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After a couple of days of NHL free agency, the dust has mostly settled and the free agent signings have slowed to a trickle.

On Sunday, we highlighted a number of signings that looked like good values. You can check that here. Today, we turn our attention to the bad value deals that have been struck since noon on July 1.

Before we dig into the worst free agent frenzy decisions, here’s an overview of all signings (accurate as of noon on July 3):

The Colorado Avalanche led the way in money committed for the 2016-17 season and the number of total contracts inked. However, there’s a good reason for it — Colorado is rebuilding nearly their entire farm team. The Panthers, Red Wings, and Canadiens joined the Avalanche at the top of the spending list, to varying levels of success.

The Sharks, Bruins, and Islanders were in the middle of the pack in terms of free agent spending — and it’s a signing from each of these teams that will be highlighted below.

3. Mikkel Boedker, W ($4 mil, 4 yrs)

Despite some name value, there’s little to like in Boedker’s stats profile. In a season split between the Coyotes and Avalanche, Boedker managed an awful possession rate, coupled with a negative Corsi For percentage relative to his teammates. Even worse, Boedker’s goals for percentage was off the chart (about 37 percent…yikes) and his expected goals for (xGF percent) wasn’t much better.

Despite some reputation for offense, Boedker fires pucks on goal at a below-average rate for forwards.

The one saving grace? Boedker’s 5-on-5 primary points rate was above average for forwards. The Sharks are counting on lots more of that over the next four seasons.

With possession work like Boedker’s, that’s a poor bet.

2. David Backes, W ($6 mil, 5 yrs)

Backes’ stats profile really isn’t the issue. The veteran winger was a plus possession player last season (including a positive rate relative to his teammates). Backes’ goals for percentage was commendable too, outperforming his strong expected goals for percentage.

So far so good.

The big problem with Backes is the term. The five year deal will take Backes to his age-37 season. The big winger’s individual shots rate has already slowed to below average for a forward and his primary points rate is below average as well. At $6 million per season for five years, the Backes deal is a major overpay by the Bruins who continue to make head-scratching off-season decisions part of the front office culture.

1. Andrew Ladd, W ($5.5 mil, 7 yrs)

First things first, Ladd’s stats last season were perfectly reasonable. His possession work was approximately break-even quality, he was slightly negative in goals for percentage, he contributed shots at a good rate and was a little below average for forwards in primary points.

So, did Ladd play poorly last season? Nope.

Was Ladd the worst player signed on July 1? Not close.

Is it conceivable that Ladd will play well next year? Certainly.

So how does the Ladd signing rank as the worst deal of the free agent frenzy?

The biggest reason is that the Islanders hitched up with Ladd for seven seasons. Already 30 years old, Ladd is definitely past prime and may fall off the statistical cliff any time within the next two or three seasons. He’s already lagging in primary points production and there’s no reason to suspect that the Isles will provide better offensive opportunities than Ladd was afforded in his time with Chicago or Winnipeg.

The clincher for Ladd’s spot atop the list of worst signings is that the Islanders watched Kyle Okposo and Frans Nielsen walk away in free agency. Here’s a look at the ex-Isles duo:

Perhaps Okposo was committed to leaving the Islanders. That’s a tough spot for Islanders’ GM Garth Snow. Nielsen’s departure was a little more surprising as fans believed a deal was in progress to keep the longtime Islanders’ forward in town.

Regardless of the reasons behind their departures, Snow’s attempt to fill the Okposo/Nielsen gap with Ladd (and then Jason Chimera and P.A. Parenteau) is a rough trade down. Okposo and Nielsen both offered difficult to replicate skill sets that none of the Ladd-Chimera-Parenteau trio can replace.

Honourable mentions: Luke Gadzic (New Jersey), Jared Boll (Anaheim), Kris Russell (wherever he winds up signing)

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Feel free to peruse the other signing cards I’ve created here. I’ve yet to catch up with every signing but please reach out to me on Twitter (@SeanTierneyTss) if there’s a player chart you’d like to see.

NHL Free Agent frenzy: The worst signings so far