts, and should really start entering a rebuild mode, rather than lock up mediocre defenseman for three years.

Kris Russell, Oilers

Age: 30
Term: 4 years
AAV: $4 million
NMC: Full NMC first two years, 10-team no-trade list 2019-20, 15 in 2020-21

Russell is really only good at one thing: shot blocking. He has finished in the top three in blocks each of the past four seasons. But to be frank, he doesn't bring much else to the table.

He isn't necessarily a liability on the back end, but given that the Oilers are projected to have just over $14 million in cap space next year with only 13 players inked to pro contracts, it was a puzzling signing to say the least.

(Photos courtesy: Action Images)

- With h/t to Natural Stat Trick and Cap Friendly.

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