5 worst contracts signed in Montreal Canadiens franchise history feat. Scott Gomez

By Nestor Quixtan

Modified Jul 22, 2024 00:47 GMT

The Montreal Canadiens are the NHL’s winningest clubs. However, the Habs have made their fair share of blunders when signing contracts. While some contracts were not as financially crippling as others, they go down as some of the worst decisions in franchise history.

Here’s a detailed look at the five worst contracts signed in Montreal Canadiens history.

5 worst contracts signed in Montreal Canadiens franchise history

#5: Bryan Smolinski

Although Smolinski moved around several clubs, he maintained his production at every stop. The Montreal Canadiens brought in Smolinski during the 2007 offseason to provide the team with depth scoring and veteran leadership.

The Habs gave Smolinski a one-year, $2 million deal. However, the deal didn’t work out as planned. In 64 games in Montreal, Smolinski scored eight goals and 25 points and retired at the end of the season.

#4: David Desharnais

Desharnais was an undrafted player who made an impact on the Montreal Canadiens. He played in 43 games in 2010-11, earning him a spot on the team. He played in 81 games, scoring 16 goals and 60 points the following season.

The Canadiens gave Desharnais a four-year, $14 million extension during the 2012 offseason. Desharnais’ scoring plummeted to 28 points in 48 games the next season.

While Desharnais rebounded somewhat with 52 points in 79 games, his scoring continued to drop until he registered 10 points in 31 games during the 2016-17 season. He was traded mid-season to the Edmonton Oilers.

#3: Sergei Samsonov

Samsonov registered back-to-back 70-point seasons in the early 2000s, making him one of the NHL’s most effective wingers. However, he was on the decline by the mid-2000s.

Following a terrible 2005-06 season with the Edmonton Oilers, Samsonov signed a two-year, $7.05 million deal with the Montreal Canadiens during the 2006 offseason. However, things went poorly for Samsonov in Montreal.

In 2006-07, he registered 26 points in 63 games. The Canadiens placed Samsonov on waivers before trading him to the Chicago Blackhawks.

#2: Karl Alzner

Alzner, the fifth-overall pick in the 2007 draft, was a steady blueliner for the Washington Capitals. He established himself as a top defensive defenseman, keeping the opposition in check. So, the Habs signed Alzner to a five-year, $23.125 million deal in 2017.

While Alzner’s first year was decent, his performance fell off a cliff in 2018-19. He registered one assist in nine games. The following season, he only played four games. Alzner cleared waivers and was subsequently bought out in 2020.

The Habs finished paying Alzner’s contract until 2024, two years after it was originally set to expire.

#1: Scott Gomez

Gomez had several great seasons with the New York Rangers and New Jersey Devils before hitting free agency in 2009. So, the Habs pounced on an opportunity, trading for Gomez in 2009. In the return, the Habs sent Ryan McDonagh to the Rangers.

Now, here’s the catch: The Rangers had signed Gomez to a seven-year, $51 million deal in 2007. When he was traded, Gomez’s contract joined him in Montreal. The Habs were on the hook for the remaining $33.5 deal.

Gomez managed 12 goals and 59 points in his first season in Montreal. Then, his production evaporated. He registered seven goals and 38 points the next season and 11 points the following year. Gomez subsequently bounced around the league, failing to recapture his earlier success.