FA Day 1: Winners and Losers and all else.

As Day 1 of Free Agent Season is comes to a close OpenHockeyDB takes a look at the winners and loser so far.

Big Winners:
Chicago:
Who they signed: D Brian Campbell (8 years worth $56.8 million), G Christobal Huet (undisclosed)
In Campbell, Chicago picks up one of the best puck movers from the back in the game. Are they overpaying for Campbell? By the time Campbell is in the fourth year of that deal the 'Hawks will be selling out their season tickets, hitting the post-season, and the salary cap will be somewhere around $245 million.
Huet, a rising young goalie will replace Nikolai Khabibulin between the pipes and looks to be in line with Chicago's rebuilding concept.

Lesser Winners:
New York Islanders:
Who they signed: D Mark Streit (5 years worth $20.5m)
The Islanders are getting one of the NHL's most underrated defenseman at a pretty reasonable price. They didn't sign huge, and it may not be enough to get them into the post-season, but it was still a smart pick-up.

Big Losers:
Toronto:
Who they signed: D Jeff Finger (4 years @ $3.5m per season), G Curtis Joseph (1 year @ $1.5m), LW Niklas Hagman (4 years @ $3m per season)
When the Toronto Maple Leafs announced they had signed Jeff Finger the Leaf faithful bellowed a large collective "WHO?!" When it was announced they would pay him $3.5 million a season for four years the number of gun sales in Canada went through the roof. JEFF FINGER IS MAKING $3.5 MILLION A YEAR!! If that doesn't give the average Joe hope then nothing does.
Thankfully, after using their new handguns, many Leafs fans were spared the news that Toronto had signed Curtis Joseph. That would be 41-year old Curtis Joseph. Toronto's front office capped the day off by overpaying Niklas Hagman by a million dollars. I dare say the Leafs will be begging for the return of Jason Blake in about five months.

Hit and Miss:
New Jersey:
Hit: LW Brian Rolston (4 years worth $20.25m) Jay Pandolfo (3 years worth $7.5m) David Clarkson (2 years $1.675m)
Miss: C Bobby Holik (1 year @ $2.5m) D Bryce Salvador (4 years worth $11.9m)
Hey guys! We're getting the band back together!! Devils GM Lou Lamoriello is bringing back the 1995 Devils! So dust off those Micron Air 90s and Cooper Technoflex gloves and Easton Aluminum sticks! Did he lose Neal Broten's number?
Seriously, the Rolston signing brings in an unbelievable special teams player who still has a ton of gas in the tank. Rolson is coming off three straight 30-goal seasons under defensive czar (and former Devils bench boss) Jacques Lemaire. He will fit well into Sutter's system and the Devils locker room.
Re-signing Pandolfo brings back one of the best shut-down players in the game. Injured most of the season, Pandolfo actually showed a bit of offense in the early part of the year. That he was slowed by injuries may have saved the Devils a ton of cash or a teary goodbye Pando.
The Devils declined their option on versatile winger Sergei Brylin who was a part of all three of New Jerseys Stanley Cup wins as well as their 2001 Cup run. The rationale was to give younger players a chance to prove their worth. So, the Devils signed The fact that Holik gives his all every night may be outweighed by the fact that he publicly admonishes teammates anytime one of them does not abide by his standards. A great defensive forward, Holik may be useful as a fourth liner which is really the only spot for him. Fortunately, he has agreed to play on the fourth line all year. If he does a 180 at any point this could be an ugly $2.5m cap-hit. I've also been told that Holik, a friend of Patrik Elias, may be able to help light a fire under the stalled forward.
As for Bryce Salvador, they have him for $2.9 a year and Colin White for $3m a year. One wonders why they don't just spend $6m on an actual proven #1 defenseman.
Salvador's agent said basically, "We didn't get a no trade clause but the team can't move him. Either he's a steal at $2.9 a year and they won't want to trade him or he will be God-Awful and no team in their right mind will take him!". Well, there's always Toronto.

Under the Radar Moves:
Pittsburgh:
Who they signed: W Pascal Dupuis (3 years @ $1.4m per season)
Dupuis was one of the Pens best players in the post-season this year a year after being one of the few Thrashers to show up against the Rangers in 2007. A tireless penalty killer, Dupuis uses his speed to create chances and is capable of being an effective checker or playing with more skilled players. With all of Pittsburgh's high-end talent Dupuis may prove to be one of the role players that helps the team reach the next level.


What remains:
Where will Sundin and Jagr wind up?
Mats Sundin
Rumored destinations: Vancouver, Detroit, NY Rangers, Montreal
Concrete: Vancouver offered Sundin 2 years at $10 per season. Ok, now pick your spleen off the floor and put it back. $10m a season is a hell of a lot, but it might be enough for a healthy and focused Canuck squad to be a serious Cup contender again. It may also entice UFA and team captain Markus Naslund to stay (if they can get a deal) and light a fire under him. The possibility of Sedin-Sundin-Sedin is alliteration heaven. Now that Detroit has locked up Hossa for 1-year $7.4m, they may not be able to afford Sundin.

Jaromir Jagr
Rumored: NY Rangers Pittsburgh, Russia
Concrete: Omsk offered, will Jagr accept? One rumor had Jagr making a return to Pittsburgh. Crosby and Jagr could be an interesting combination. Dynamite on the ice? Well, wasn't the Gomez-Jagr combo suppose to tear up the league as well? Jagr might also want to bring some cookies for Sid after his harsh words during the playoffs.