Calgary Flames: A Tale of the NHL’s Best and Worst Contracts

On July 23, The Athletic unveiled its updated rankings of the NHL’s top and bottom contracts, and the Calgary Flames found themselves in a perplexing position. While their Jonathan Huberdeau deal was highlighted among the worst, the organization also secured a spot on the best contracts list with rookie goaltender Dustin Wolf.

As a team in the midst of a rebuild and with promising NHL Draft Lottery odds, it may seem counterintuitive for the Flames to have a contract of Huberdeau’s magnitude weighing them down. His $10.5 million salary complicates the fiscal landscape at the Saddledome, particularly as the franchise aims to embrace a younger and more cost-effective roster.

However, the overshadowing narrative of Huberdeau’s burdensome contract detracts from the excitement surrounding Wolf, who is locked in on a relatively affordable deal through the next decade. If Wolf manages to capture a Vezina Trophy before his contract expires in 2033, the Flames may just have pulled off one of the most shrewd moves in recent memory with his $7.5 million salary.

Huberdeau’s contract, which spans eight years and totals $84 million, has ranked as the league’s worst for three consecutive years. After a remarkable 115-point season in 2021-22, Huberdeau was traded to Calgary and subsequently signed to a blockbuster deal. However, his production has sharply declined, with only 15 goals and 55 points in his first season, followed by an even more disappointing 12 goals and 52 points in 2023-24, coupled with a team-worst minus-29 rating.

Although Huberdeau rebounded slightly with 28 goals and 62 points in the 2024-25 season, injuries limited him to just 50 games last year, where he managed 10 goals and 25 points. By the 2026-27 season, his contract will account for 10.1% of the Flames’ salary cap, and as he approaches 33, many question whether his best years are behind him. A recent hip surgery may offer him a chance to regain his form and develop chemistry with the team’s young core, but Calgary’s struggles over the past few seasons have made it difficult to envision a turnaround.

Given his substantial salary, expectations for Huberdeau remain high. However, with his unflattering statistics, trading him for a fresh start seems increasingly unlikely. On the other hand, rookie goaltender Wolf is poised to begin his new contract extension, which will pay him $7.5 million over the next seven years. As the Flames’ undisputed number one goalie, the team’s success will largely hinge on his performance.

Last season marked Wolf’s first losing campaign, as he posted a 23-29-3 record while the Flames secured the fourth-best draft lottery odds. Yet, during the 2024-25 season, he showcased his potential with a strong performance, going 29-16-8 and keeping Calgary in the playoff conversation until the final weeks.

Calgary has a rich history of great goaltending, but Wolf’s arrival has sparked a renewed excitement among fans reminiscent of Miikka Kiprusoff’s early 2000s tenure. The Flames’ trajectory rests on the shoulders of this young talent as they navigate the complexities of rebuilding.

What are your thoughts on The Athletic’s evaluations of the league’s best and worst contracts? Do you believe the assessments of Huberdeau and Wolf resonate with the current state of the Flames? Share your opinions in the comments.

Note: This recap is an independently written summary based on publicly available reporting.