Every NHL player has a certain reputation to uphold for their particular franchise. Some players are paid to score while others are paid to fight, some are even paid to do both. Each team has many players who are expected to play these roles, yet some of these players do not live up to their expected roles. So, let’s look at 1 player on every NHL team who is currently underachieving.
Anaheim Ducks – Trevor Zegras
After totaling 139 points in 180 games through 3 seasons, Zegras would ink a 3-year extension worth $5,750,000 annually. Zegras has not lived up to his extension as he has suffered through injury, is currently averaging less than half a point per game, and has even been involved in trade talks.
Arizona Coyotes – Karel Vejmelka
Vejmelka is in his 3rd season with the Coyotes. Vejmelka signed a 3-year pact worth $8,175,000 in the 2023 off-season after having a .900 save percentage alongside a 3.43 goals-against average. Vejmelka’s $2.725,000 average annual value is currently not worth his sub .900 hundred save percentage in the current 2023-24 season.
Boston Bruins – Hampus Lindholm
An NHL All-Star in 2023, Lindholm signed an 8-year extension worth $6.5 million annually on March 19th, 2022 after being acquired from the Ducks where played his previous 8 seasons. After averaging over half a point per game the last 2 seasons, Lindholm’s point-per-game average has dropped to below half a point per game for the first time since signing the deal.
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Buffalo Sabres – Tage Thompson
Thompson was drafted by the St. Louis Blues in the 2016 NHL Draft and would be traded to the Sabres in the 2018 off-season. Thompson signed a 7-year, $50 million contract with the Sabres in 2022 and was expected to take on a bigger role this season. However, he has not lived up, having scored under a point per game thus far.
Calgary Flames – Jonathan Huberdeau
After being drafted by the Florida Panthers in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft, Huberdeau played the next decade with the team before being traded to Calgary in the 2022 off-season. Coming off a 115-point season, being traded, and signing an 8-year, $84 million contract, Huberdeau was expected to make a big impact with the Flames but only put up 55 points in the 2022-23 season and has failed to live up to the contract.
Carolina Hurricanes – Evgeny Kuznetsov
Kuznetsov was acquired by the Hurricanes via trade on March 8th, 2024. The 2-time All-Star signed an 8-year, $62.4 million deal with the Capitals ahead of the 2017-18, where they would go on to win the Stanley Cup. Kuznetsov would net 55 points in 81 games in 2022-23 and is currently on pace for just 31 points this season.
Chicago Blackhawks – Tyler Johnson
2-time Stanley Cup champion Tyler Johnson is in the final season of a 7-year, $5 million deal signed with the Tampa Bay Lightning in the 2017 off-season. Johnson was traded to the Blackhawks on July 27th, 2021 after putting up just 22 points through 55 games. He would have another disappointing season in 2022-23 putting just 4 points in 26 games. Johnson has not performed up to the $5 million price tag in any of the last 7 seasons.
Colorado Avalanche – Alexander Georgiev
Georgiev has been with the Avs since the beginning of the 2022-23 season after coming over from the New York Rangers in an off-season trade. After finishing last season with a .919 save percentage, Georgiev’s save percentage has taken a nosedive this season and has been criticized for not handling the starting job well in Colorado.
Columbus Blue Jackets – Johnny Gaudreau
Gaudreau’s last season in Calgary saw him put up 115 points through 82 games, setting himself up for a nice payday in 2022 free agency. After signing a 7-year, $68.25 million contract, Gaudreau came in and put up 74 points in 80 games and was named an All-Star in 2023. Gaudreau’s performance has fallen off thus far in the 2023-24 season as he is not living up to his yearly salary of $9.75 million.
Dallas Stars – Tyler Seguin
Due to his $9.5 million average annual value, Seguin is the choice to represent the Stars. Seguin was acquired by Dallas on July 4th, 2013. His 151 points through the first 229 games of his contract are not worth the top salary that he’s being paid.
Detroit Red Wings – Andrew Copp
Copp would play with the Winnipeg Jets till the 2021-22 season when he would be traded to the New York Rangers. Copp would play out the rest of the 2021-22 season with the Rangers before signing in Detroit during free agency. Copp’s 5-year, $28.125 million salary contract is a hefty price to pay for just 42 points through 82 games in the 2022-23 season and he has faired worse thus far in the 2023-24 season.
Edmonton Oilers – Darnell Nurse
Nurse was drafted with the 7th overall pick in the 2013 NHL draft and he has remained in Edmonton throughout his career. Nurse’s top point total was 43 in the 2022-23 season. However, he has not played up to his contract as he is expected to be a top defender based on his $9.25 million salary, as he is under a +5 thus far in the 2023-24 season.
Florida Panthers – Aaron Ekblad
Ekblad was drafted by the Panthers with the 1st overall pick in the 2014 NHL draft and has played for the team ever since. His -14 in the 2022-23 was the lowest it’s been since the 2016-17 season. While Ekblad’s +/- total has gone up this season his point total has shot down as he is on pace for just 29 points, his lowest ever through an 82-game schedule.
