NHL Analysts Name Huberdeau, Bennett, Jeannot Among 2025-26 Worst Contracts

NHL analyst Dom Luszczyszyn of The Athletic has identified several high-profile contracts entering the 2025-26 season as among the worst in the league based on projected future value. The Calgary Flames' Jonathan Huberdeau tops the list with an eight-year, $84 million contract that now far exceeds his declining performance, as he fell short of the $10.5 million annual value and his production dropped notably since his time with the Panthers. The Boston Bruins' Tanner Jeannot also made the list due to his five-year, $17 million deal, which is viewed as a significant overpay for a bottom-six player with limited scoring, projecting a negative surplus value of about $13 million. Florida Panthers' Sam Bennett ranks eighth with his eight-year, $64 million extension; despite his playoff heroics and Conn Smythe Trophy, his contract is considered risky due to the high salary and long term potentially outlasting his peak years. Luszczyszyn notes that while Bennett is a productive top-six center, the contract's long duration and $8 million cap hit may not align with his regular season contributions, especially given the Panthers' uncertain playoff prospects. These contracts reflect a broader trend of NHL teams committing large sums to players whose future value may not justify their salaries, raising questions about long-term roster and salary cap management.