Booms, busts in NHL free agency during salary cap era

FILE - In this March 12, 2017, file photo, Edmonton Oilers left wing Milan Lucic celebrates a goal against the Montreal Canadiens during the second period of an NHL hockey game in Edmonton, Alberta. When the puck drops on NHL free agency Saturday, some teams will hit and some will miss. It happens every summer. The Oilers signed Lucic to a seven-season, $42 million contract a year ago and he panned out, helping the franchise reach the playoffs for the first time since 2006. (Jason Franson/The Canadian Press via AP, File) FILE - In this March 12, 2017, file photo, Edmonton Oilers left wing Milan Lucic celebrates a goal against the Montreal Canadiens during the second period of an NHL hockey game in Edmonton, Alberta. When the puck drops on NHL free agency Saturday, some teams will hit and some will miss. It happens every summer. The Oilers signed Lucic to a seven-season, $42 million contract a year ago and he panned out, helping the franchise reach the playoffs for the first time since 2006. (Jason Franson/The Canadian Press via AP, File)

By Associated Press June 30, 2017 4 min read

When the puck drops for NHL free agency Saturday, some teams will pay whatever it takes to land the top free agents available.

Some will hit. Some will miss.

It happens every summer.

The Edmonton Oilers signed Milan Lucic to a seven-season, $42 million contract a year ago and he panned out, helping the franchise reach the playoffs for the first time since 2006 and advance to the second round. The Vancouver Canucks, meanwhile, didn’t get a good return on their $36 million, six-year investment in Loui Eriksson.

With a relatively weak crop of free agents, teams in the league have to weigh the risk and reward of signing one of the top players available such as defenseman Kevin Shattenkirk and forward Alexander Radulov.