Funny how perspective changes once the season actually starts.
So many of the NHL’s supposed big off-season signings have either been bit with injury (Paul Stastny, Dan Boyle) or have failed to regain their form with their new teams.
Washington’s $40-million man, Matt Niskanen, is a minus-2 with two even-strength points. Jarome Iginla has just two goals in 14 games with Colorado. Thomas Vanek has one in 11 with Minnesota. And neither Brian Gionta nor Matt Moulson have found the back of the net through 13 games in Buffalo.
On the flip side, the following 10 players have delivered remarkable early returns for the teams that signed them as unrestricted free agents this summer.
Ryan Miller
The deal: 3 years, $18 million
When Miller backstopped Vancouver to a 5-2 victory in Colorado Tuesday, he became the first goaltender in Canucks history to win nine of his first 10 starts with the club (2.21 GAA, .917 save percentage, one shutout). Leads all goalies in the W column.
Anton Stralman
The deal: 5 years, $20 million
Jumping from the Stanley Cup Final to one of the most exciting young teams in the league, Stralman is making Steve Yzerman look almost as smart as he did the day he let backup goalie Anders Lindback walk. Not only does the 28-year-old Swede lead all Tampa skaters in ice time (22:36), he leads the entire league in plus/minus (+13) and eight of his nine points have come at even strength. A big reason Victor Hedman’s hand injury hasn’t been as crippling as it should’ve been.
Jonas Hiller 
The deal: 2 years, $9 million
While Hiller’s former club, the Anaheim Ducks, deals with injuries in the crease, Brian Burke’s familiarity with the Swiss goalie (Burke signed him to Anaheim in 2007) is paying off. Hiller ranks among the league’s leaders in wins (six), save percentage (.935) and goals-against average (.196). Bonus: He’s pushed backup Karri Ramo to step up his game as well.
Mike Ribeiro 
The deal: 1 year, $1.05 million
One man’s trash…. The Arizona Coyotes bought out Ribeiro’s behavioural issues, and Predators GM David Poile couldn’t be happier to have inherited them. Ten points through 12 games for the second-chance centre, who along with coach Peter Laviolette, young Filip Forsberg and James Neal has made Nashville a treat to watch. An affordable gamble gone right.
Radim Vrbata
The deal: 2 years, $10 million
The best player available after July 1’s frenzy has fit in seamlessly with the Sedin twins, as Vancouver’s top line rank one-two-three in team scoring. Vrbata drives possession and his hands around the net have resulted in seven power-play points. The Canucks’ PP ranked 23rd last season; now it ranks eighth.
Leo Komarov 
The deal: 4 years, $11.8 million
Yes, the price isn’t exactly cheap for a bottom-six forward, but Komarov provides all the things the Leafs forward group was short on last season, when the multilingual Olympian took a year hiatus to play in the KHL. He finishes his checks, wins the majority of his faceoffs, and has chipped in with seven assists in 12 games. Hashtag compete level.
Jussi Jokinen 
The deal: 4 years, $16 million
Much more was made of the Panthers’ signing of Dave Bolland (and even enforcer Shawn Thorton), but veteran winger Jussi Jokinen (four years, $16 million) is sharing the team lead in scoring (with veteran re-signing Brad Boyes) with six points. Together Jokinen and Boyes are a plus-six on a minus-five team.
Christian Ehrhoff
The deal: 1 year, $4 million
Exhibit A is the case for letting Niskanen go to market, Ehrhoff is logging more than 20 minutes a game for the talent-rich Penguins and co-leads the team’s blueline in plus/minus (+6).
Mike Cammalleri
The deal: 5 years, $25 million
Despite being sidelined for a handful of games with a jaw/neck problem, the 34-year-old winger still leads his new team in the category it was most in need of filling: goals, with five through eight games.
Jiri Tlusty
The deal: 1 year, $2.95 million
Despite popular belief, some things have gone right in Carolina. Tlusty, who was re-signed as a UFA on July 2, has picked up the slack of slackers such as Alex “Healthy Scratch” Semin, leading the team in goals (six) and points (eight). Although his 30% shooting percentage might be difficult to maintain — and he suffered a nasty shot Tuesday from Columbus’s Jack Johnson.