Johnny Hockey chose Columbus, Claude Giroux went home and the goalie carousel continued to spin. According to CapFriendly, Wednesday set a new benchmark for the total amount of money handed out by NHL general managers in a single day — $919 million was put on the table as the 2022 free agency window officially opened, surpassing its previous record 2018 of $790 million. But while the offseason has begun and some eye-popping deals have been signed that look certain to hurt plenty, there were more than a few gems scattered among the pack. That said, let’s take a look at some of the best low-key, under-the-radar signings from the early days of free agency: DAVID PERRON, Detroit Red Wings Signed for: 2 years x $4.75 million After an outstanding third term with St. Louis Blues, veteran winger David Perron has opted to move on from the club with which he found Stanley Cup glory and signed a two-year contract with Steve Yzerman’s upstart Detroit Red Wings. It was a tidy job for Yzerman, who also bolstered his frontcourt with the additions of Andrew Copp and Dominik Kubalik. The trio joins an offensive group that already looked to be on the rise behind young stars Lucas Raymond and Filip Zadina (not to mention Mo Seider on the blue line), and is bolstered by the presence of more established talent like Dylan Larkin and Jakub Vrana. By adding Perron, the Wings throw another 20-30 goal weapon into the mix — perhaps to play alongside Copp on a fledgling second line — without having to enjoy a bloated cap or an enviable term for the 34-year-old. And don’t let the winger’s age fool you. Perron is having more than a career renaissance in his mid-30s — he’s playing the best hockey of his career. In 67 games last season, he scored 27 goals and 57 points. The previous year he scored 19 goals and 58 points in just 56 games. Before that, 25 goals and 60 points. The last five years of Perron’s career were his best in terms of overall production. While he can find open space and burn teams with his poor release or make plays at the net if the game gets tighter, Perron should add more reliable scoring to Detroit’s offense, along with some veteran and championship know-how . young stars of the team. MASON MARCHMENT, Dallas StarsSigned for: 4 years x $4.5 million After a fantastic season at Florida, Mason Marchment headed into free agency as one of the most exciting under-the-radar names on the market, and his potential earned him a four-year commitment from Dallas. First, it’s a nice moment for a guy who went without a pension, paid his dues with half a decade in the minors and is going through this free agency process amid heartbreaking circumstances, having lost his father Brian earlier this month. He’ll head to Dallas as a much-needed boost to the Stars’ scoring secondary. Through 54 games last season, the 27-year-old had 18 goals and 47 points — a scoring pace that would equate to 27 goals and 71 points in 82 full games. What’s more, he did this while getting just 14 minutes of ice a night, playing on the third line amid a stacked Florida offense. In Dallas, he’ll have to step in alongside Tyler Seguin and Jamie Benn, which means more minutes, a bigger role and a bigger chance to show what he can do. If he continues on the path he set last season with the Panthers, his impact should be felt. A big power forward who knows how to use his size (six-foot-four, 209 pounds) and throw his weight around, Marchment’s offensive capabilities are matched by his reliable defensive game. He will forecheck, overcome opposition, and will have to do enough on both ends to earn his pay raise. ONDREJ KASE, Carolina Hurricanes Signed for: 1 year x $1.5 million Amidst a flurry of moves, the Carolina Hurricanes began moving last week as they overhauled their bullpen up front and on the back end — most notably by making a pair of trades to acquire veterans Max Pacioretty and Brent Burns — the club was down — risk, high reward one year gamble in Ondrej Kase. He may seem like a vet on his last legs given his injury history and the amount he’s bounced around in recent years, but Kase has a lot more to give in the big leagues. He’s still only 26, and while injuries have had a huge impact on his career so far and he may continue to progress, the winger has always shown intriguing talent when he’s broken into the lineup. Coming off a bounce-back season in Toronto that saw him play 50 games — after playing just three the year before — Kase scored 14 goals and 27 points, hitting a 20-goal pace once again after already hitting a couple of goals a season ago. He proved to be a valuable piece of depth among the