As an NHL franchise, you by no means wish to be recognized for having the worst contracts within the NHL. And, some will make the argument you possibly can’t win the Stanley Cup with out a number of the greatest. As such, happily, or sadly (relying on the way you have a look at issues), the Toronto Maple Leafs are caught proper within the center.
Based on a pair of articles by Dom Luszczyszyn of The Athletic, the Maple Leafs aren’t credited with signing unimaginable offers, not are they responsible of signing any of the worst. He took a have a look at the very best and worst NHL contracts by way of their worth and wrote:
Within the NHL, contracts matter. For higher or worse, each participant is judged primarily based on the cash he makes and whether or not he’s definitely worth the worth….What gamers have already executed holds no benefit, that is concerning the future worth of the deal. Contract clauses and bonus construction are essential, however not thought of on this evaluation. Gamers on LTIR weren’t thought of.
supply – ‘NHL’s 10 worst contracts, 2024 version: Jonathan Huberdeau, Darnell Nurse and extra’ – Dom Luzczyszyn – 07/18.2024
Who Ranked on the Record of Good and Dangerous?
Taking the highest spot for greatest contract within the NHL was Gustav Forsling. Paid $5.8 million, by the mannequin used, the Florida Panthers’ defenseman has a projected worth of $11.4 million. The scribe writes, “On a staff stuffed with nice offers, Forsling’s seems the very best and needs to be for the foreseeable future. His deal is the league’s gold commonplace.” Rating second and third had been Jack Hughes (New Jersey) and Miro Heiskanen (Dallas).
Relating to the worst contracts, Jonathan Huberdeau of the Calgary Flames took high spot honors. His $10.5 million cap hit has a projected precise worth of $4.9 million. The article writes, ‘Jonathan Huberdeau has the worst contract in hockey. You already know it. I do know it. He is aware of it. He’s making franchise ahead cash for seven extra seasons regardless of scoring like a second-liner in back-to-back seasons.” Coming in second had been the recently-signed Chandler Stephenson (Seattle Kraken) and Tom Wilson of the Washington Capitals.
Toronto Maple Leafs Absent From Each Lists
Luszczyszyn posted his Prime 10 in each classes and no participant from the Maple Leafs was on it. Regardless of having a core of gamers who’re paid large salaries, none of Auston Matthews, William Nylander, and even John Tavares was talked about. Whereas Luszczyszyn’s mannequin isn’t the one one followers ought to observe, neither is it the bible about what a very good and unhealthy deal within the hockey world seems like, it is a constructive. The Leafs are, for probably the most half, getting worth out of the offers they’ve signed.
No, it’s not best that Tavares makes $11 million per season. It’s not nice information that Ryan Reaves is on the books for $1.35 million and two extra seasons. Chris Tanev getting a long term as a result of he’s what the Leafs want and his $4.5 million at his age is perhaps regarding wasn’t a purple flag both.
Not solely can the Leafs probably transfer one in all these contracts, however they aren’t notably hamstrung by any of the offers they’ve signed — apart from to notice that gamers have no-move clauses that dictate a lot of the motion.
What’s The Dangerous Information?
The draw back right here is that it may be argued the Leafs don’t have any super-value contracts on the books both. The place the Edmonton Oilers have Darnell Nurse rating among the many worst, additionally they have Zach Hyman rating above the very best. The identical may be mentioned for Dallas who has Heiskanen listed as nice worth and Tyler Seguin… not a lot.
In case you have a look at the groups who’ve contended for the Stanley Cup in latest seasons, most have one factor in frequent; team-friendly contracts the place manufacturing vastly outweighs the fee. Florida has Forsling and Matthew Tkachuk, the New York Rangers have Adam Fox, and Colorado has Nathan MacKinnon. The Leafs keep away from being lumped in with lottery groups which have horrible contracts, however they don’t essentially have something with regards to the offers they’ve signed that give them a definite benefit financially.
There’s a silver lining. The Vegas Golden Knights didn’t have anybody on both record they usually received the Cup in 2022-23.