Sam McCaig

Trying to decide which NHL teams got the best bargains in the early days of unrestricted free agency is a surreal experience. With hundreds of millions of dollars in contracts – in just a few days, remember – it's sometimes difficult to envision anyone being worth that much cash.

Nevertheless, there are always a few good deals that sneak through. Here are five UFA contracts that should work out well for the player's new team:

Mikael Samuelsson, Vancouver (3 years, $7.5 million)
For $2.5 million per season, the Canucks have added a two-way winger with a lethal, heavy shot. He loves to shoot the puck and has quick, accurate release.

Samuelsson has been bumping around the NHL since 2000-01, but it wasn't until he joined the Red Wings machine as a depth player after the lockout that he found his big-league footing.

http://www.thehockeynews.com/article...-signings.html