The Dallas Stars have headlined the NHL offseason by not being afraid to spend money.
But the trend in hockey, according to Stephen Whyno of the Associated Press, is for veteran free agents to pursue an opportunity with a Stanley Cup contender rather than, say, a big-money contract.
Sounds obvious, right?
Whyno reports that Kevin Shattenkirk, the consensus top available player in free agency this offseason, turned down seven-year contracts and $30 million deals to sign a four-year pact averaging $6.65 million per season with the New York Rangers.
And he was not the only high-profile veteran to take a discount in the name of comfort, per Whyno.
Joe Thornton could've gotten a multiyear deal from someone but wanted to stay with the San Jose Sharks.
Brian Campbell and Patrick Sharp could've gotten more money the past two summers but took the Chicago discount to return the Blackhawks.
The NHL is becoming more like the NBA with top players forgoing longer, big-money contracts to pick their preferred destination, a trend that has added a new wrinkle to free agency.
Players are bound to consider more than money when they hit the open market and weigh different landing spots. And that goes for any pro sports league. The NHL, however, might have been a prime example of such activity this offseason.
The NHL's hard salary cap and players re-signing to so many long-term deals means superteams like in the NBA won't happen. But where and who matters more and more to hockey players than simply how much and for how long.
Thornton had more than half the 31-team league reach out to sign him at age 38 and signed for $8 million for one year because he simply wanted to stay in San Jose.