Drive-By Body Pierce Posted March 20, 2023 Share Posted March 20, 2023 (edited) Top 10 Overpaid Wingers in the NHL in 2022-23 In the third edition of the series going over the top 10 overpaid players at each position, we now look at the wingers. Last year’s list featured three players who are now retired and more on very cheap new deals. How will the players on this list turn out next season? We will find out, as this list will take into account cap hit, contract length, stats this season, and contribution to their team. 10. Jakob Silfverberg ($5.25 million AAV) The first player here is a familiar face as Jakob Silfverberg also appeared on this list in 2021-22, but this time in a different spot. The Anaheim Ducks have had horrible injury luck and a horrible season in general, leading to many regressions. This veteran winger is one of them. The 32-year-old is one year closer to the end of his deal at a cap hit of $5.25 million average annual value (AAV). Fortunately for the Ducks, they don’t have to worry about that as they are one of the very few teams with tons of cap space to spare and they aren’t in contention for anything except the first overall pick at the 2023 Draft. He is the second-highest-paid forward on the team and has scored 10 goals and 22 points in 67 games this season in a third-line role. 9. Josh Bailey ($5 million AAV) Josh Bailey‘s fall has been pretty hard this season as he has lost favour in New York with the coaching staff. He has logged the fewest minutes in a season since his 2011-12 campaign and his offensive production is way down. Based on the PDO stat that calculates luck based on the shooting percentage and save percentage of his team while he is on the ice, he is actually lucky. His numbers haven’t indicated that, as he has under a 49 percent Corsi rating at even strength and was demoted before his injury. Bailey has spent a lot of time in the bottom-six and he is one of the veterans the New York Islanders would likely want to move on from. Fortunately he is one of the only highly-paid forwards without any sort of no-trade or no-move clause, but still has one more year left at $5 million AAV. For scoring just eight goals and 25 points in 61 games, his contract isn’t good anymore. One upside to him is that he continues to play a very clean game and has just one minor penalty all year. 8. Anthony Mantha ($5.7 million AAV) The Washington Capitals continue to feel the effects of this lost trade that brought Anthony Mantha from the Detroit Red Wings a few years back. He was expected to be an effective top-six winger who can play physically and score, but continues to struggle offensively and is in dire need of a change in scenery. It’s no secret the Capitals have been trying to move him, and so far they haven’t been able to do so for a deal they like. Mantha has been a healthy scratch at times which isn’t a good sign for a 28-year-old who was nearly a point-per-game player in 2019-20 and someone who is eating up $5.7 million AAV in cap space. He still has one more year before becoming an unrestricted free agent (UFA) and part of his lack of production is why the Capitals are on the outside of the playoffs looking in this season. The 6-foot-5 forward is playing 14:17 per game and has just 10 goals and 26 points in 61 games. 7. James van Riemsdyk ($7 million AAV) Known as one of the most consistent goalscorers that would always provide his team with 20-plus goals, James van Riemsdyk‘s offence has somewhat dropped off this season under a new head coach. Since John Tortorella preaches hard defensive hockey, we should have seen this coming. But van Riemsdyk also hasn’t played all of the games to this point. He and the Philadelphia Flyers have not been very productive at all on the power play which has hurt van Riemsdyk’s numbers as well. In four of the past five seasons, he’s had at least eight power-play goals. This season he has just two. The $7 million player is in the final year of his contract and is going to become a UFA at age 33. He has 10 goals and 25 points in 47 games, and with better linemates on a better team could still produce at a higher rate. But since he is a middle-six winger at best and isn’t doing what he’s known for this season, he makes this list in a similar spot to last year’s. 6. Andreas Johnsson ($3.4 million AAV) Andreas Johnsson is a new addition to this list because he isn’t paid a whole lot in comparison to most of the overpaid players. Someone being paid under $4 million AAV really has to be ineffective or play poorly to get on here and he has done just that. The New Jersey Devils were so unimpressed by how he performed in training camp that he was waived and spent all but two games in the American Hockey League (AHL). In the two games he played with the Devils, he averaged under five minutes of ice time. The 28-year-old was thrown into the Timo Meier trade with the San Jose Sharks and is actually getting playing time with the lack of bodies they have. In nine games with the Sharks, he has three assists. Seeing as he was outplayed by so many on the Devils for most of the season while being paid a middle-six winger’s salary, he had to be among these players as that’s a waste of $3.4 million. His contract is up at the end of this season, so maybe Johnsson will be able to get a prove-it deal with someone in the offseason. 