As opposed to trades, it’s a bit harder to evaluate free agent signings. With trades, it’s easy to compare what each player that was involved in the same trade did in their after the trade happened. Evaluating free agent signings requires a bit more context.
What was the team hoping to accomplish when they signed the player? What role does the team expect the player to fill once they join the team?
With this in mind, looking back at some of the Chicago Blackhawks free agent signings, makes them look like a comedy or a tragedy and sometimes both at particular points in time.