It was a wild NHL offseason with big names relocating to new teams and superstars signing lucrative new deals. Meanwhile, in the desert, the Vegas Golden Knights had a quieter-than-normal summer. They didn’t trade for anyone like Mitch Marner or Jack Eichel; instead, they tidied up internally, extending Rasmus Andersson and bringing back Victor Olofsson. Oh yeah, they also cut ties with John Tortorella and promoted Ryan Craig to head coach. Overall, it was an uneventful summer unlike previous ones.
Elsewhere in the NHL, teams opened their checkbooks, and money flowed into player accounts at alarming, record-breaking rates. Things got so crazy that the Bleacher Report wasted little time breaking down the five worst long-term contracts that will age poorly by 2030. Interestingly, this list features two former Golden Knights players, meaning the team whose core is built to compete for the Stanley Cup may have dodged a bullet by avoiding these particular deals.
Golden Knights avoid making long-term contract mistakes in 2026
In no particular order, the Bleacher Report led off with Darren Raddysh’s eight-year $68 million contract with the Toronto Maple Leafs. At 30 years old and coming off a personal best season, Toronto gave the right-handed defenseman a contract that could become a burden on their cap in a matter of seasons. Meanwhile, in Chicago, the Blackhawks traded to acquire defenseman Bowen Byram and immediately signed the 25-year-old to a six-year, $75 million deal. Considering that Chicago is a rebuilding team, Byram became the team’s highest-paid player until Connor Bedard scored a monster extension worth $75 million over five years.
In California and Pennsylvania, neither Anaheim Ducks nor Philadelphia Flyers fans will forget the summer of 2026, since the Flyers nearly signed Leo Carlsson to an offer sheet, which would have made him the highest-paid player in the NHL. After days of speculation, the Ducks matched and got roped into a five-year deal worth $90 million, or $18 million annually. Although Carlsson is just 21, it’s a significant pay increase for an unproven youngster.
Which former Golden Knights player struck it rich?
One of the Golden Knights' Original Misfits, Alex Tuch, left the club in 2021 and went to the Buffalo Sabres where he turned into a three-time 30-goal scorer. Desperate to win another Stanley Cup with the ageless Alex Ovechkin, the Washington Capitals gave the 30-year-old $84 million on an eight-year contract. Considering Tuch will now be making $10.5 million annually, it seems a bit of an overpay for a skater with a career 0.72 points-per-game average.
Finally, one that hits closer to the Vegas fanbase: former two-time 35-goal scorer Pavel Dorofeyev left for the Big Apple in a June trade; the New York Rangers wasted no time signing him to a seven-year deal worth $77 million. At 25, he wasn’t going to get that kind of payday with the cash-strapped Golden Knights, so it only made sense to seek a better offer with another club. Given that Dorofeyev will play under the bright lights of Broadway, it will be an adjustment for the player and the team, one that has some core players to build around, but not in the conversation as a contender for another Stanley Cup. Â
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