Biggest Backfires From the Decisions Made During the 2024 NHL Offseason

A few NHL teams took gambles this offseason thinking they'd be home runs. They turned out to be singles or strike outs so far.

NHL teams use free agency and offseason trades to make big changes. Some franchises spend a lot, while others dump assets thinking these are the moves that will put them over the top. Not every decision pays off. In fact, some choices are so poor, they end up hamstringing a team all year, if not longer.

While it’s too early to suggest things can’t turn around and poor choices eventually look like savvy ones, there are a few standouts on a list of the biggest backfires this offseason.

Jeff Skinner - Signed Over Others As UFA by Edmonton Oilers

He’s not having a terrible season, but Jeff Skinner isn’t living up to the expectations for the Edmonton Oilers. In Tuesday night’s overtime win over the New York Islanders, Skinner played just 8:53. It was his lowest time-on-ice total of the season and it’s been trending almost exclusively downward since his arrival.

He’s got three goals and six points in 16 games, which isn’t awful. And, some of it has to do with where the Oilers are slotting him. All that said, he’s lost his spot in the top six to Vasily Podkolzin and Skinner is going to have to find a way to produce to earn that spot back.

At one year and $3 million, the Oilers didn’t break the bank to sign him. Unfortunately, spending that $3 million meant letting other players go because there was no room on the cap. Out went Warren Foegele, Vincent Desharnais, Philip Broberg, Dylan Holloway, and Cody Ceci. The Oilers chose top-six skill over all of those players and Skinner hasn’t delivered yet.

Patrik Laine - Acquired in Trade by Montreal Canadiens

The Montreal Canadiens took a huge swing when they traded for Patrik Laine. And, while you typically can’t blame a player for getting injured, it was a lot of money to spend on someone who isn’t in the lineup. And, because he’s not, his absence is contributing to a horrid start for the Habs.

The team has some high-level talent on it, but they could have used Laine’s goal-scoring ability.

The Montreal Canadiens took a big swing on Patrik Laine and whiffed hard thanks to his early injury.