Defenceman Brooks Orpik received a humongous 5 year, $27.5 million contract
After 87 signings and $575 million dollars spent, free agent frenzy appears to be over – with the exception of a few players who have yet to find a home. For the most part, the dust has settled on the NHL free agent market for another year. There were some amazing value signings, such as the Ottawa Senators picking up David Legwand for a mere $3 million, but there were many ridiculous overpayments as well. Here is a look at the five worst UFA signings from this offseason.
#5: Leo Komarov, Toronto Maple Leafs (4 years, $2.95m AAV)
Leo Komarov wanted big money from any team that was willing to entice him back to the NHL; the Toronto Maple Leafs opened their wallet. After letting center Dave Bolland walk, the Leafs wanted to add toughness and character in their bottom-six forward group. They reached out to former Maple Leaf Komarov, who decided he would return to the NHL after a brief one-year stint in the KHL.
In 42 games in the 2013 lockout-shortened season, Komarov put up 9 points and had 18 penalty minutes. That’s not the kind of offensive production that should earn any player a multi-year deal with a $2.9 million cap hit. Komarov will provide great intangibles and leadership for Toronto, however it doesn’t appear that he will be able to live up to his new contract due to his lack of offensive production.
#4: Benoit Pouliot, Edmonton Oilers (5 years, $4.0m AAV)
In need of finally obtaining a contract longer than one year, Benoit Pouliot went to the UFA market demanding term on any potential deal. Pouliot wanted job security after five straight one year deals and playing for four different teams over that span. However, five years is too lengthy of a term for a player who has yet to eclipse 36 points in a single season. The Oilers desperately wanted to add forward depth, so they gave Pouliot the term he wanted, while overpaying dearly for his services.
To put his $4 million AAV into perspective, Pouliot will be earning approximately the same amount as TJ Oshie, Wayne Simmonds, David Perron, Ales Hemsky, Milan Michalek, Jussi Jokinen, and Chris Kunitz. All the players mentioned above have at least scored 57 points in a single season, while some have even scored upwards of 70 points. Pouliot is a solid depth player and can be counted on for secondary scoring, but he is not worth the contract he received from the Oilers.
#3: Deryk Engelland, Calgary Flames (3 years, $2.9m AAV)
Considering he was a bottom pairing defenceman/healthy scratch for an injury-depleted Pittsburgh Penguins defensive corps, it is shocking that Engelland received any offer over one year and over $1 million, let alone three years for almost $3 million! The Calgary Flames decided to pick him up for that steep price most likely because they like the grit and physicality he brings to the table. However, other than that he won’t really do much for the Flames.
It is also possible that the Flames made this move in order to reach the salary cap floor, as they are currently the lowest spending team in the league. Still, one would expect that nearly $3 million can get you a decent #4/5 defenceman, but the Flames chose Engelland. For comparison’s sake, solid defenceman such as Jeff Petry, Kevin Klein, and Carl Gunnarsson make approximately the same as Engelland’s $2.9 million. One would agree that’s a tad too much for a #6/7 defenceman.
#2: Dave Bolland, Florida Panthers (5 years, $5.5m AAV)
The Toronto Maple Leafs pushed hard to keep their 3rd line center, but in the end it seems as though it’s best for them that he left for the Florida Panthers. The Panthers paid Bolland big money – money usually reserved for top-tier second line centers.
Another reason why the Leafs likely didn’t buckle to Bolland’s demands is that at $5.5 million, he would be the team’s highest paid center while playing on the third line. This would complicate things for Nazem Kadri’s next contract and force the Leafs to then overpay for his services.
The term is also scary for the Panthers, as they will be paying a player who has a career high of 47 points (which he posted in his sophomore season six years ago) and is coming off a major Achilles injury. Nobody knows whether Bolland will ever be the same again but even if he is healthy, he won’t provide more than 45 points at best. Sure, he does bring grit, leadership, and intangibles – including two Stanley Cup rings – to the table, but that does not warrant giving him the long-term deal he received.
#1: Brooks Orpik, Washington Capitals (5 years, $5.5m AAV)
If you thought Bolland’s contract was bad, wait until you see the worst contract of this offseason: Brooks Orpik. To think that Orpik got anything more than three years due to his declining play is laughable, but he also got a raise from his previous contract!
Sure, Washington’s needed a shutdown defensive for many years and sure, they needed a veteran presence in the locker room, but $5.5 million for a player who is nowhere near what he used to be at this stage of his career is too much. Orpik’s skating has significantly regressed and in today’s NHL, skating is essential to be a successful player.
To make matters worse is the term of Orpik’s deal, which expires when he is 38 years old. The deal is bad now, but it will be awful when Orpik is 36-38 years old. His skating will only get worse as he ages and he will continue to decline. Orpik will fill a need for the Caps in the immediate future, but the money and term is unjustifiable at this point and in the future.
This concludes the list of the five worst contracts given out so far this offseason. Stay tuned for a list of the five best signings from this offseason.
Komarov photo credit: LEIJONAT via photopin cc
Pouliot photo credit: sarah_connors via photopin cc
Engelland photo credit: bridgetds via photopin cc
Bolland photo credit: bridgetds via photopin cc
Orpik photo credit: jmd41280 via photopin cc
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