from Sam McCaig of The Hockey News,

Unrestricted free agency is always a wild time, with rumors running rampant and star players switching teams and millions upon millions of dollars being thrown around. But this summer’s UFA madness was crazier than usual. Here are the five weirdest signings to date:

1. Robin Lehner to Chicago Blackhawks / Semyon Varlamov to New York Islanders (tie)
Wait, we’re starting with a tie? That’s weird right there. While Lehner-to-the-Hawks and Varlamov-to-the-Isles are downright strange on their own, they’re also intertwined with each other. The Islanders don’t sign Varlamov if they’re able to re-sign Lehner. And what exactly happened there, anyway? In the days leading up to free agency, it seemed an almost foregone conclusion that Lehner would remain with the Islanders, given his breakout season on the ice and personal epiphanies off it. Then the calendar flips to July 1 and he immediately bolts for a one-year deal?...

2. Joe Pavelski to Dallas Stars / Corey Perry to Dallas Stars (tie)
Another tie? Yes, and it’s weird again, but also unavoidable. Pavelski, the longtime Sharks star and team captain, leaves for Dallas. Perry, the longtime Ducks star and goal-scoring top-liner, leaves for Dallas. Pavelski and Perry, longtime rivals on dueling California teams, are united as Stars teammates. The enemy of my enemy is my friend....

more on both of the above plus three more...