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Top 3 Worst contracts for Edmonton Oilers since 2006

By Almar Reyes

MONTREAL, QC - DECEMBER 09: Milan Lucic #27 of the Edmonton Oilers screens goaltender Antti Niemi #37 of the Montreal Canadiens during the NHL game at the Bell Centre on December 9, 2017 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The Edmonton Oilers defeated the Montreal Canadiens 6-2. (Photo by Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images)
MONTREAL, QC - DECEMBER 09: Milan Lucic #27 of the Edmonton Oilers screens goaltender Antti Niemi #37 of the Montreal Canadiens during the NHL game at the Bell Centre on December 9, 2017 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The Edmonton Oilers defeated the Montreal Canadiens 6-2. (Photo by Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images) /
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VANCOUVER, CANADA – JANUARY 07: Dustin Penner #27 of the Edmonton Oilers skates with the puck during NHL action against the Vancouver Canucks on January 07, 2011 at Rogers Arena in Vancouver, BC, Canada. (Photo by Rich Lam/Getty Images)
VANCOUVER, CANADA – JANUARY 07: Dustin Penner #27 of the Edmonton Oilers skates with the puck during NHL action against the Vancouver Canucks on January 07, 2011 at Rogers Arena in Vancouver, BC, Canada. (Photo by Rich Lam/Getty Images) /

LW Dustin Penner

An unpopular signing by the Edmonton Oilers, Dustin Penner was offered by then general manager Kevin Lowe to an offer sheet as a restricted free agent. Fresh from a Stanley Cup win with the Anaheim Ducks, Penner was offered, a five-year $21.25 million contract by the Oilers.  This offer was heavily criticized by the media and got the ire of then Ducks’ GM Brian Burke as this ploy has not been normally done by teams.

Eventually, the Ducks were unwilling to match the Oilers’ offer, and Penner became an Oiler. In his first year as an Oiler, Penner performed admirably as he was able to score 23 goals and 47 points. The following season, Dustin Penner had a slow start and was criticized by head coach Craig McTavish who had Penner sitting at the sideline as a healthy scratch. During the 2009 offseason, Penner was part of the blockbuster trade that would have sent him, Andrew Cogliano, and Ladislav Smid to the Ottawa Senators in exchange for star forward, Dany Heatley. However, Heatley exercised his no-trade clause which squashed the trade deal.

It was a roller coaster ride for Dustin Penner and Edmonton throughout his contract.  In the 2009-2010 season, although Penner was able to record career highs with 32 goals and 63 points, he was not able to help the team reach the playoffs as the Edmonton Oilers finished dead last in the league.

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