Each NHL team’s worst contract heading into the 2019-20 season

Pittsburgh Penguins – Jack Johnson

Contract: $3.25 million cap hit with four years left

Jack Johnson’s infamous five-year deal with the Pittsburgh Penguins was bad before the ink dried on the paper. I said this last summer, and Pens fans wanted to get him a chance. A year later, to quote The White Stripes, “hate to say I told you so”.

Johnson was even worse than expected last season. According to Evolving Hockey, among defensemen who played at least 1,000 minutes during all situations, he had the 15th-lowest WAR at -0.7. Johnson provided below replacement level value. They likely would have been better off claiming some guy off waivers and giving him Johnson’s role.

Now, that said, his contract must not be viewed nearly as badly around the league. Because the Penguins nearly traded him to the Minnesota Wild in the nutty Phil Kessel for Jason Zucker trade that Kessel rejected. And apparently, teams are interested in Johnson. Don’t ask me why that’s the case.

Dishonorable mentions: General Manager Jim Rutherford did not learn from his mistakes last summer. He signed Brandon Tanev, a bottom-six forward, to a six-year deal with a $3.5 million cap hit. Tanev is a pretty decent bottom-six forward, but giving him six years is outlandish. You don’t give that kind of term to bottom-six forwards.

Patric Hornqvist’s deal ($5.3 million cap hit over the next four years) looks fine – for now. But if you consider his physical playing style and his recent rash of injuries (namely concussions), it’s not to see how that deal could get ugly. Worst of all, Hornqvist has a full NTC for the next two seasons and an eight-team no-trade list for the two seasons after that.