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Dallas Stars: Jim Nill’s 5 Worst Free Agent Signings

By Summer LeBel

CHICAGO, IL - MARCH 23: Jiri Hudler #22 of the Dallas Stars warms up prior to the game against the Chicago Blackhawks at the United Center on March 23, 2017 in Chicago, Illinois. The Chicago Blackhawks defeated the Dallas Stars 3-2. (Photo by Bill Smith/NHLI via Getty Images)
CHICAGO, IL - MARCH 23: Jiri Hudler #22 of the Dallas Stars warms up prior to the game against the Chicago Blackhawks at the United Center on March 23, 2017 in Chicago, Illinois. The Chicago Blackhawks defeated the Dallas Stars 3-2. (Photo by Bill Smith/NHLI via Getty Images) /
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Dallas Stars
OTTAWA, ON – JANUARY 29: Ales Hemsky #83 of the Dallas Stars celebrates a goal against the Ottawa Senators at Canadian Tire Centre on January 29, 2015 in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Andre Ringuette/NHLI via Getty Images) /

Ales Hemsky

Contract: 3 years at $4,000,000 AAV.
Notable Stats: 166 GP, 28 G, 50 A, 78 P.

In 2015, the Stars brought in reinforcements from the Blackhawks through both a trade and a signing. The year before, Nill went to the Senators for his reinforcements, trading for Jason Spezza and signing free agent Ales Hemsky to a three-year deal. Hemsky had only come into the Sens organization as a trade deadline rental, having spent the rest of his career with the Oilers.

Why This Was a Bad Signing: Hemsky simply didn’t live up to his $4M contract. He was under a point per game over his three seasons. He was getting a little over 13 minutes of ice time a night and spent some time on the power play, but he wasn’t doing much while he was out there. He wasn’t putting up the numbers he was in Edmonton (142 goals and 335 assists over 652 games), which weren’t amazing but were at least more deserving of the contract.

Hemsky also spent most of his last season in Dallas on injured reserve. It’s not his fault, but it cost the Stars the opportunity to go sign someone else during free agency since they were expecting to have him in the line-up for the season.

On the Other Hand: The Stars weren’t suffering the cap troubles of some other teams, so his high contract compared to his production wasn’t a killer. He at least provided some production and helped the team, so it’s not like the contract was a total bust. He just didn’t live up to the level the Stars were hoping for.

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