Flames Forward Gets No. 1 Spot in 'NHL's 10 Worst Contracts' List

Flames Forward Gets No. 1 Spot in 'NHL's 10 Worst Contracts' List originally appeared on Athlon Sports.

The Calgary Flames handed one of their forwards a sizable eight-year, $84 million contract as they envisioned him leading the offense when both sides agreed to it in 2022. Three years later, the deal is drawing criticism for all the wrong reasons.

According to Dom Luszczyszyn of The Athletic, Jonathan Huberdeau's contract stands as the worst in the NHL heading into the 2025-26 season.

"It’s difficult not to feel bad for Jonathan Huberdeau at this point," Luszczyszyn wrote. "Immediately after he was moved, his former team (the Florida Panthers) went on to three straight Stanley Cup finals with back-to-back wins — all while he languishes on a Flames team with minimal upside. It’s a tough beat for the former superstar."

Luszczyszyn cited both Huberdeau’s declining production and the six years still remaining on the deal as the main reasons for placing him atop the list featuring the worst NHL contracts.

"Huberdeau is still a good player. And in the right situation, it’s possible he can still be a great player," Luszczyszyn wrote. "Still, it’s unlikely he’ll ever be a $10.5 million player again. For now, he’s nowhere close and, for the second straight year, carries the league’s worst contract as a result."

NHL's 10 worst contracts, 2025 edition: Jonathan Huberdeau, Ivan Provorov and more https://t.co/gJt8OTuAYz— The Athletic NHL (@TheAthleticNHL) July 31, 2025

Luszczyszyn's assessment centers not just on the salary, but on his ever-declining trajectory.

According to the analyst's model, Huberdeau is projected for a +5.5 Net Rating next season before entering a steady decline that will see his Net Rating drop into negative value in the 2028-29 season.

With Huberdeau under contract until age 37 and through the 2030-31 season, as well as with his deal featuring a full no-move clause, the Flames are locked into an aging forward whose prime years appear to be behind him.

Huberdeau Still Contributing But Not Elite

Huberdeau showed modest signs of improvement last season, registering 28 goals and 34 assists for 62 points in 81 regular-season games.

That marked a step up from his disappointing 52-point campaign in 2023-24, but still far short of his 115-point peak with the Panthers during the 2021-22 season.

Despite the uptick, the gap between his current production and cap hit remains significant. At $10.5 million annually, Huberdeau ranks among the league’s most expensive players, but his performance has not matched that billing.

Why the Flames Face a Difficult Road Ahead

Huberdeau's contract leaves the Flames with limited options, even if they decide to move on from the winger. The forward has six seasons remaining on his deal, and there's no easy path to move him in a trade, given that he'd need to approve the move.

Over 13 NHL seasons, Huberdeau has appeared in 912 regular-season games and totaled 782 points. Luszczyszyn's model projects him to decline after this season, yielding a negative-surplus value of minus-$32 million and having a positive value probability of just 1%.

Related: Panthers' Sam Bennett Included in List of 'NHL’s Worst Contracts,' But There's a Catch

Related: NJ Devils Forward Tops List of 'NHL’s Best Contracts' for 2025-26 Season

This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Aug 1, 2025, where it first appeared.