Best, worst value contracts signed so far in NHL free agency 

Ceci now becomes Los Angeles's second-highest-paid defenseman; if the Kings have to play him in their top four, it may not bode well for their defensive depth this season.

Best value: Pius Suter, forward, St. Louis Blues

Coming off a career year with the Vancouver Canucks, Suter signed a two-year, $8.25 million deal with the Blues worth $4.125 million per year. The forward from Zurich is a Swiss army knife, capable of playing anywhere in the lineup at both center and wing positions.

Suter should immediately help shore up the Blues' center depth, and, with the seventh-most short-handed minutes among forwards last season, he should help improve the Blues' 28th-ranked penalty kill.

While he may not match his 25-goal total from last season, his two-way play should provide excellent value at $4.125 million per year.

Worst value: Ryan Lindgren, defenseman, Seattle Kraken

The Kraken signed former Rangers and Avalanche defenseman to a four-year, $18 million deal ($4.5 million AAV), but it's uncertain if the rugged blue liner is a fit. 

Lindgren is a physical defensive defenseman who willingly puts his body on the line to block shots; however, for Seattle, it feels like more of the same. With Adam Larsson and Jamie Oleksiak already playing a defensive role in their top four, Lindgren will likely spend time on the bottom pairing, and at $4.5 million, it may be an overpay.

Value-wise, The Athletic's Shayna Goldman had Lindgren projected at $2.3 million AAV, about half of what the Kraken gave him.

A one-year contract at that number may have been a good bet for Seattle; at four years, though, the contract has the potential to be problematic for a team looking to return to the playoffs for the first time since 2023.