NHL Free Agency: Best and worst contracts

NHL Free Agency 2026, saw almost a billion dollars spent. Jess and Dom present their best and worst contracts, including the NHL's all-time goal scoring leader Alex Ovechkin re-signing with the Capitals, along with affordable contracts for Ivan Demidov, Tyson Foerster, Viktor Arvidsson, Mats Zuccarello and Stuart Skinner and bad value contracts for Bowen Byram, Rasmus Andersson Jacob Trouba and Sergei Bobrovsky. Plus the guys address Zach Werenski's decision to stay with the Blue Jackets, an offer-sheet for Barret Hayton in New Jersey and value contracts for John Carlson in Tampa Bay and Frederik Andersen in Edmonton. 3:00 - Zach Werenski decides to commit to the Columbus Blue Jackets 5:52 - New Jersey Devils offer-sheet Mammoth forward Barrett Hayton 12:00 - Despite the offer-sheet, Utah Mammoth have a bright future 12:56 - John Carlson lands in Tampa Bay, signs two year deal with Lightning 16:55 - Can Frederik Andersen finally fix the Oilers goaltending woes? 22:10 - Alex Ovechkin best contract - Signs one year value deal with the Capitals 25:57 - Ivan Demidov best contract: Signs long-term value contract with Canadiens 28:30 - Tyson Foerster best contract: Signs value contract with the Flyers 30:15 - Viktor Arvidsson best contract: Signs high value 2 year deal with Red Wings 35:08 - Mats Zuccarello best contract: Signs for one season, 1 million with the Kings 37:30 - Stuart Skinner best contract: Signs value deal to eventually be the Jets starter in goal 40:45 - Jacob Trouba - worst contract - San Jose Sharks 45:27 - Bowen Byram - worst contract - Blackhawks make him the highest paid defencemen in NHL 48:20 - Rasmus Andersson - worst contract multi year deal with Golden Knights 56:31 - Sergei Bobrovsky - worst contract: Three year deal for 38 year old goalie Photo Credit: Scott Taetsch/Getty Images For more Athletic Hockey Show content: Join The Athletic Hockey Show Discord Server:   / discord   Follow The Athletic Hockey Show wherever you listen to podcasts: https://podfollow.com/the-athletic-ho... Follow our hosts on Bluesky: Max Bultman: https://bsky.app/profile/mbultman.bsk... Mark Lazerus: https://bsky.app/profile/marklazerus.... Jesse Granger: https://bsky.app/profile/jessegranger... Sean Gentille: https://bsky.app/profile/seangentille... Sean McIndoe: https://bsky.app/profile/downgoesbrow... Hailey Salvian: https://bsky.app/profile/haileysalvia... Scott Wheeler: https://bsky.app/profile/scottcwheele... Chris Peters: https://bsky.app/profile/chrismpeters... Follow our hosts on X: Max Bultman: https://x.com/m_bultman Mark Lazerus: https://x.com/MarkLazerus Jesse Granger: https://x.com/JesseGranger_ Sean Gentille: https://x.com/seangentille Sean McIndoe: https://x.com/DownGoesBrown Frank Corrado: https://x.com/frankcorrado22 Hailey Salvian: https://x.com/hailey_salvian Corey Pronman: https://x.com/coreypronman Chris Peters: https://x.com/chrismpeters Scott Wheeler: https://x.com/scottcwheeler Subscribe to The Athletic: https://theathletic.com/hockeyshow