In the ever-changing league that is the NHL, terrible contracts seem to be the only constant. With plenty of cap space to share, Steve Yzerman will likely seek out teams willing to deal their albatrosses to Detroit in exchange for some draft picks. Let’s “cherry pick” NHL’s Central Division’s worst contracts..
Colorado Avalanche
Erik Johnson – 2 Years, $6 Million ( Cap Hit Per Year)
This is a bit of a tough sell. As an Alternate Captain for the team, it’s clear Johnson is still an important part of the team. However, the Avalanche is now an organization in win-now mode. After dominating the regular season and earning the President’s Trophy (Team with the most regular season points), the Avs suffered a disappointing loss to the Vegas Golden Knights. With the amount of talent on the roster, there’s a good chance Colorado just runs it back next year. However, if they want to shift the roster around a bit, Johnson is a good place to start. He only played in four games this season due to injury and last season was cut short for the same reason. Although he’s a solid presence on the blue line, he’s just not worth the money. If the Avs would like a way out, packaging Johnson with some draft capital and sending him over to Detroit is certainly an option.