5 WORST CONTRACTS SIGNED IN 2024 NHL FREE AGENCY FEAT. CHRIS TANEV'S $27 MILLION DEAL
With the frenzy of NHL free agency settling down, fans and analysts can take some time to process everything that has happened during the first week of the NHL offseason. There have been some home runs, like the Nashville Predators signing Jonathan Marchessault and Steven Stamkos on the same day.
Meanwhile, there have been some misses by several clubs. So, with that in mind, let's take a look at the five worst contracts signed thus far in the opening period of NHL free agency.
Five worst contracts signed in 2024 NHL free agency
#5 Warren Foegele and Joel Edmunson
Number five is actually two contracts. The Los Angeles Kings are going to pay a combined $7.35 million for the next three seasons for the combo of Warren Foegele and Joel Edmundson. Both players filled depth roles with their respective clubs last season.
Foegele was mainly a third-liner with the Edmonton Oilers, while Edmundson was a bottom-pairing defenseman with the Washington Capitals and Toronto Maple Leafs.
In short, the Kings paid too much for two depth players. For the price paid, they could have upgraded their middle six or gotten a more reliable defenseman than the oft-injured Edmundson.
#4 Sean Monahan
The Columbus Blue Jackets brought out their checkbooks to sign Monahan to a five-year deal worth $5.5 million per season. The Blue Jackets are paying Monahan like a top-six forward, but $5.5 million per season is a bit high for a player whose best season was in 2018-19.
The Blue Jackets are hoping the 20-year-old can rediscover the touch that helped him top 30 goals twice in his career. In the meantime, all indications point toward this deal ending badly for Columbus.
#3 Brandon Montour
Montour played his heart out during the Florida Panthers' incredible Stanley Cup run.
Now, he cashed in on that performance during NHL free agency by getting a seven-year deal worth $7.143 annually. However, there's reason to believe that Montour's 2022-23 season, where he put up 73 points, was an outlier.
It's likelier that the Kraken will get the Montour, which averages roughly 30 points per season. If Montour can remain a high-level defender, the club may be able to justify the contract. Otherwise, the Kraken could end up paying a steep price for a middle-of-the-pack defenseman.
#2 Nikita Zadorov
In essence, the Boston Bruins overpaid for Nikita Zadorov. The Bruins are banking that the Zadorov they're getting is the big, bruising defender who played a key role in helping the Vancouver Canucks get to Game 7 of their second-round series with the Oilers.
However, the six-year, $30 million deal signed during NHL free agency could end badly for the Bruins if Zadorov regresses. While the Bruins have a top number-one defenseman in Chalie McAvoy, Zadorov figures to play a critical shutdown role. If that's the case, Zadorov's contract could become a bargain.
#1 Chris Tanev
Tanev was one of the most sought-after free agents this offseason. The Toronto Maple Leafs didn't want to take any chances, so they traded for Tanev's rights hours before NHL free agency opened on July 1. The club then promptly signed the 34-year-old to a six-year $27 million deal.
The logic behind this deal is that the longer term offsets the cap hit. In other words, more term means lower cap hit. However, there's reason to believe that Tanev will not be around to play by the time he's 40. So, the Leafs could be looking at Tanev on LTIR for most of the contract.
If Tanev can help the Leafs win a Cup within the next year or two, all of that may become water under the bridge.
2024-07-05T04:15:47Z dg43tfdfdgfd