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5 worst contracts signed in Nashville Predators history feat. Matthew Lombardi

Modified Jul 24, 2024 18:21 GMT

This offseason, the Nashville Predators front office has gone to work bolstering the team's roster for the season ahead. After a first-round exit from the Stanley Cup playoffs, there were several areas that the team needed to address. Namely, the team needed to fill the hole left in their defense by Ryan McDonagh's departure while also figuring out their netminding situation in the long term.

The front office responded by acquiring defenceman Brady Skjei and signing Juuse Saros on an eight-year deal. In addition, they also acquired Steven Stamkos and Jonathan Marchessault, putting the team in a good position for the season ahead.

Despite that, not every contract in recent years has been good. Like any other team, the Predators' front office has made questionable decisions in years past.

Five worst contracts signed in Nashville Predators history

#5. Francis Bouillon

After returning to Nashville for the 2009-10 season, the Predators offered Francis Bouillon a two-year deal worth $2.7 million. The defenceman played just 44 games during the first year of his deal, logging just 10 points. The following year, he had 11 points in 66 games.

While the deal didn't break the bank for Nashville, Bouillon's lack of production was a major source of frustration for fans, with many of the mindset that the money would have been better spent elsewhere.

#4. Shea Weber

Shea Weber's massive 14-year deal worth $110 million was an absolute nightmare for the Predators. While the franchise was left with an ultimatum, either match Weber's offer or let him walk, the decision to sign him to a 14-year deal hasn't aged well.

Weber signed the contract heading into the 2012-13 season, playing just four years with the Predators before landing with the Montreal Canadiens. The Nashville Predators were able to get his contract off the books. If they hadn't, this contract could have been the worst in franchise history.

#3. Viktor Stalberg

Viktor Stalberg's four-year, $12 million contract with the Nashville Predators was a tough pill for many fans to swallow. At the time of the contract in 2013, Stalberg was fresh off a stint with the Chicago Blackhawks that saw him log 23 points in 47 games.

His first season with the Predators was nothing like his play in Chicago, with the forward logging just 18 points in 70 games. The following season, he played just 25 games for the Predators before landing in the AHL and being bought out by Nashville.

#2. Matt Duchene

Matt Duchene's seven-year contract worth $56 million didn't yield the results the team hoped for. While he was serviceable and averaged over a point per game during the 2021-22 season, the Predators repeatedly failed to live up to expectations.

While some of the blame was placed on the front office for failing to surround Duchene with better players, after a 56-point season in the 2022-23 season, the team wound up buying out the remaining three years of his contract last summer, clearing up a significant amount of cap space.

#1. Matthew Lombardi

Matthew Lombardi's time with the Nashville Predators was derailed by a neck injury that saw him play just two games for the franchise during the 2010-11 season.

At the time of his three-year, $10.5 million deal, there was plenty of optimism. However, the team traded him to Toronto, leading up to the 2011-12 season. Given that he suited up for the team just twice, it's hard to understate just how big of a disappointment this deal was for the Predators.