Who Won in Free Agency So Far?

NHL free agency has just opened and already there are a bunch of winners and losers. There's a lot of fun that goes into signing new players, joining new teams, and other teams that were disappointed they didn't think about their deals. But in all fairness, NHL free agency is a free-for-all: Take what you can and give nothing back, as Jack Sparrow and Joshamee Gibbs have said many times. So who ultimately has won the day so far? Let's take a look at some teams that have done well for themselves and others that might have not.

Tampa Bay Lightning

I feel like they have won free agency so far. Steve Yzerman didn't even have to look for outside. Instead, he resigned his two favorite players, Steven Stamkos and Victor Hedman. Hedman got himself an eight-year deal and has proven that by being a solid defenseman. Meanwhile, Andrei Vasilevskiy is certainly moving into gaining that No. 1 role, which means Ben Bishop's tenure with the Lightning could soon be coming to an end.

Edmonton Oilers

The Oilers are trying to load up before moving into their new arena in the Downtown area. They just signed Milan Lucic to a seven-year contract and that reunites him with GM Peter Chiarelli, who was a part of the Bruins at one point. I thought the trade of Taylor Hall was a disaster but Chiarelli has averted that by signing a guy who is good on the boards. Plus, Lucic wants to play with McDavid. Edmonton looks to be a team with winning in mind, and they are certainly a threat now thanks to this deal with Lucic.

Chicago Blackhawks

The Blackhawks always seem to find a way to land good players. Brian Campbell is coming back to Chicago after agreeing to a bargain rate of $2.25 million for one year. They've been trying to fill a hole in their defense while trying to stay under the cap. Campbell can do that, even at 37 years old.

Florida Panthers

Aaron Ekblad may be back with the team, but have the Panthers turned the corner yet? Ekblad will indeed be the franchise player for years to come, but I'm not sure yet. James Reimer was also signed away from the Sharks to possibly be the backup to Roberto Luongo or possibly even succeed them. Reimer proves to be the insurance the Panthers need when it comes to a backup goalie. The Panthers look like a team ready to win, or a team that could fall apart mid-season if things don't go their way.

Dallas Stars
The Dallas Stars may be the only team I am unsure of coming out of free agency so far. They just signed away Dam Hamhuis from Vancouver, but can he really do more than Alex Goligoski did? I felt trading away Alex Goligoski did might not have been a wise move, but let's hope Jim Nill is doing the right thing in bringing aboard Hamhuis. I'm still going to question this move until we get to the regular season.

St. Louis Blues

The St. Louis Blues are the one team I feel are not as good today as they were against the Sharks in the Western Conference Finals. They just lost David Backes and Troy Brouwer, two great pieces that were part of their Stanley Cup playoff run. Unfortunately, St. Louis has yet to sign a noteworthy free agent. The good news for St. Louis is that David Perron is back, but losing Backes and Brouwer could possibly hurt them.

And that is a look at some teams that have upgraded themselves this season. The Lightning and the Oilers are the big winners so far this free agency, while other teams, like the Stars and Blues, still have some question marks surrounding them. Can these teams look to improve next season and possibly win the Stanley Cup? We will find out next season.

On one of my future blog posts, I will be talking about the losers in free agency so far and why the Canucks, Islanders, and Bruins fall onto that list. Stay tuned.