The free agent market has brought a few surprises and some predictable signings, along with much salary cap adjustment, and a few related trades and other transactions. In the first of a two-part piece, let’s take a look at how free agency has altered the Western Conference’s Central Division, emphasizing points-only pool production with some peripheral considerations. Next week we’ll examine the Pacific.

Chicago Blackhawks

Patrick Sharp – Many of Chicago’s offseason moves were enacted with their negative salary cap balance in mind. Sharp’s bargain signing was one of them. Hoping to re-kindle some of the chemistry in which the 35-year-old thrived, most impressively in 2013-14 (34 goals, 44 assists) the Blackhawks welcomed back their three-time Stanley Cup-winning left wing with a relatively meager $800,000, one-year deal. Burdened by injuries in 2016-17, as was the entire Dallas squad, one can’t help but wonder how Sharp might perform if healthy on Chicago’s point-producing first or second lines. Definitely worth a speculative pick up if you have the roster space.

Tommy Wingels – Chicagoland native Wingels also returns on a $750,000 one-year contract to provide versatile forward (he has played both sides and the pivot) depth. He’ll fill out the bottom-six and help replace Marcus Kruger on defense and the penalty kill, although Wingels’ career 49.8 CF% and 49.7% offensive zone starts differ from Kruger’s respective 51.9% and 29.5%. He has shown a bit more scoring potential however, just two years removed from consecutive 36 and 38-point campaigns with San Jose. Should he creep into the top-six somehow for extended play, snap Wingels up.  

Lance Bouma – Another low-budget acquisition that has served in all three forward positions, Bouma comes to Chicago on a $1M, one-year deal for bottom-six depth. His numbers haven’t greatly impressed in his previous NHL play, serving on the penalty kill and sporting a 43.9 CF% over parts of six Calgary campaigns. He did start in the defensive zone more than two-thirds of the time last year, so Bouma looks likely to shelter top Blackhawk offensive units. He also totaled 16 goals and 18 assists in 2014-15, but don’t expect a great scoring upsurge.  

Colorado Avalanche

Johnathan Bernier – Bernier moved from a Western Conference Finals team to one with the worst record since the first-year expansion Atlanta Thrashers. He’s probably an upgrade over new Knight Calvin Pickard, but his numbers will likely take a dive (from last year’s 21-7-4, 2.50, .915). Bernier still has an injury-prone number one in front of him providing a chance for plentiful starts. In this instance, Varlamov’s recent totals lag far behind Gibson so, while the Avalanche defense is nothing like the Ducks’, Bernier may have a better chance to steal the top spot here than in So Cal. A cautious add to your squad if you have the space, think the Avalanche will improve, and that Varlamov is nearly done.  

Sven Andrighetto – Maybe an RFA extension doesn’t qualify as an acquisition, although Colorado made a deft move when picking him up from the Habs near the end of 2016-17 (five goals, 11 assists in 19 contests). Andrighetto’s presence should continue as helpfully productive on a scoring-poor Colorado squad. The Swiss winger’s two-year, $2.8M contract provides a measure of security while Sakic and company see more of what they have in the speedy, shifty forward and how he might fit in with their thin ranks. Andrighetto displayed instant top-line simpatico with Mikko Rantanen and Nathan MacKinnon at the end of a tough campaign, infused life in the squad on while on the ice, and earned a solid CF% of 51.7 over the entire year. A worthwhile Central Division sleeper to keep an eye on.

Nail Yakupov – Probably not a better place than Denver to get maximum minutes for this former first overall selection. If Yakupov can generate some offense here his career path may swing upward. His production hit bottom with only nine points in 40 St. Louis contests featuring highly sheltered minutes (63.9% offensive zone starts) last year, so tread carefully. He could land a middle-six spot with a good camp, but with Colorado this isn’t a guarantee of quality stats worth a fantasy roster spot. Although he’ll only be 24 as the campaign begins, this feels like a last NHL shot.

Dallas Stars

Alexander Radulov – This is looking like a top-line, first-rate goal-generating component to Benn and Seguin. The move to Dallas could increase his scoring (18 goals, 36 assists with Montreal), helping return the Stars to gaudy offensive numbers and infuse needed intensity. Even if Radulov doesn’t stay in the top trio, a second line role with Hanzal and/or perhaps Spezza should still generate solid numbers. Potential top-50 fantasy player.

Martin Hanzal – Likely a frequent second-line pairing with Spezza, Hanzal will serve as a massive (6-6, 227 lbs.) and effective two-way presence. With a rejuvenated Stars’ offense, look for him to up his career averages, achieved mainly with poor-scoring Phoenix/Arizona squads, and continue to produce good peripherals in hits (145 in 71 games last year), an increase of his career minus-18, and power play point totals that eclipse his best previous campaigns (13 in 2013-14 and 2015-16).  

Tyler Pitlick – An underrated but potentially shrewd signing for GM Jim Nill. Pitlick led Edmonton in per 60 minute 5×5 goals, shots, and hits in the 2016-17 campaign before derailed by a mid-December ACL tear. In 2016-17 he totaled eight goals and three assists in 31 Oiler contests in just 9:55 TOI per game. The recipient of a three-year, $3M deal, the soon 26-year-old Pitlick should be tested in important minutes and may sneak into a solid middle-six role. The former second round selection is a reasonable, deep league sleeper pick and probably cheap get. 

