5 worst contracts signed in Ottawa Senators history feat. Bobby Ryan

By Nestor Quixtan

Modified Jul 21, 2024 01:46 GMT

The Ottawa Senators have enjoyed some very successful seasons, such as reaching the 2007 Stanley Cup Final. Unfortunately for Ottawa Senators fans, bad times have been more common than good ones. These bad times include some of the worst contracts ever in team history.

So, let’s look at the five worst contracts in Ottawa Senators’ history, focusing on big gambles that just didn’t pay off.

5 worst contracts signed in Ottawa Senators history

#5: Milan Michalek

Michalek was the main piece in the Dany Heatley deal for the Ottawa Senators. Michalek registered 57 points in 77 games with the San Jose Sharks in 2008-09. As such, the Sens were excited to get him, plus a second-round pick in the deal.

Michalek did well in Ottawa initially, registering 60 points in 2011-12. However, his production gradually declined to where he had a career-low 14 points in 23 games in 2012-13. Still, the Sens signed him to a three-year, $12 million contract.

Michalek’s poor performance continued, leading Ottawa to send him to Toronto as a cap dump in the Dion Phaneuf trade. The Maple Leafs buried Michalek in the AHL until his contract expired.

#4: Alexei Kovalev

Kovalev was one of the NHL’s best players in the 90s. He had a career-high 95 points in 2000-01 with the Pittsburgh Penguins. By 2009, Kovalev was coming off a 65-point season with the Montreal Canadiens. That was good enough for the Ottawa Senators to give him a two-year, $10 million contract.

Kovalev registered a disappointing 18 goals and 49 points in his first season. In the next campaign, Kovalev had 27 points in 54 games before the Sens sent him back to Pittsburgh for a seventh-round pick. He would play 20 games with the Pens, ending his career after 14 games with the Florida Panthers the following season.

#3: Craig Anderson

The story of Craig Anderson is one of good times and bad ones. Anderson is largely considered as the Ottawa Senators’ best goalie in team history. He backstopped the Sens for roughly a decade. Before that, he had been a workhorse for other clubs, such as the Colorado Avalanche, playing 71 games during the 2009-10 season.

So, the Senators brought Anderson in midway through the 2010-11 season to help the club make the playoffs. While Anderson had some good seasons with the Sens, the final deal in Ottawa was a regrettable one.

The Sens offered Anderson a two-year, $9.5 million guaranteed deal with a 10-team no-movement clause. The deal didn’t go too well, as Anderson did not live up to his past exploits. By 2019-2020, Anderson was mostly a backup, making nearly $5 million per season.

#2: Sergei Gonchar

Gonchar had been one of the league’s best defensemen for nearly two decades before landing in Ottawa. Gonchar was coming off a 50-point season in 2009-10 with the Pittsburgh Penguins. So, the Sens signed him to a three-year, $16.5 million deal.

While Gonchar didn’t play poorly in Ottawa, his sudden decline did not justify the $5.5 million AAV. Gonchar ran out his contract with the Sens with a low of 24 points in 45 games in 2012-13.

#1: Bobby Ryan

When the Senators signed Bobby Ryan, the club felt it was getting the 30-goal scorer from Anaheim. Ryan’s acquisition was meant to offset the loss of Daniel Alfredsson, who left the club in 2013.

After two unimpressive seasons in Ottawa, the Sens rewarded Ryan with a seven-year, $50.75 million deal in 2015. The deal quickly became an albatross as the $7.5 million player hit the 20-goal mark only once during the contract.

Ryan registered a career-low eight points in 24 games in 2019-20. He ended his playing time in Detroit the following season.