Trent Frederic and Jake Walman appear on NHL's worst contracts list
Yahoo Sports • 1 min read • Latest: Jul 23, 2026, 6:35 PM
Last updated Jul 23, 2026
Two players from the Edmonton Oilers, Trent Frederic and Jake Walman, have been ranked among the ten worst NHL contracts for the upcoming season. This evaluation, conducted by Dom Luszczyszyn of The Athletic, highlights concerns over their declining performance and hefty contracts. Frederic's seven-year deal worth $30.8 million is criticized for poor production, while Walman's recent seven-year, $49 million extension is noted for inconsistency. The Oilers currently have over $4.7 million in cap space as they aim for success in the upcoming season despite these contract challenges.
- •Frederic ranked 6th among NHL's worst contracts with negative surplus value.
- •Walman placed 7th, facing scrutiny for inconsistent performance.
- •Oilers projected to have $4.7 million in cap space entering the season.
- •Concerns arise over long-term implications of both contracts for team competitiveness.
- •Frederic and Walman need to improve performance to justify their contracts.
- 6:35 PMYahoo Sports — ‘Tough Sell’ — 2 Oilers Players Land on 10 Worst NHL Contracts List
"Building a Stanley Cup contender requires more than elite talent. Every long-term contract has to justify its place on the salary cap, especially when a franchise is investing heavily in a championship window.
Sources
External linksOriginal reporting and copyright belong to the linked sources. SportsNewsReport.com aggregates and links — it does not republish full articles.
Related Stories
Last 14 days- NHL•Jul 28, 2026, 1:13 PMConnor McDavid’s No. 3 ranking sparks outrage among NHL fans
- NHL•Jul 28, 2026, 12:54 AMConnor McDavid Didn’t Hold Back When Asked About Maple Leafs’ Gavin McKenna
- NHL•Jul 27, 2026, 6:47 PMConnor McDavid gives honest take on Maple Leafs No. 1 pick Gavin McKenna
- Hockey•Jul 27, 2026, 6:10 PMConnor McDavid calls Mike Babcock hire ‘great opportunity’ for Oilers
- NHL•Jul 27, 2026, 1:00 PMThis Penguins Prospect Has Major Breakout Potential
- NHL•Jul 27, 2026, 12:00 PMWerkly Cupcakes: Jack Johnson named associate head coach at Ohio State women’s hockey program
