Toronto Maple Leafs' Nazem Kadri is congratulated by Mike Santorelli after scoring his team's second goal against Dallas Stars during first period NHL hockey action in Toronto on Tuesday December 2 , 2014.Chris Young/The Canadian Press
The first one signed on July 3, after the dust cleared in free agency and the bargains started coming, for one year and $1.5-million.
The second came nearly three weeks later, on the 22nd, for one year and $1.1-million.
Then the third on the 28th, for one year and $1.3-million.
In a league where the average salary has crept up to about $2.7-million, Mike Santorelli, David Booth and Dan Winnik are all well below that figure and, so far, they're more than earning their keep as a group.
This on a Toronto Maple Leafs team that needed some bargains to help them with a tight salary cap situation.
Combined, those three had a cap hit of $6.6-million a year ago; now they're down to a little more than half that and still playing some key minutes.
Santorelli has been the biggest difference maker early, with 16 points in 24 games as a handy utility man that can play anywhere in the lineup.
In Tuesday's win over Dallas, that meant filling a right wing spot with Nazem Kadri and Joffrey Lupul and not looking at all out of place with three assists.
His speed helps him along the boards and through the neutral zone; his coach likes him as a winger because of his tenacity on the puck.
Coming into training camp, who would fill the Leafs second line right wing hole was one pressing question; 24 games into the season, it seems they have an answer.
"He's been a pleasant surprise," Randy Carlyle said. "I didn't think in reviewing his training camp that he was going to be all that dynamic… His work ethic is very noticeable on the wing. That has been enlightening to everybody that he's a much more dynamic player [there]."
"Santo was great," Kadri said. "He just works hard. He's pretty tenacious on the puck. He likes to handle it, too. He's got pretty good vision, and he can handle it, too. And speed… It's really easy to play with him."
Winnik, meanwhile, has had his biggest contributions on the penalty kill, where he logged almost six scoreless minutes on Tuesday. He has averaged more than 3.5 minutes per game to lead all NHL forwards this season, replacing the less effective Jay McClement in that workhorse role.
The Leafs PK is now up to eighth in the league with an 84.5 per cent kill rate, miles better than where they were a year ago, and a lot of that is simply because the top forward duo of Winnik and Leo Komarov have been a huge improvement.
Winnik has also chipped in with some offence at even strength when required, giving Carlyle a nice option on the wing that can win battles and push the puck in the right direction as part of a checking line.
It's worth noting he played second line minutes all season with a 116-point Ducks team last season.
As for Booth – well, it would be a stretch to say he's made a huge impact in his three games given his limited ice time, but Carlyle made a point of saying he's liked what he's seen.
Having that kind of veteran presence who can step up from the fourth line in case of injuries is also something he intends to use down the road.
"We think that he has an opportunity to play higher in our lineup but right now this is where he has to fit," Carlyle said before Tuesday's win. "We just think he's got more to give. He's played very well…
"We thought he made a huge contribution to our skating game and our puck pressure game [on Saturday against Washington]. If he continues to do that and somebody falters, well, he's going to get an opportunity."
There's a lot of talk about the Leafs needing more elite talent – and that's true – but what they also need is value for contracts.
Right now, they're getting that with Santorelli and Winnik, in particular, as they're playing integral minutes and producing for very little money.
That makes up for some of their cap mistakes like David Clarkson, Stephane Robidas and the Tim Gleason buyout. And it may even allow them to keep players like Nazem Kadri and Cody Franson, who both need new contracts.
"You're trying to find the right place for everybody," Carlyle said of his new-found wealth up front, giving him more options than at any other point in his tenure in Toronto.
What will be interesting to see is if the Leafs view them as more long-term solutions. Last season, they had Mason Raymond on a similar bargain deal but were quickly priced out of the market when he produced so much offence in his only season in Toronto.
There's no doubt when they signed their deals that's what all three Leafs envisioned, but if there's a reasonable extension to be had come January, it's something the organization should consider.
They need forward depth, and looking at their minor league system, it's just not there right now given the Marlies have been the lowest scoring team in the AHL.
As long as Santorelli, Winnik and Booth can outperform their cap hits, present and future, they're solid citizens on an NHL roster.