Vancouver Canucks – Loui Eriksson
Contract: $6 million cap hit over the next three years; full no-trade clause through 2020-21, 15-team no-trade clause from 2020-21 to 2021-22
General Manager Jim Benning has done a nice job drafting for the Vancouver Canucks. Unfortunately, he needs to be locked in a room without any cell phone service for 24 years starting at midnight on every July 1. Benning has a long list of bad moves made on that day.
Back in 2016, he made his worst July 1 decision when he signed Loui Eriksson to a six-year deal worth $6 million, throwing in a bunch of clauses and signing bonuses as well.
Unsurprisingly, that contract was bad from day one. Eriksson was 31 years old when he signed his deal. He was coming off a very productive season with the Boston Bruins. However, it’s worth noting Eriksson regularly played with Patrice Bergeron and Brad Marchand, who could probably take a homeless bum off the street and make him a 20 goal scorer.
In 196 games with the Canucks, Eriksson has 32 goals and 76 points. He scored 30 in 2015-16 with the Bruins. Eriksson hasn’t driven possession either, so he’s been providing very little for the Canucks.
Dishonorable mention: Tyler Myers got $30 million from the Canucks this summer. If it wasn’t for Eriksson, I’d easily have him as the worst deal in Vancouver. And guess what day Myers signed on? July 1.