Marc Bergevin's legacy has had significant repercussions on the Canadiens: two players from the organization are ranked in the top 15 worst contracts in the NHL

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David St-Jean
July 27, 2023 (4:52 PM)

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Every year, the excellent Dom Luszczyszyn of The Athletic creates a ranking of the worst contracts in the NHL for the upcoming seasons. By taking advanced statistics into account to determine which players will have the least impact relative to their annual salary, he creates a list that generates strong reactions from fans every summer.

However, one must be cautious with such rankings, as last season, he estimated that Nick Suzuki had the 9th worst contract in the NHL. Needless to say, the Canadiens' captain proved him wrong with an excellent season, scoring 26 goals and 40 assists (66 points) in 82 games, all while playing in a lineup constantly plagued by injuries.

Nonetheless, it is worth noting that two Canadiens players made the honorable mentions this season, placing them in the top 15 of the NHL's worst contracts according to Luszczyszyn's analysis. Not surprisingly, Brendan Gallagher's name appears, and he is accompanied by his teammate on the attack, Josh Anderson.

Here is Dom Luszczyszyn's list:

1. Seth Jones: $9.5 million / 7 years
2. Colton Parayko: $6.5 million / 7 years
3. Jonathan Huberdeau: $10.5 million / 8 years
4. Tyler Seguin: $9.9 million / 4 years
5. Marc-Edouard Vlasic: $6.5 million / 5 years
6. Brayden Schenn: $6.5 million / 5 years
7. Travis Sanheim: $6.3 million / 8 years
8. Ryan Strome: $5 million / 4 years
9. Darnell Nurse: $9.3 million / 7 years
10. Nicklas Backstrom: $9.2 million / 2 years

Honorable mentions: Brendan Gallagher ($6.5 million / 4 years), Josh Anderson ($5.5 million / 4 years), Drew Doughty ($11 million / 4 years), Ben Chiarot ($4.75 million / 3 years), and Torey Krug ($6.5 million / 4 years)

Wow! This ranking highlights how the legacy of Marc Bergevin's tenure as general manager still leaves a mark on the Canadiens today. Kent Hughes must deal with several contracts signed during the Bergevin era, undoubtedly complicating his plans for the upcoming years.

The good news is that the new GM of the Habs has shown in recent months that he is a skillful negotiator. Therefore, we shouldn't expect to see Canadiens players in this ranking in the future. However, the contracts of Gallagher and Anderson are still valid for four seasons, and it would be surprising if they manage to surpass their current offensive production in the coming years.

Do you agree with Dom Luszczyszyn's ranking? Do you think Gallagher and Anderson's contracts deserve to be in the top 15 of the NHL's worst contracts?