5 worst contracts signed in Colorado Avalanche history feat. David Jones 

By Nestor Quixtan

Modified Jul 23, 2024 03:12 GMT

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The Colorado Avalanche have enjoyed several successful seasons in the NHL. After a brief rebuild, the Avs turned their savvy management into a Stanley Cup championship in 2022. But along the way, they have also made their fair share of contract blunders.

Here's a closer look at the five worst contract mistakes in Colorado Avalanche history.

5 worst contracts signed in Colorado Avalanche history

#5. Ryan Smyth

After spending more than a decade in Edmonton, the former Oilers captain joined the Avalanche in 2007. Smyth was coming off a 36-goal campaign split between the Oilers and New York Islanders.

After Smyth failed to re-sign with the Isles, the Avalanche inked him to a five-year deal worth $31.25 million. The deal was considered risky as Smyth was already in his mid-30s. After a disappointing 2007-08 season, Smyth rebounded with a 26-goal campaign the following year.

Still, the Avs were unconvinced and subsequently traded Smyth to the Los Angeles Kings. The Kings then traded Smyth back to Edmonton, where he would go on to end his career.

#4. Paul Kariya

Kariya was the long-time captain of the Anaheim Ducks. He’s considered one of the team’s best players, topping 100 points in 1998-99.

By 2003, Kariya joined Anaheim teammate Teemu Selanne in Colorado. Kariya even took a pay cut to join Colorado in hopes of capturing a Cup. The Avs still had most of their 2001 championship team intact, making Colorado an attractive option for Kariya at the time.

In his lone, injury-riddled season in Colorado, Kariya managed just 11 goals in 51 games. He was later gone by the end of the season, and while the deal was not financially crippling for Colorado, it turned out to be a poor bet on an aging player.

#3. Jean-Sebastian Giguere

Giguere was another former Duck that Colorado bet high on. Giguere had won the Conn Smythe Trophy in 2003 as he backstopped Anaheim to a Cup.

Following parts of two troubled seasons with the Toronto Maple Leafs, the Colorado Avalanche took a chance on Giguere regaining the form he’s shown in Anaheim. The deal was a two-year contract worth $2.5 million.

Giguere played reasonably well in his first year, appearing in 32 games, winning 15. He posted a 2.28 GAA and a .919 SV%.

However, injuries and inconsistency the following season caused Giguere to lose the starting job to an up-and-coming Semyon Varlamov. The Avs brought Giguere back for one more season as Varlamov’s backup.

#2. Brad Stuart

Stuart had been a rock-solid defenseman for the San Jose Sharks, among other clubs. While he never posted high point totals, he was known as one of the league’s best defensive defensemen, often playing a top-pairing role.

After a 61-game campaign with the Sharks in 2013-14, the Avs brought Stuart in to anchor the team’s blue line. However, the experiment didn’t go very well. Stuart played in 65 games in his first season with the Avs. But he failed to live up to expectations.

The following season, Stuart was bought out after signing a two-year, $3.6 million contract extension. Stuart played in six games during the 2015-16 campaign and was done in the NHL after 1,056 games played.

#1. David Jones

Jones was a ninth-round pick for Colorado in 2003. He managed to make the club's roster after several seasons in the minors, eventually hitting the 20-goal plateau twice. So, the Avs decided to lock up Jones with a four-year, $16 million deal in 2012 before he could test free agency.

Unfortunately, the deal went south almost immediately. Injuries and inconsistency limited Jones to three goals in 33 games the following season. The Avs subsequently shipped him off to the Calgary Flames during the offseason, where he never seemed to fully regain his form.