🔥 Trending Ranking the NHL's Worst Contracts: Who's Overpaid?

In the salary-cap era of the National Hockey League (NHL), a poorly structured or underperforming player contract can severely hinder a team's ability to compete and build a successful roster ¹². As of July 2026, several contracts are widely considered among the worst in the league, largely due to a combination of high annual average value (AAV), long term, and the player's current performance relative to their salary ⁴⁷.

Factors Defining a "Bad" NHL Contract

Before diving into specific examples, it's important to understand what makes an NHL contract "bad":

• High Annual Average Value (AAV) and Long Term: Contracts with a large cap hit spread over many years can become problematic if a player's performance declines significantly or they suffer long-term injuries ⁹.
• Declining Performance: A player who was once an elite performer but whose skills have diminished considerably while still earning a top-tier salary creates a cap burden.
• Injury History: Players with recurring or career-altering injuries who remain on expensive, long-term deals can tie up valuable cap space without contributing on the ice.
• Age: Older players on long-term deals are inherently riskier, as performance decline is more likely in the later years of the contract.
• No-Movement/No-Trade Clauses: These clauses can make it difficult for teams to offload undesirable contracts, further exacerbating the cap issue.
• Opportunity Cost: A bad contract doesn't just occupy cap space; it prevents a team from signing other valuable players, extending key talent, or acquiring assets ⁸.

Top Candidates for Worst NHL Contracts (as of 2026)

While opinions can vary slightly, several players and their contracts are frequently cited in 2026 as significant cap anchors for their respective teams ²⁴⁵⁷.

Jonathan Huberdeau (Calgary Flames)

Jonathan Huberdeau's contract is consistently mentioned as one of the absolute worst in the NHL ⁴⁶.

• Details: Signed an eight-year, $84 million contract ($10.5 million AAV) that began in the 2023-24 season and runs through the 2030-31 season ⁴.
• Why it's bad: After a 115-point season with the Florida Panthers in 2021-22, Huberdeau's production plummeted significantly after being traded to Calgary. His point totals have been far below expectations for a player earning over $10 million per year, making this a major cap drain for the Flames ⁴⁶.

Leo Carlsson (Anaheim Ducks)

Leo Carlsson, despite being a young, promising player, has found his contract on some "worst" lists due to its structure and the context of the Ducks' rebuild ⁴.

• Details: Signed a long-term deal (exact terms vary by source, but often cited for its cap impact relative to his current stage of development) ⁴.
• Why it's bad: While Carlsson has potential, his contract is perceived as an overpay for a player still developing, especially for a rebuilding team like Anaheim. This can tie up significant cap space that could be used more flexibly in a rebuild ⁴. Some sources suggest the Flyers were instrumental in the Ducks taking on this contract ¹⁰.

Elvis Merzlikins (Columbus Blue Jackets)

The Blue Jackets' goaltender has struggled to live up to his contract ².

• Details: Signed a five-year, $27 million contract ($5.4 million AAV) through the 2026-27 season ².
• Why it's bad: Merzlikins' performance has been inconsistent, with save percentages and goals-against averages well below what's expected from a starting goaltender earning over $5 million. This makes it difficult for Columbus to find stability in net or trade him ².

Nick Paul (Tampa Bay Lightning)

While Nick Paul is a solid two-way forward, his contract is viewed as an overpayment for his role ⁵.

• Details: Signed a seven-year, $22.05 million contract ($3.15 million AAV) through the 2028-29 season ⁵.
• Why it's bad: While his AAV isn't exorbitant, the term of seven years for a third-line player is considered excessive. As he ages, his value relative to his cap hit is expected to diminish further, becoming a burden for the cap-strapped Lightning ⁵.

Other Notable Mentions for 2025-26 and 2026-27 Seasons

Several other players frequently appear on lists of worst contracts for the upcoming seasons ²⁵⁷:

• Barclay Goodrow (New York Rangers): A seven-year, $21.85 million contract ($3.64 million AAV) through 2027-28 is considered an overpay for his limited offensive production and role ².
• Christian Dvorak (Montreal Canadiens): A six-year, $26.7 million contract ($4.45 million AAV) through 2027-28 is seen as poor value given his injury history and modest output ².
• Ilya Lyubushkin (Toronto Maple Leafs): A three-year, $8.25 million contract ($2.75 million AAV) through 2026-27 is considered an overpay for a defensive defenseman with limited impact ².
• Ben Chiarot (Detroit Red Wings): A four-year, $19 million contract ($4.75 million AAV) through 2025-26 is seen as a significant overpayment for his defensive play ².
• Erik Gudbranson (Columbus Blue Jackets): A four-year, $16 million contract ($4 million AAV) through 2025-26 is another defensive contract considered poor value ².
• Mikael Granlund (San Jose Sharks): A two-year, $10 million contract ($5 million AAV) through 2025-26 is a significant cap hit for a team in rebuild mode ².
• Josh Anderson (Montreal Canadiens): A seven-year, $38.5 million contract ($5.5 million AAV) through 2026-27 is a long-term commitment for an inconsistent power forward ².
• Ivan Fedotov (Philadelphia Flyers): A two-year, $6.3 million contract ($3.15 million AAV) through 2025-26 for a goaltender whose NHL future is uncertain due to past issues ².
• Brayden Schenn (St. Louis Blues): An eight-year, $52 million contract ($6.5 million AAV) through 2027-28 is a long-term deal for an aging player whose production has declined ².

These contracts highlight the challenges NHL general managers face in balancing player talent, age, injury risk, and salary cap constraints. A single bad contract can have ripple effects for years, impacting a team's ability to contend for the Stanley Cup.