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The Athletic has released its yearly list of the NHLs worst contracts, and for the third straight year, Calgary Flames forward Jonathan Huberdeau has been ranked as having the NHLs 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 hasnt 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, Huberdeaus contract remains the ugliest in the league.
Here is The Athletics full list of the worst contracts in the NHL in 2026, with Huberdeau once again claiming the top spot.
Its tough to imagine that the Flames envisioned Huberdeaus 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.
Ask any Flames fan about the Huberdeau contract, and theyll likely all give you a similar answer: it is what it is.
Sure, theres 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, Huberdeaus 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 wont have much of an impact as the cap continues rising, but Im sure if the Flames had the choice to get out of that contract, they would.
As of right now, Huberdeau has five more years left on his deal, so its pretty clear thats hes going nowhere.
I also dont 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 doesnt 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 isnt an encouraging sign.
Theres 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.
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