New York Islanders: Top 5 Worst Contracts Currently

Number 1: Andrew Ladd ($5.5 million AAV) five years remaining

Could there be any other answer? This one was Garth Snow’s magnum opus of awful deals. On July 1, 2016 after losing Matt Martin, Kyle Okposo and Frans Nielsen for nothing, Garth Snow pulled the trigger on Andrew Ladd.

Ladd was signed to a seven-year $38.5 million deal. He was brought in to play alongside with John Tavares on the top line. That lasted all of 12 seconds before he was quickly demoted off the top line.

Ladd finished his first year with the club with 31 points (23 goals, 8 assists). He followed up that underwhelming performance with an even worse one. Last season he had 29 points (12 goals, 17 assists) playing in 73 games.

This year, now in year three of this contract from hell, Ladd is injured once again. Sure in the 14 games he’s played he has been productive with seven points but he’s not on the ice and will likely finish in the 35 point range again this year.

No way is that anywhere close to what he should be producing. Ladd has two years of a NTC before it moves to a Modified NTC where there is a 15 team trade list he can submit. By age 34 is anyone going to want a $5.5 million Andrew Ladd?

Absolutely not.

So yes, the Islanders have some pretty awful contracts clearly and it’s certainly hindering their ability to call up prospects and to improve the roster in other areas. For now, they’re stuck just like this. God, I’m thankful I don’t have Lou Lamoriello’s job.