5. Jakub Voracek ($8.25 million AAV) There’s not much to go on this season for Jakub Voracek, but in any case, he’s not worth $8.25 million AAV. He didn’t make the list last year, but that was due to his health and contributions offensively. The Columbus Blue Jackets are a complete mess this season due to injuries, and Voracek’s didn’t help the cause. The veteran has never been known for scoring a ton of goals, but he could at least chip in a decent amount in the past. Between 2012 and 2019 he hit the 20-goal mark in a season six times. Over the last 143 games he has just 16 goals, one coming in 11 games this season. Though Voracek is still able to pass the puck and assisted on five goals, his ice time was down by a minute and a half from last season and he needs to be playing near a point per game to not be considered on a bad contract, especially at his age. He also has one more year left on his deal. 4. Patric Hornqvist ($5.3 million AAV) The Florida Panthers have had a tough season and it is because of contracts like Patric Hornqvist’s. He is a fourth-liner at best and is being paid far too much to not be chipping in at all offensively or defensively. Though his PDO is very low and he has been very unlucky in that regard, the veteran has scored just one goal and three points in 22 games this season. Hornqvist and his massive contract handcuffed the Panthers this season. He has logged over 10 minutes of ice time in just eight of his 22 games this season and is averaging just over nine minutes per game. He’s hardly a power-play contributor anymore and doesn’t kill penalties. The good news for the Panthers is that he is a UFA at the end of the season and has been on the injured reserve for a while now. 3. Brendan Gallagher ($6.5 million AAV) Brandan Gallagher once again makes this list as he has regressed even further from his poor 2021-22 season. His contributions offensively when he was in the lineup were abysmal and it appears as though he has changed his game up this season. The 30-year-old has played a much less physical game in the 25 games he’s suited up for as opposed to every other season of his career. He has four goals, five assists, and just 11 hits. But what really makes this contract so bad is that he still has four more years left at $6.5 million and it only looks like things are getting worse. He can’t stay healthy which is impacting the style of play that has made him effective in the past. He is a third-liner at best and will only create a barrier the Montreal Canadiens have to jump over as they continue their rebuild. 2. Zack Kassian ($3.2 million AAV) The Edmonton Oilers dodged a massive bullet here despite using draft picks to move Zack Kassian. The tough guy has been nearly completely ineffective this season with just two goals in 50 games and far fewer hits than he should be delivering in the role that he plays. He plays no special teams and also logs fewer than 10 minutes of ice time on one of the worst and most inexperienced teams in Arizona this season. Kassian has an abysmal 38.5 Corsi percentage this season at even strength and is a minus-18 despite playing so few minutes. Even though he only has a cap hit of $3.2 million AAV for this season and next, nearly any player would be more effective than him this season from the NHL or AHL. 1. Milan Lucic ($6 million AAV) You knew this was coming and had to be waiting for just how high Milan Lucic was going to be on this list. When you think of overpaid players in the NHL, not only wingers, his name comes up at the forefront of the conversation every time. The era of the big, slow, tough guy is over. He can’t keep up because his foot speed is so slow and even though fighting is still a key part of the game, players on league-minimum contracts can fulfill that role. An added bonus to Lucic making about $5 million more than he should per season is that he had a full no-trade/no-move clause up until last year where he had to pick eight teams he could be traded to and 10 teams he could be traded to this season. The 34-year-old has been a healthy scratch at times this season, has logged the fewest minutes per game in a season in his entire 16-year career, and has just five goals and 11 points in 66 games. https://thehockeywriters.com/top-10-overpaid-nhl-wingers-2022-23/ Edited March 21, 2023 by Drive-By Body Pierce 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spitfire_Spiky Posted March 20, 2023 Share Posted March 20, 2023 I guess call it a win for management since we have none of the players on the list. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Strawbone Posted March 20, 2023 Share Posted March 20, 2023 No Canucks on that list. Yet another stat where we are not top-10 in the league! 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DrJockitch Posted March 20, 2023 Share Posted March 20, 2023 2 minutes ago, Strawbone said: No Canucks on that list. Yet another stat where we are not top-10 in the league! Throw up the list of overpaid D and we are champs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bell Posted March 20, 2023 Share Posted March 20, 2023 Watching Kassian play the other night was eye opening. Zack really has lost it and is no longer a legit NHL player 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhillipBlunt Posted March 20, 2023 Share Posted March 20, 2023 Once the hockey writers compile their list of top ten overpaid defensemen, Canucks ears be like.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nuckin_futz Posted March 20, 2023 Share Posted March 20, 2023 24 minutes ago, DrJockitch said: Throw up the list of overpaid D and we are champs. The key words being "throw up". 1 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IBatch Posted March 20, 2023 Share Posted March 20, 2023 11 Garland, 12 Brock, 13, Kuzmenko - because you know next contract he will want 50 million x 8. 1 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MeanSeanBean Posted March 20, 2023 Share Posted March 20, 2023 2 hours ago, IBatch said: 11 Garland, 12 Brock, 13, Kuzmenko - because you know next contract he will want 50 million x 8. Kuzmenko comment is pretty silly. I'd reckon this year he is the best value contract in the entire league. If he keeps pace next year (which I doubt) he'd still be a very high value contract. Even if his pace dips 20% next year he'd still be a good value contract. 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IBatch Posted March 20, 2023 Share Posted March 20, 2023 31 minutes ago, MeanSeanBean said: Kuzmenko comment is pretty silly. I'd reckon this year he is the best value contract in the entire league. If he keeps pace next year (which I doubt) he'd still be a very high value contract. Even if his pace dips 20% next year he'd still be a good value contract. It was meant to be silly. Point is exactly this - Garlands a meh level contract. Not great not terrible - last year was good value. Brocks - well he's close to the top but not as bad as others. Kuzemnko for me is core right now. And right now he's for sure one of the best contracts in the league. Next year both Miller and Kuzmo start to get paid closer to what they are worth. Just was happy not to see Garland or Brock's name. The way some folks are complaining about it you'd think they'd be near the top! 