Overpriced NHL Contracts to Watch This Offseason

As the NHL salary cap rises, teams look to trade overpriced contracts. Here are ten players to watch this offseason.

The NHL’s ever-increasing salary cap is easing the burden on teams grappling with pricey contracts that are no longer value for money. Gone are the days when Calgary paid a hefty price to unload Sean Monahan’s final contract year. This summer presents teams with the chance to shed financial weight without needing to attach draft picks as sweeteners.

Last summer saw several veterans like Andre Burakovsky, Evander Kane, and Viktor Arvidsson find themselves with new teams when their former employers managed to move on without a hefty cost. The Penguins particularly capitalized during this time, managing to extract notable returns from their own cap-dump deals involving Matt Dumba and Connor Clifton.

As the trade deadline approached this year, Anaheim successfully shipped center Ryan Strome and his $5 million contract to Calgary, receiving a seventh-round pick in return. Meanwhile, New Jersey was able to move Ondrej Palat’s final year at $6 million AAV to the Islanders for relatively little.

Chris Johnston’s trade board has pointed out some contracts that could be moved this offseason, including Darnell Nurse and Morgan Rielly. However, there are still numerous players locked in deals that could be considered a slight overpay rather than a full-blown anchor, who are also likely to be discussed in trade talks.

Take Brendan Gallagher, for instance. After a tumultuous season with the Canadiens, where he scored merely seven times and found himself a healthy scratch, moving off his $6.5 million deal would benefit both the player and the team. At 34, Gallagher’s performance level has declined, making it difficult for him to fit in with Montreal’s lineup. Notably, his leadership qualities could make him appealing to a rebuilding team, such as Vancouver, where he has local ties.

In Dallas, the Stars face a distinct cap crunch with key players up for contracts. To create the necessary space, Ilya Lyubushkin’s contract, valued at $3.25 million with just one year left, could become a target for trade, especially with other young defensemen stepping up.

Jordan Greenway also presents a tricky case for Buffalo. His deal worth $4 million per year is challenging given his injury struggles and inconsistent offensive output. The Sabres might find themselves motivated to trade him, especially with looming cap pressures.

The New York Islanders are not exempt from such complications. With $12.6 million in projected cap space occupied by contract commitments, moving Anthony Duclair may provide some necessary relief. The winger has been below par, managing only four goals in 44 games, leading to speculation about his future with the team.

At the same time, Boston’s Joonas Korpisalo’s presence becomes less necessary as Jeremy Swayman solidifies his spot as the top goaltender, generating questions about whether Boston should move Korpisalo with only one year left at a $3 million cap hit.

Lastly, the Detroit Red Wings have several forwards underperforming against their cap hits, notably J.T. Compher, whose fate may hinge on the potential of controversial teammate Dylan Larkin’s situation. With multiple players vying for their spots, these contracts could potentially be evaluated as trade bait — particularly if the team seeks improvements on offense.

As the offseason progresses, it seems clear that teams will be strategizing how to navigate the cap-space issues, possibly leading to an array of trades involving both heavy and slightly overpriced contracts across the league. With the rise in the salary cap, teams may find themselves with more leverage to make moves that were untenable just seasons prior.