Any more details on this? What makes TBL's pro scouts better than what we have done? Huge fan of Dan Girardi or something?
you can take a look at their transaction list from lot of places, like capfriendly. girardi sucks but that's just one player on a limited role, short-term deal that cost nothing but cap space.
some of other TBL FA signings this decade (from other teams, so no re-signings) with cap hit of 1M or more:
dominic moore (2x1.1M, was very good bottom 6er, traded at TDL of the second year for a 2nd rounder)
yanni gourde (signed from AHL, has 48 and 64 point seasons)
pavel kubina (2x3.85M, one ok year, one medicore year, netted a 2nd and a 4th at TDL)
sami salo (2x3.75M, both years were good though got worn down in the end)
chris kunitz (1x2M, 29 points in 71 gp)
benoit pouliot (1x1.8M, 20 points in 34 games, lockout year)
brian boyle (3x2M, 3 solid years as bottom 6er, traded at TDL for a 2nd rounder)
anton strålman (5 yr deal, one of the best FA signings this decade. 3 yrs as top pair guy, 2 as top 4.)
matt carle (6x5.5M, awful deal, 4 ok/medicore seasons and then bought out)
val filppula (5x5, one very good year, one good year, one ok year and then traded for essentially nothing)
i left out some names in the 1-2M range that didn't matter in the big picture. some misses there but more hits than misses.
notable pro player trades (good or bad)
mcdonagh/miller trade
ben bishop for cory conacher
brayden coburn for gudas, 1st and 3rd
jason garrison for 2nd
jonathan marchessault for pretty much nothing (though they let him go in FA for very little)
Anders lindbäck for couple of 2nds and a 3rd.
eric brewer for a 3rd (played well on their top pair when they made ECF)
dwayne roloson for essentially nothing (starting goalie on that ECF run)
4th for simon gagne (40 in 64 and then 12 in 15 at playoffs)
coburn was overpaymet but at least he's been solid for them. garrison's contract ended up being a problem but the player was ok. lindbäck was a bad miss. the rest range from good to great.