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MeanSeanBean Posted March 20, 2023 Share Posted March 20, 2023 Just now, IBatch said: It was meant to be silly. Point is exactly this - Garlands a meh level contract. Not great not terrible - last year was good value. Brocks - well he's close to the top but not as bad as others. Kuzemnko for me is core right now. And right now he's for sure one of the best contracts in the league. Next year both Miller and Kuzmo start to get paid closer to what they are worth. Just was happy not to see Garland or Brock's name. The way some folks are complaining about it you'd think they'd be near the top! Silly goose! I wasn't sure if that's the point you were trying to make or not. I'm in the same boat as you, I don't see Garland or Boeser as bad contracts. They aren't good contracts by any means, but I think they are both pretty neutral even this year when they are both on a down swing. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spook007 Posted March 20, 2023 Share Posted March 20, 2023 4 hours ago, DrJockitch said: Throw up the list of overpaid D and we are champs. I wanna be unhappy.... 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grandmaster Posted March 20, 2023 Share Posted March 20, 2023 I would have thought Brock would be on that list but I guess we are our own worst critics 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grandmaster Posted March 21, 2023 Share Posted March 21, 2023 34 minutes ago, 6of1_halfdozenofother said: I dunno, he's on pace to play the most games he's ever played in a season, scoring approximately the same number of points as his best season in his career ('18/19), eclipsing last year's points output (which he's already matched) while earning slightly less than he did last season (when he played the most games in a season so far in his career). I'd say that in comparison, those on the list have somewhat worse output for the salaries they're earning. Especially that knuckledragger in Cowdungtown. He has only 13 goals on the season. Dakota freaking Joshua has 9 goals on the 4th line. He doesn’t drive the play and now has a brutal shot. He was supposed to be a goal scorer. His point production is not indicative of great play. The eye test would tell you that his assist were mostly related to meaningless and not game changing goals. Brock is also a brutal -19 worst on the team. Sorry but I’m so done with this guy. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cup_Joneser Posted March 21, 2023 Share Posted March 21, 2023 I came in here expecting to see Boeser skinner and marner, but the list is good. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cup_Joneser Posted March 21, 2023 Share Posted March 21, 2023 (edited) 22 minutes ago, grandmaster said: He has only 13 goals on the season. Dakota freaking Joshua has 9 goals on the 4th line. He doesn’t drive the play and now has a brutal shot. He was supposed to be a goal scorer. His point production is not indicative of great play. The eye test would tell you that his assist were mostly related to meaningless and not game changing goals. Brock is also a brutal -19 worst on the team. Sorry but I’m so done with this guy. his play is scaring me this season, it has been slightly better as of late but for the amount of flack we got for trading for AB, i find that AB is out playing him. he has two plays when rushing up the ice. Try to beat the D on the outside, fail, quickly turn around and pass. and dump the puck. a top 6 forward making that type of money should do better. He can stick handle but he is usually too slow and not agile enough to beat most defenders. He is also not confident with his shot at all, everyone knows he is going to pass first. And his actual shot is not dangerous anymore, I honestly cant remember the last time he cleanly beat a goaltender with his wrister. He is just a little too slow to be a good defender, so when he turns over the puck you just know the other team is going to have a scoring chance the other way. Edited March 21, 2023 by Cup_Joneser Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Canucks Curse Posted March 21, 2023 Share Posted March 21, 2023 but when its comes to overpaid d men, we have the top pair... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J.I.A.H.N Posted March 21, 2023 Share Posted March 21, 2023 2 hours ago, grandmaster said: He has only 13 goals on the season. Dakota freaking Joshua has 9 goals on the 4th line. He doesn’t drive the play and now has a brutal shot. He was supposed to be a goal scorer. His point production is not indicative of great play. The eye test would tell you that his assist were mostly related to meaningless and not game changing goals. Brock is also a brutal -19 worst on the team. Sorry but I’m so done with this guy. Give me 30 wingers that have 4 point games this year. hell, give me 20! The trouble is people get fixated on dumping on a guy when he is down, and then never let up. If I remember right he has a goal and 2 posts in the last 3 games............i wonder how many close chances Podkolzin has in the same time I think people get really confused between production and actual play, when compared to salary. IMO, since Tocchet has arrived, I think Boeser has played well. Just MHO 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Westcoasting Posted March 21, 2023 Share Posted March 21, 2023 22 hours ago, Bell said: Watching Kassian play the other night was eye opening. Zack really has lost it and is no longer a legit NHL player I thought the same thing, I was shocked! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DS4quality Posted March 21, 2023 Share Posted March 21, 2023 Surprised Travis Green didn't make the list Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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