In the previous post, I took a look at the players who were the best bargains during the 2009-10 season. It’s important to note that the study only took into account points per dollar earned, so subjective factors like “hustle” as well as other important numbers (like time on ice) weren’t part of the experiment.
Of course, we can’t just be super-positive, right? To look at the other side of the equation, I decided to see which players were the worst values in the league. To try to limit the impact of injuries, I decided to make the minimum amount of games played 30. Here’s the bottom 10 values in the NHL according to those standards. (Source: Capgeek.com)
Again, I know that points aren’t everything, but it’s still an interesting exercise.
1. Donald Brashear - Rangers - $1.4 million per point (1 in 36 GP)
2. Mike Komisarek - Toronto - $1.125 million per point (4 in 34 GP)
3. Brendan Witt - NYI - $600k per point (5 in 42 GP)
4. Cory Sarich - Calgary - $600 K (6 in 57 GP)
5. David Koci - Colorado - $575 K (1 in 43 GP)
6. Brad May - Detroit - $500k (1 in 40 GP)
7. Wade Redden - Rangers - $464,286 (14 in 75 GP)
8. Sheldon Souray - Edmonton - $415,385 (13 in 37 GP)
9. Darcy Hordichuk - Vancouver - $387,500 (2 in 56 GP)
10. Jeff Finger - Toronto - $350k (10 in 39 GP)
Now, this list is flooded by defensemen (who naturally score less often than forwards) as well as goons/tough guys (who are their to throw knuckles, not pucks on the net). Still, it’s kind of funny that the Maple Leafs and Rangers feature two entries in the bottom 10.
To be fair to the blueliners, here’s a list of the bottom 5 forwards. I’m going to start the list after Brashear, Koci, May and Hordichuk, so maybe it’s more like the bottom 5-9.
5. Wade Belak - Nashville - $325K per point (2 in 39 GP)
6. Scott Walker - Washington - $312,500 (8 in 42 GP)
7. Fernando Pisani - Edmonton - $312,500 (8 in 40 GP)
8. Fredrik Modin - LA - $295,455 (11 in 44 GP)
9. Jay Pandolfo - NJ - $277,778 (9 in 52 GP)
The names that stand out the most are Pisani and Modin. Those two players don’t - or at least aren’t intended to - play as much of a checking role as the other forwards in the lower levels of value.
Other players who stand out as bad values include Chris Drury ($220,313 per point) and Jonathan Cheechoo ($214,286). When you consider expectations and overall salary, those two players are probably the worst values in the NHL. My vote goes to Drury, even if he seems like a solid human being and all.