NHL free agency in 2025 has seen a flurry of activity, with teams vying to bolster their rosters for the upcoming season. While some signings have been praised as shrewd acquisitions, others have left analysts scratching their heads. Here's a look at ten of the worst contracts signed so far this free agency period:
Cody Ceci, Los Angeles Kings (4 years, $4.5 million AAV): Ken Holland's first year as GM of the Kings got off to a rocky start by trading Jordan Spence to Ottawa and then signing Ceci. Ceci has been criticized throughout his career, often miscast in roles beyond his capabilities. While he might be serviceable as a third-pairing defenseman, his struggles in top-four minutes are well-documented. The Kings seem poised to repeat the same mistake, making this a potentially burdensome contract.
Brad Marchand, Florida Panthers (6 years, $5.25 million AAV): Marchand's contributions to the Panthers' Stanley Cup victories are undeniable, but his age (37) and recent performance decline raise concerns about the contract's longevity. While the cap hit isn't exorbitant, the six-year term is a significant gamble. Paying him until he is 43 years old could create problems for the Panthers down the line.
Tanner Jeannot, Boston Bruins (5 years, $3.4 million AAV): The Bruins' decision to commit long-term and significant money to Jeannot is questionable. While he brings grit and physicality to the bottom-six, his offensive production has been limited since his rookie season. Paying a player known for penalty killing and fighting over $3 million annually seems like an overpayment.
Ryan Lindgren, Seattle Kraken (4 years, $4.5 million AAV): Lindgren's perceived value was inflated by his pairing with Adam Fox in New York. Without Fox, Lindgren's performance metrics decline significantly, raising concerns about his ability to anchor a pairing on his own. At 27 or 28 years old, the miles on his body and history of injuries make this a risky investment for Seattle.
Brian Dumoulin, Los Angeles Kings (3 years, $4 million AAV): Another questionable move by the Kings, signing Dumoulin adds to their collection of aging defensemen. While Dumoulin was a serviceable third-pair defenseman for the Devils, the Kings' overhaul of their defense with players past their prime raises concerns about the team's overall mobility and effectiveness.
Sam Bennett, Florida Panthers (8 years, $8 million AAV): While Bennett's contract is a "discount" in the sense that it seemed like he would get closer to $9-10 million on the market, this contract is far from the kind of discount the Panthers are used to.
Alex Romanov, New York Islanders (8 years, $6.25 million AAV): The Islanders' signing of Romanov to a long-term, relatively expensive contract has been met with criticism. The term and cap hit seem excessive for a player who hasn't consistently demonstrated top-pairing potential.
Connor Brown, New Jersey Devils (4 years, $3 million AAV): While the $3 million cap hit isn't terrible, giving term to a bottom-six player like Brown is rarely a good idea unless you're getting a discount, which the Devils aren't.
Jake Allen, New Jersey Devils (5 years, $1.8 million AAV): The term is a bit nuts.
Yanni Gourde, Tampa Bay Lightning (6 years, $2,333,333 AAV): The term is a bit nuts.
