NHL Free Agents: The Bargain Bin

They don't make a lot of headlines. But in a salary cap world, a cheap free agent who can step into your lineup is a valuable asset indeed.

By my count, 16 of this summer's unrestricted free agents have signed contracts paying less than $1 million per year.

Most of them remain with the teams they played for last season.

But a few notable names switched teams at bargain prices.

Exhibit A: Brian Boucher.

Faced with almost no cap room, the Philadelphia Flyers bring in Boucher to back up their new starting goaltender, Ray Emery.

As a back-up in San Jose last season, Boucher had a better save percentage and goals-against average than Martin Biron, who was Philly's number-one guy.

Granted, Boucher only played 22 games to Biron's 55. But he had just as many shutouts (two).

If you're going to sign a goalie with a spotty track record, it might as well be the guy who will play for $925,000 (Boucher), rather than the guy reportedly seeking a multi-year deal in the $3 million range (Biron).

Other bargain acquisitions this week:

Steve Begin, who moves from Dallas to Boston with an $850,000 price tag.

Michael Rupp, who will make $825,000 per year in Pittsburgh, after leaving New Jersey.

Neither of them are saviors. But when it comes to shouldering the dirty work on the third or fourth line, Begin or Rupp make a better investment than Donald Brashear at $1.4 million for the Rangers, or Chris Neil at $2 million in Ottawa.

And if the cheap deal doesn't work out, it goes down as a negligible mistake rather than a salary cap disaster.

There's plenty left in the free agent bargain bin. Players still looking for jobs know that money is tight.

With many teams up against the cap, there are likely more cheap contracts to come in the days and weeks ahead.

2009 NHL Free Agents: See the complete list of players signed and still available.

Photo: Brian Boucher as a Shark (Harry How/Getty Images)