The Top 20 Signings of the NHL Offseason, And Why the Sharks Should Have Signed Them, Part 6

(Editor’s Note. Don’t forget to vote in the poll or comment with your thoughts!)

In this series of articles, we will take an in-depth look at what we consider to be the 20 best value UFA signings of the offseason, in no particular order. We will first detail what makes the signings good from a neutral perspective, then discuss why the signing would have benefitted the Sharks (at the same contract terms unless others are discussed). There is no guarantee these players would have even come to the Sharks, but we find it interesting to analyze signings made this offseason through a Sharks lens. Enjoy!

If you missed the first four parts when they were posted, you can check them out here. Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, and Part 5. Now for Part 6.

ERIC BELANGER – C – EDMONTON OILERS
Age. 33. Height. 5’11”. Weight. 185 lbs. Shoots. Left.
Contract. 3 years, 5.25M, Edmonton Oilers.
2010-2011 Stats. 82GP, 13G, 40PTS, +11 plus/minus, 36PIM.

Eric Belanger is a third line center with the two-way skills to step up onto the second line if needed.

The Best Free Agent Signings of the Offseason, And Why the Sharks Should Have Signed Them, Part 3

In this series of articles, I will be taking an in-depth look at what I consider to be the 20 best value free agent signings of the offseason, in no particular order. For each signing, I will first detail what makes the signing a good one from a neutral perspective, and then I will discuss why the signing would have benefitted the Sharks (at the same contract terms unless others are discussed). There is no guarantee these players would have even come to the Sharks, in fact in some cases it is doubtful, but we find it interesting to analyze signings made this offseason through a Sharks lens. Enjoy!

If you missed the other six parts of the best offseason signings series, you can check them out here. Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5, and Part 6.

Now for Part 3.

SIMON GAGNE – LW – LOS ANGELES KINGS
Age. 31. Height. 6’1″. Weight. 193 lbs. Shoots. Left.
Contract. 2 years, 7M, Los Angeles Kings.
2010-2011 Stats. 63GP, 17G, 40PTS, -12 plus/minus, 20PIM.

When healthy, Gagne is a fast, slick top six winger with good hands and hockey sense. You could characterize his style of play as midway between Patrick Marleau and Mason Raymond. At 31 years of age, he remains one of the league’s fastest and more skilled scoring wingers. However, there is a rub. Gagne has seldom been completely healthy of late, having played no more than 63 games in either of the last two seasons, so signing him always comes with a risk. But teams keep signing him anyway, which must mean there is also the potential for reward, and there is. Although last season’s injury riddled campaign was a down year statistically for Gagne, he is still capable of potting 30 goals in a healthy season, and a 3.5M cap hit for that type production and all-around play is a good deal.