Leafs’ bottom six, earning time on Toronto’s second power-play unit. The Canes already have plenty of offensive muscle up top — and they just added some more in Pacioretty. With Kase, they’ll add more skill to their top six and risk little in terms of injuries limiting him once again, on a one-year deal with a manageable output. ILYA MIKHEYEV, Vancouver Canucks Signed for: 4 years x $4.75 million The key for Ilya Mikheyev in Vancouver will be versatility. During his first two seasons in Toronto, Mikheyev got the Maple Leafs faithful intrigued by the possibilities of what could happen if he put it all together. Last season, he took that step, scoring 21 goals and 32 points in 53 games. That pace equates to a 39-goal, 60-point effort over a full 82-game season. However, there seems to be another level for the 27-year-old. Like Marchment, Mikheyev earned those offensive numbers in a top-six role with the Maple Leafs, averaging just over 15 minutes of ice time. Given the scoring ability he showed last season, he could be in line to earn a top-six role in Vancouver. If he does, he has more than enough speed and skill to hang with the Canucks’ top options up front. But if he plays a role similar to the one he had in Toronto, Mikheyev has already proven his worth there as well. He’ll give manager Bruce Boudreau some welcome bottom-six offense, be a great defensive presence down there as well, and add a new dimension to the club’s penalty kill, turning over pucks and forcing issues. in this unit. While the header may be a bit high, this ability to thrive in all situations will allow Mikheyev to prove his worth very quickly with his new team. ANDRE BURAKOVSKY, Seattle Kraken Signed for: 5 years x $5.5 million “Under the Radar” may be pushing it for Andre Burakovsky, but with all the attention on fellow Coloradoans Nazem Kadri, Val Nichushkin, Artturi Lehkonen, Darcy Kuemper and Josh Manson, the former Capitals winger got lost in the shuffle. piece. While three of the above opted to return to the defending champions, Burakovsky opted to move on, cashing in on his Cup-ring memory with a five-year deal in Seattle. The hit is certainly a bit high, but that’s due to more than just the usual UFA stupidity we see every year – it’s also a reflection of how dire Seattle’s need is for bona fide offensive talent. Burakovsky has it. The 27-year-old is a legitimate top-six talent and is coming off a career-best 22-goal, 61-point season with Colorado. He’s been around the 20-goal mark for three straight seasons and, like a few others on this list, earned his 2021-22 numbers in a limited role playing on a stacked Avs team. Exactly how he’ll play with a Kraken team that doesn’t boast the talent that surrounded him in Colorado or Washington remains to be seen, but Burakovsky should still be able to produce alongside a talented pivot in Matty Beniers. For Seattle, the Kraken are paying a lot to add an established scorer to their top six, but at $5.5 million, it’s not exactly an exorbitant amount. If he can chip in at the same rate he has so far and raise the overall level of Seattle’s top six and top power-play unit, he will earn his salary. And after fighting through a broken ankle and thumb to help Colorado claim the Cup — the second of his career after winning it all with Washington in 2018, too — there’s plenty Burakovsky can teach Seattle’s young center duo , Beniers and Shane Wright, the win. and in the major leagues. NICOLAS AUBE-KUBEL, Toronto Maple LeafsSigned for: 1 year x $1 million Everyone knows where the Maple Leafs stand heading into free agency every year. With $33 million committed to their top three forwards, this window is all about finding functional opportunities for Kyle Dubas and Co. to fill out the rest of their roster. We’ve seen them hit on some hidden gems in the past, and Toronto should have another one in Nicolas Aube-Kubel, who joins the club after a Cup-winning campaign in Colorado. According to Dubas, the 26-year-old was brought in to help offset some of the impact of losing Mikheev in Vancouver. Aube-Kubel won’t have the offensive impact that the Canuck brought, with a career-high 11 goals last season, but given the other aspects of Mikheyev’s game — the speed, the suffocating forechecking — it should be an interesting replacement for the bottom six. And a bigger picture, it might be more than what the team really needs. Toronto doesn’t necessarily have to look for all the pieces with every addition at this point. They have plenty of scoring ability scattered throughout their front nine. In Aube-Kubel, they may not find the next Mikheyev or the next Michael…
