Mikael Granlund, one of the most prominent free agent centers, signed a three-year contract with the Anaheim Ducks worth $7 million annually Tuesday after a season in which the 33-year-old forward posted 22 goals and 66 points.

There’s something to be said, though, for filling out a roster with real, live, proven NHL contributors, especially when you’ve got a few foundational pieces in place. In Anaheim, those are Leo Carlsson, Mason McTavish, Cutter Gauthier and, hopefully, a defenseman or two. And they’ve all already spent more than enough time losing games.

In his 31 regular-season games with the Stars, Granlund scored seven goals and added 14 assists. But his greatest impact was in the postseason where he played on an all-Finnish line with Roope Hintz and Mikko Rantanen and scored five goals and five assists in 18 playoff games.