The Athletic has released its yearly list of the NHL’s worst contracts, and for the third straight year, Calgary Flames forward Jonathan Huberdeau has been ranked as having the NHL’s worst contract. The 33-year-old has struggled ever since being traded to Calgary, and things have only gotten worse for him since. Huberdeau has been a source of frustration for Flames fans, and there hasn’t been a reason to think that Huberdeau would ever become the player he once was in Florida.
As the NHL salary cap has been rising, fans have seen some crazy contracts being handed out. However, according to the folks at The Athletic, Huberdeau’s contract remains the ugliest in the league.
Huberdeau headlines the list once again
Here is The Athletic’s full list of the worst contracts in the NHL in 2026, with Huberdeau once again claiming the top spot.
- Jonathan Huberdeau
- Chandler Stephenson
- Adin Hill
- Leo Carlsson
- Jacob Trouba
- Trent Frederic
- Jake Walman
- Brett Kulak
- Alex Tuch
- Elias Pettersson
It’s tough to imagine that the Flames envisioned Huberdeau’s contract to age this poorly, but there we are. With the team currently being in a rebuild, the contract helps the team reach the cap floor, but if this team were in a different stage, such as in their contention window, it would be an entirely different story.
Disappointment has turned into acceptance
Ask any Flames fan about the Huberdeau contract, and they’ll likely all give you a similar answer: it is what it is. Sure, there’s no doubt that this infamous trade with the Florida Panthers has aged like milk for the Flames, but at this point, fans have accepted that Huberdeau will never live up to that $10.5 million salary.
As mentioned earlier, Huberdeau’s contract helps the Flames reach the cap floor during this rebuild, and he does provide a good veteran presence for the young guys. His AAV also won’t have much of an impact as the cap continues rising, but I’m sure if the Flames had the choice to get out of that contract, they would.
What’s next for Huberdeau?
As of right now, Huberdeau has five more years left on his deal, so it’s pretty clear that’s he’s going nowhere. I also don’t think the team is focused on helping him bounce back anymore, as harsh as that sounds. The Flames’ focus has pivoted towards building a young core that will define the team for decades, and it just doesn’t make sense to prioritize propping up a struggling veteran when multiple attempts have already been made to do just that.
As for Huberdeau himself, his game is only going to decline even more. This past season, Huberdeau only scored 10 goals and 25 points after having his season cut short due to hip surgery. As for the future, the type of hip surgery Huberdeau received is notoriously known for having a tough recovery journey, and for a struggling player who is entering his mid-thirties, it isn’t an encouraging sign.
There’s still a chance that Huberdeau can revive his game with a change of scenery, and with the rising cap, maybe a team steps up to take the hit, but for now, Huberdeau is going to be a Flame for however long he decides to play.