Minnesota Wild

Kyle Quincey – Interesting pick up for a deep Wild blue line, especially as a lefty with Minnesota already having Suter and Brodin as left-handed defensemen. Likely a third-pairing generating good plus/minus numbers and contributing blocks and hits. In 568 NHL games has a 50.1 CF%. Spending most of last year with a porous Devils’ squad, his 2016-17 46.9 CF% should increase. Monitor the peripherals as they can offer a booth in deep, multi-category leagues.

Niklas Svedberg – Dubnyk desperately needs reliable relief help so he doesn’t wear down late in 2017-18. We saw a significant drop in his numbers, along with that of the entire Wild squad, as the last campaign drew to a close. The soon 28-year-old Svedberg presents a viable option to compete with Alex Stalock as understudy. Prior to his past two years in the KHL, Svedberg racked up an 8-5-1 record, 2.31 GAA and .920 SV% in 19 Bruins contests over two campaigns.

Nashville Predators

Nick Bonino – Coming off a tibia fracture and Cup victory against his new club, Bonino’s move south will likely coincide with a bump from Pittsburgh’s third line to Nashville’s second. Bet on him to continue power play and penalty kill duty and increase his 16:39 minutes per-game with last year’s Penguins. If all falls right he may see numbers comparable to his 22-goal, 27-assist, Ducks 2013-14 campaign with 20 power play points. Last year’s 99 blocked shots tied for most in a single campaign by a forward since 2007-08. A multi-faceted, multi-category, quality grab by the Preds who will benefit Bonino’s work down the middle.

Scott Hartnell – After the Blue Jackets bought him out, 35-year-old fan favorite Hartnell returned to Nashville after a ten-year hiatus on a one-year $1M deal. Facing diminished minutes (12:03 per game) and power play opportunities, and totaling just two goals and one assist with 2016-17 Columbus’ powerful man-advantage corps, he should see more of both with the Predators. Landing 13 goals and 24 assists in minimal ice time, Hartnell squeezed an NHL eighth-best points per 60 minutes rate of 2.32. Familiar with Coach Laviolette from his salad days in Philadelphia, look for Hartnell to serve as a solidly productive middle-six left wing on Nashville’s revamped depth lines.

St. Louis Blues

Beau Bennett – Brought in to assume a young veteran role among St. Louis’ newly-young forward stable, Bennett arrives from New Jersey on the heels of his best NHL scoring campaign (eight goals, 11 assists) and most active year, skating in 65 games. For the relatively small price of a $650,000, one-year contract the Blues landed a solid possession-oriented right wing who somewhat surprisingly did not receive a qualifying offer from GM Ray Shero. His 53.4% Corsi For topped last year’s Devils. Look for him to line up with perhaps Ivan Barbashev or eventually Tage Thompson and accumulate increased scoring totals as they develop.   

Chris Thorburn – A replacement for Pittsburgh-bound enforcer Ryan Reaves. Thorburn doesn’t score much, but lends 750 games of NHL experience and abundant penalty minutes (95 in 64 games last year). He averaged just 6:58 minutes per game, but that will likely increase as, in addition to Reaves, free agent and fourth-line cohort Scotty Upshall has yet to re-sign. Along with Kyle Brodziak, the Blues’ bottom line played an under-heralded, effective role in their second-half success and probably will be leaned on again.  

Winnipeg Jets

Steve Mason – With a streaky, overall down Philadelphia year (26-21-8, 2.66, .908) in the rearview mirror, Mason comes to Manitoba looking to wrest the starting spot from Connor Hellebuyck after a tough first full-campaign in the crease. While he’s professed to not enjoying sharing time in net, with a two-year, $8.2 contract in hand Mase will compete for the top spot with Helle. He’ll likely have the edge entering training camp. A gamble from a poolie perspective, but with goatenders at a premium you might consider him for a reasonable price.

Dmitry Kulikov – Signed to shore up the Jets’ left-side defensive shortcomings, Kulikov will benefit from working with a better blue line group than in recent times with Buffalo. He’ll serve Winnipeg as a second or third-pairing physical presence and look for a bit of redemption after an injury-shortened, two-way stagnant year (two goals, three assists, 45.2 CF%, and a minus-26 in 47 games). Look for his minutes to dip a bit from last year’s 21:54 with more support on the roster, and an uptick in scoring with those promising Jet forwards. A decent complimentary source of hits and blocks for multi-category players but not a must add to your fantasy squad.

Michael Sgarbossa – A sleeper for sure. If Sgarbossa can eke out a roster spot and middle-six pivot minutes the soon 25-year-old AHL vet could add to his two goals and eight assists in 48 NHL games. Most of that was with Florida and Anaheim in 2016-17 (two goals, seven assists, 38 games). Surrounded by Winnipeg’s deep and dangerous forwards his gritty, fast, and determined game may play well with the Jets. Averaged more than a penalty minute per game in five-year AHL career (244 contests, 255 PIM) with San Diego, Springfield, Norfolk and Lake Erie.