Milan Lucic, Edmonton Oilers
Lucic was supposed to be the final piece in the Los Angeles Kings this year. Lucic was able to have a successful regular season, putting up 20 goals and 55 points. The post season was a different story, as Lucic failed to get a goal as the Kings fell in the first round.
With a season that could be considered decent, the pedestrian Oilers made a strange decision in bringing in Lucic. The 28-year-old Lucic will get seven years and $42 million on a team that has no chance to make the playoffs. Even stranger is the fact that the team traded away their young star winger Taylor Hall to seemingly make room for Lucic.
Roman Polak, Toronto Maple Leafs
To say Polak is a liability on offense is an understatement in every sense of the word. He was able to manage one goal in the entirety of last season. In the post season, he was a -5 with no points with the San Jose Sharks.
That makes it a surprise when the Maple Leafs decided to sign him for over $2 million. The Leafs are not going to be playoff contenders next year, so it is confusing why they wouldn't go for a younger and less expensive option.
Eric Staal, Minnesota Wild
The one time Stanley Cup champion has had a fall from grace. In the regular season, he could only manage 13 goals and 39 points. Then he was held pointless in the post season.
Staal was still expecting a big payday due to his name value, and he got it. The Wild gave him three years and over $10 million despite the fact that his career trajectory is pointing downwards. With an aging roster already, the Wild seem to be a team trying to grab the stars of yesterday.
Dale Weise, Philadelphia Flyers
Weise was thinking that his career was heading upwards after he was traded to the defending champion Chicago Blackhawks. Instead, he got only 9:57 MPG and four points in 15 games with the Blackhawks.
The Flyers turned heads when they signed him to a four-year, nine and a half million dollar contract. It is unclear what Weise can add to a crowded forward corps that has plenty of average to below average wingers already.
Thomas Vanek, Detroit Red Wings
Vanek had to endure the worst season of his career this year with the Wild. The one time top notch sniper only managed 18 goals and 41 points, both worse than what he got in his rookie season.
The Red Wings were still interested in the veteran, looking to find offense after their star Pavel Datsyuk went to play at Russia. They signed Vanek for over two and a half million in a one year contract, hoping he could find some of his old magic.