NHL: Winnipeg Jets at Washington Capitals - Source: Imagn

5 worst contracts signed in Washington Capitals franchise history feat. Roman Hamrlik

Modified Jul 28, 2024 17:06 GMT

Every team, the Washington Capitals included, has had poor signings. Every time a team hands out a contract, there's a major risk it won't pan out. More often than not, big money tends to lead to disappointment. That's been true for the Caps, and here are a few notable examples.

5 worst signings in Capitals history

5) Chris Simon

Chris Simon had a short run with the Capitals (Imagn)

In the early 2000s, Chris Simon signed a two-year, $4.5 million deal, which was a lot more back then, with the Capitals. Simon scored 10 goals one season, adding 14 the following year and getting that raise.

In the 2002–2003 season, he recorded just two assists in 10 games before the team gave up and shipped him to the Chicago Blackhawks.

4) Jeff Schultz

Jeff Schultz didn't live up to the contract (Imagn)

Jeff Schultz signed a contract worth four years and $11 million in 2010 NHL free agency. The thing that made this a horrible signing was not the early portion of the contract but the latter.

He appeared in just over 50 games one year and then under 30 the next before he eventually left the team and signed with the Los Angeles Kings. The team signed him expecting big things, but he slowly appeared less and less before leaving and signing with a new team, which is not ideal for a high-profile signing.

3) Jaromir Jagr

The ill-fated signing of Jaromir Jagr is a dark day in Washington Capitals history. A seven-year, $77 million deal in 2001 aged so poorly. His performance immediately declined in goals and points scored and the team had to trade him to the New York Rangers.

Things overall went really badly, as the team sold a lot of players after that, and Jagr was chief among the mistakes they wanted to send elsewhere and try to recoup any of their losses.

2) Roman Hamrlik

Roman Hamrlik signed a two-year deal for $7 million in 2011. The contract didn't work out well for the Capitals. Despite a promising performance with two goals and 11 assists for a total of 13 points in 68 games the previous year, he was waived after just four games with only one assist the following year.

1) Michael Nylander

Michael Nylander's contract didn't end well (Imagn)

Michael Nylander signed a four-year contract worth $19.5 million in 2007. It was his second tenure with the team, but the results were not great. Nylander played well, but the organization imploded and was forced to cut ties with him at the following trade deadline.

This seems to be a trend with the Capitals, as they have often signed players to big contracts and been forced to move on quickly as the team totally imploded. It's not necessarily Nylander's fault, but his contract was far too big to stick with.