Two Questionable NHL Signings

***NOTE: With the NHL Trade Deadline today, expect another post***

Last night I saw two announcements come across the wire and scratched my head as to the logic behind them both. Darcy Tucker had tentatively signed a new deal with the Toronto Maple Leafs and Fredrik Modin had signed an extension with the Columbus Blue Jackets. These two were set to become unrestricted free agents after the season, were sought-after commodities for today’s trade deadline and are currently on non-playoff teams. So what sense does it make not to deal them for the future?

In Tucker’s case, his resigning is bad for both parties. If he had tested the free-agent waters, he would have come home with a much bigger contract. But perhaps he wanted to stay with Toronto and take a “home-town discount” deal. In that case, had the Leafs dealt him today, there would still be a decent chance that Tucker would come back in the summer. Then the Leafs would also have the talent they acquired for him on the roster too.

While I’m not as familiar with Modin’s situation in Columbus, I am aware of two things: A) Columbus is 14th in the West and 20 points out of the playoffs. B) Several teams wanted to trade for the hard-shooting winger with playoff-experience.

These moves make especially less sense after seeing what Dallas and Atlanta gave up for their rental players. But then again, I’m no General Manager, I just play on in video games.