NHL Free Agency: 5 Worst Contracts Signed This Offseason

NHL Free Agency Period: 5 Worst Contracts Signed So Far This Offseason

NHL free agency is commonly known as the place where teams go to overspend in bidding wars to obtain the services of top available players.

Some players hit the open market due to cap constraints or other financial reasons, but it’s important to remember that most of these guys reach NHL free agency for a reason. If they’re key core pieces, teams usually find a way to lock those players up to long-term deals.

GMs must be careful this time of year as they look for ways to fill needs for the upcoming season. For those particular teams with desperate needs (i.e. top-six winger or top four RH defenseman), it’s easy to covet/overvalue a player based on the limited available options.

Without having the actual figures in front of me (purely speculation), you might be able to call the NHL free agency period a birth place for the majority of eventual buyouts. Very rarely do these deals look bad in year one or two, it’s that same cap hit in middle to back half of the contract that becomes a problem.

Today, we’re exploring five contracts signed this offseason that may eventually become an issue for their respective clubs. As mentioned above, the problem isn’t the beginning of these new contracts, it’s the latter half that is concerning.

Worst Contracts During 2016 NHL Free Agency Period

Apr 23, 2016; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Blackhawks center Andrew Shaw (65) is pursued by St. Louis Blues left wing Alexander Steen (20) during the first period in game six of the first round of the 2016 Stanley Cup Playoffs at the United Center. Mandatory Credit: Dennis Wierzbicki-USA TODAY Sports /

June 27th – Andrew Shaw > Montreal (6 years x $3.9 million/year)

Due to cap issues, Chicago was forced to trade gritty power forward Andrew Shaw to Montreal at the NHL Draft. The Habs signed their new RFA acquisition to a six-year $24.3 million dollar contract.

These Blackhawks secondary scorers always find a way to get paid due to their success with the likes of Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews, but how many of these Bryan Bickell, Kris Versteeg type situations do we have to go through?

He brings an element of physicality that is somewhat lacking for the Canadiens, but at nearly $4 million dollars, it’s simply too much money for the type of limited production he provides.

Feb 18, 2016; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Detroit Red Wings center Darren Helm (43) skates around the net with the puck as Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Ben Lovejoy (12) and goalie Marc-Andre Fleury (29) defend during the first period at the CONSOL Energy Center. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports /

July 1st – Darren Helm > Detroit (5 years x $3.85 million/year)

The 29-year-old has long been a reliable two-way bottom six forward having just finished his ninth season with the Red Wings. He had a career-high 33 points in 2014-15, and followed it up with a 26-point campaign in 2015-16.

With the scouting reputation of Detroit, why invest close to $4 million dollars/year on a third line player who could be easily replaced by a younger, cheaper option on an entry-level deal?

Feb 25, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Kings left wing Milan Lucic (17) reacts during an NHL game against the Edmonton Oilers at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports /

July 1st – Milan Lucic > Edmonton (7 years x $6 million/year)

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This one comes with mixed emotions.

On the one hand, Milan Lucic steps in as a decent replacement for Taylor Hall. Whether he develops chemistry with Connor McDavid or not, who knows. Either way, GM Peter Chiarelli did a good job filling the void made days earlier.

Milan brings the perfect blend of skill and physicality that could help open up a bit of extra space for McDavid. All signs point to this deal working out quite well early on.

The question should be, “how will this contract look three to four years down the road?”. By that time, key players will be looking for new deals, the list includes:

2017: Nail Yakupov, Leon Draisaitl
2018: Laurent Brossoit, Anton Slepyshev, Darnell Nurse, Connor McDavid, Jordan Eberle (UFA), Benoit Pouliot (UFA)
2019: Jesse Puljujarvi, Ethan Bear

Feb 16, 2016; Columbus, OH, USA; Boston Bruins left wing Loui Eriksson (21) against the Columbus Blue Jackets at Nationwide Arena. The Bruins won 2-1 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports /

July 1st – Loui Eriksson > Vancouver (6 years x $6 million/year)

Leave it to GM Jim Benning to make one of the most questionable signings of the NHL free agency period. In the continued attempt to stay competitive while at the same time rebuild, Vancouver signed Swedish winger Loui Eriksson to a lucrative six-year deal based on past success with the Sedin twins at the international level.