Several contracts for physical or less proven players, such as Trent Frederic and Tanner Jeannot, are considered excessive or poorly timed given their recent performance levels.

Long-term deals for players like Sam Bennett, with playoff success but questions about long-term value, are generating debate over their financial wisdom.

Contracts for aging defensemen like Brian Dumoulin are viewed as questionable investments, especially given team-specific defensive needs.

Recent NHL contracts have come under scrutiny for overpaying players who have not demonstrated the expected top-tier defensive capabilities, resulting in significant negative surplus values.

Veteran players like Brad Marchand and others are signing long-term deals at an advanced age, raising concerns about longevity and value over time.

High-value contracts for players like Ivan Provorov and Alexander Romanov are seen as overpays, with projections indicating substantial negative surplus values due to underperformance.

Injury history and recent dips in performance have cast doubt on the value of deals like Ryan Lindgren's four-year, $18.5 million contract.

Brady Skjei's six-year, $7 million deal is viewed negatively due to poor recent performance, resulting in a large projected surplus loss.

A ranking of the worst NHL free-agent signings of 2025 highlights ten deals that are considered poor investments, reflecting a trend of overpayment and underperformance.

Jonathan Huberdeau's six-year, $10.5 million contract is expected to generate a -$32 million surplus value, illustrating the risks of high salaries following team changes.

The Boston Bruins' signing of Tanner Jeannot for five years has been criticized for its length and the player's inability to replicate earlier goal-scoring success.

Jake Allen's five-year, $9 million contract has been criticized for its length, especially for a 34-year-old backup goalie.

Cody Ceci's four-year, $18 million deal is seen as puzzling given recent postseason struggles and inconsistent defensive play.

Chandler Stephenson's six-year, $6.3 million contract is projected to have a -$29 million surplus value, with concerns about inflated production on a struggling team.

Alexander Romanov's eight-year, $50 million deal is viewed as a high price for a player whose offensive and overall value may not justify the salary.

Contracts for Cody Ceci and Tanner Jeannot are underperforming relative to their salaries, with significant negative surplus values indicating poor investment decisions.

Injuries and diminished offensive output have reduced the perceived value of Sean Couturier's five-year, $7.8 million deal, leading to a -$17 million surplus projection.