Los Angeles Kings – Pierre-Luc Dubois
Dubois was signed to an 8-year, $68 million salary after being traded from the Winnipeg Jets to the Kings on June 27th, 2023. After scoring 27 goals and 63 points through 73 games through the 2022-23 season, Dubois was expected to break out this season. Dubois is currently on pace for just 35 points through an 82-game season, his lowest point total since the 2020-21 season where he scored just 21 points in 46 games.
Minnesota Wild – Filip Gustavsson
Gustavsson was signed to a 3-year, $11.25 million contract in the 2023 off-season and was expected to be the Wild’s starter. Gustavsson currently holds a sub-.900 save percentage as the starter in Minnesota and is currently being outplayed by backup Marc-Andre Fleury.
Montreal Canadiens – Tanner Pearson
Pearson was signed to a 3-year deal worth $3.25 million annually in 2021 and would have just 39 points through 82 games in the last 2 seasons. Pearson is currently on pace for just 19 points through an 82-game schedule, his lowest full-season point total since his 2017-18 season in LA.
Nashville Predators – Anthony Beauvillier
Beauvillier was acquired from the Chicago Blackhawks on March 7th, 2024 after racking up 14 points between the Vancouver Canucks and Blackhawks over 45 games. Bauvilier is in the last year of a 3-year deal paying $4.15 million annually. While Bauvilier put up 20 points through 33 points in 2022-23, he was expected to have a better season alongside 2023 number 1 overall pick Connor Bedard.
New Jersey Devils – John Marino
Marino was expected to play the role of a number 2 defenseman, and after an injury to Dougie Hamilton, this season was expected to step into the number one role. After averaging a +28 through his first 4 NHL seasons, Marino is currently at a negative +/- and on pace to finish as such for 2023-2024.
New York Islanders – Scott Mayfield
After scoring 5 points through 41 games, Mayfield went down with an injury on February 22, 2024, against the St. Louis Blues. After playing just 25 games in the 2016-17 season, Mayfield’s $3.5 million annual value was put on injured reserve.
New York Rangers – Kaapo Kakko
Kakko was drafted with the second overall pick in the 2017 NHL Entry Draft and was expected to be a star in New York. With just 98 points through 239 games in 4 seasons, Kakko has been one of the most underwhelming players from that draft. Through 82 games, he is on pace for 22 points.
Ottawa Senators – Joonas Korpisalo
The Sens signed Korpisalo to a 5-year deal worth $4 million annually to be their starting goaltender after he had a .921 save percentage in Los Angeles in 2022-23. Korpisalo has not lived up to the salary assigned to him, having a sub .900 save percentage this season.
Philadelphia Flyers – Rasmus Ristolainen
Ristolainen was signed to a 5-year contract worth $25.5 million with the Flyers on March 10th, 2022. Expected to be a top defender after 8 seasons with the Sabres. His 20 points through 74 games in 2022-23 were not up to par with his annual $5.1 million cap hit.
Pittsburgh Penguins – Jeff Carter
Carter is in the last year of a 2-year, $6.25 million contract he signed with the Pens on January 26, 2022. At 39 years old, Carter is on pace for just 14 points through an 82-game schedule with the Pens, where he is underachieving.
San Jose Sharks – Filip Zadina
Drafted with the 6th overall pick in the 2018 NHL draft, Zadina would put up just 68 points through his first 5 seasons, having never hit the 82-game mark. While on a lowly Sharks team, Zadina has done no better than he did in Detroit.
Seattle Kraken – Philipp Grubauer
Grubauer signed a 6-year, $35.4 million deal with the Kraken in 2021 free agency. Grubauer finished with a .889 save percentage in 2021-22 and .895 last season. This season he has been a backup to Joey Daccord.
St. Louis Blues – Kasperi Kapanen
The Pittsburgh Penguins drafted Kapanen with the 22nd overall pick in the 2024 NHL draft. The Blues claimed him off waivers on February 25th, 2023 after scoring just 20 points through 43 games with the Penguins in 2022-23.
Tampa Bay Lightning – Matt Dumba
Drafted with the 7th overall pick in the 2012 draft by the Minnesota Wild, Dumba’s totals have gradually declined since the 2017-18 season, however, he is still being paid nearly $4 million.
Toronto Maple Leafs – Ryan Reaves
Reaves was signed to a 3-year, $1.35 million contract in the 2023 off-season. In 37 games of the 2023-24 season, Reaves scored only 4 points, proving it was an overpay.
Vancouver Canucks – Tyler Myers
Myers, who was signed to a 5-year contract worth $6 million per year in the off-season, has yet to reach the 30-point mark for the Canucks.
Vegas Golden Knights – William Karlsson
After breaking out with the Knights in their first season, hitting a career-high 78 points, Karlsson was expected to be their number center. Karlsson has not hit over 60 points since that season.
Washington Capitals – Alex Ovechkin
After being a perennial goal scorer for years, Ovechkin’s play has fallen off the last few seasons. Since 2021, Ovi’s play has been fluctuating and is on pace for his lowest point total since the 2020-21 season.
Winnipeg Jets – Nate Schmidt
After coming over in a trade, Schmidt was slated to be a top performer in Winnipeg but has not lived up to his hefty $5.95 million annual salary.
