The Montreal Canadiens are all in on new acquisition Josh Anderson. While the Columbus Blue Jackets signed trade counterpart Max Domi for two years at a $5.3MM AAV, the Habs have inked Anderson to a whopping seven-year contract at a $5.5MM AAV. Montreal has announced a $38.5MM pact that will keep the newest addition under contract through the 2026-27 season.
The structure of Anderson’s contract is unique. There are no signing bonuses woven into the deal, with every cent being paid out in salary. However, the salary deviates significantly, to the league maximum in fact, with low salaries in the beginning and end of the deal to help the Canadiens with the current financial crisis as well as with a potential buyout down the road. The exact payout structure is as follows, according to TSN’s Darren Dreger:
Year 1: $4MM
Year 2: $4MMM
Year 3: $7MM
Year 4: $8MM
Year 5: $7MM
Year 6: $5MM
Year 7: $3.5MM
The contract also carries some limited trade protection, per CapFriendly. In years two to four of the deal, Anderson has an eight-team no-trade list. In years five to seven, that protection shrinks to just a five-team no-trade list. It is notable that Anderson does not possess trade protection in his first year, so if things go south right away the Canadiens could move the winger to any interested team.
While any long-term deal carries some risk, this is an especially precarious pact. Anderson played just 26 games this past season with Columbus, missing much of the season due to injury. While there are no concerns remaining in regard to that injury, his durability will be in question until he can prove that his injury issues are behind him. Perhaps even more concerning is his play when he was on the ice for the Blue Jackets; Anderson recorded just four points and his shooting percentage came in under 2%. Of course, the season prior Anderson did total a career-high 27 goals and 47 points. However, it was his only season with over 20 goals or 30 points in his six-year NHL career. At $5.5MM annually, Montreal is expecting at least 20+ goals and 40+ points in each of the next seven years. They are hoping that 2018-19 Anderson is the real Anderson; if it’s not the team could be in trouble.
With all that said, Canadiens fans should take at least some solace in the fact that the team is so comfortable with their acquisition of Anderson that they were willing to hand out a massive long-term deal before he even donned their jersey. If anything, this contract shows that Montreal is going to give Anderson a major role and expects the big winger to be a core piece for years to come.
This is one of the worst contracts I have ever seen.
The guy scored one goal and was a shell of himself, so sign him for 7 years at big money, I guess.
I still think Anderson can turn it around, but…evidently Bergevin is WAY WAY WAY WAY WAY more optimistic about that than me.
Look at his stats, before the injury he was really good. I’d bet his shoulder had been bothering him from the beginning of the year, and he tried to play through it, but ended up making it worse. So, while I don’t agree with the contract at all, I think we need to wait and see if he bounces back before we call it the worst ever. If he can do that, the contract will be good, if he can’t… then Montreal will either have another buyout on its books, or will have to suffer.
With the physical style Anderson plays with this contract won’t turn out well. Michael Ferland is a recent example. Physical wingers don’t age well.
The problem with that logic is he peaked at 47 points and then fell off. Even at his best, he is not worth 7 years. Domi who is better just signed a much more resonable contract and the Habs tossed in a pick. Makes zero sense.
He was injured. That’s why is production fell off. Again, I’m not saying I agree with the contract, but I’m just pointing out that if he hadn’t been injured I think he would’ve done better. As I said, I bet his shoulder had been bothering him since the beginning of the season. So, I think my logic is spot on.
The thing is, he’s always injured though. When he’s been healthy, he’s been a capable player at times, but he’s almost never been healthy.
The point is that HEALTHY Anderson isn’t worth that, let alone Anderson with major durability issues.
For a guy that scored 1 goal last year
Oh my!
I guess the Habs aren’t signing Taylor Hall
Wow, just wow! Montreal must think the cap is going up 40% next year, not staying flat!
I’m shocked.
Oof. This is just plain ugly. Doesn’t he have an injury history as well? But 1 goal last year translates to this? Over under is 5 for number of years until bought out
How do you trade for a guy with 1 goal and 3 assists and give him $5+ mil per for 7 years? Why not just keep Domi and sign him for 2?
This is eye watering… what are they thinking? He’s coming back from major shoulder surgery and had 1 goal and 4 points total.
Though, my bet is that the Habs know he is young (26) and hope he can bounce back from this, as his past threeseasons were quite productive before his posterior labral tear in his left shoulder. But even so, give him a 2 year prove it deal BEFORE you sign him to the big ticket… and even then, make the big ticket 4-5 instead of 7 damn years!
Tobias Rieder is gonna get paid this offseason.
If Montreal wakes up tomorrow and realizes how awful this contract is they would still owe him 25.7 million in a buyout. That’s insane for him!
Imagine giving a SEVEN YEAR extension to a player who had a 1.6% shot percentage.
Is this being ironic or are you legit this dumb.
@SuperSinker – I think you meant “sarcastic”, and I believe @Elite-Finnish was. The only thing missing was “WTF!”
The *real* reason Anderson got this deal: Rick DiPietro wasn’t available!
Best comment on the board.Well done
My God Bergevin is such a Moron!!! Guaranteed he will be bought out within 3 years.
Beregevon is so bad at this
Well hab’s got there man for sure. He Better pan out.That is insane $.Marc I think you have lost your mind yet again.
Does Bergevin think he just signed Freddy Andersen?
The way he has run Habland my guess would be yes for sure
bad GM of the week award goes to…
Bergevin and Mkie Milbury. Who is the worst GM? At least the Sen’s had a great first round of the draft.
Give Eugene Melnyk some time he will and repeat move some of those picks for a bad contract , and he will join Milbury and Bergevin on that list.
Dubas, yzerman,Sweeney,fletcher and and Blake can be added to that list will never win the way they build teams
Stevie Y build the bolts. Cliff is wearing a ring as well.The others you are right.
Yzerman couldn’t build it right brisebois did it right! Not cliff fletcher
Cliff won a ring as GM of the flames. That before your time?
Anderson’s agent: we want $5m per for 5 years.
Bergevin: YOU’RE CRAZY! $5.5m per for 8 years take it or leave it.
Sooo Lucic 3.0
So what if he comes back healthy and scores 30 and gets 65 to 70 pts. The next 5 to 7 yrs then is it bad everyone is looking at his injury last year and how much Domi got and Domi’s totals… Give the the guy a chance… And by the way I don’t give a S**t either way if the Habs succeed or falter…Domi could go way down under Torts in CBJ…. What Then…..
This is a very good signin by the Habs, you can’t find players like this he will open up the ice a lot for his line mates
He will open ice. He can be a physical player. He will fight from time to time.CAN HE stay healthy? That $ will bite you sooner or later.He might score 40 points for you.Now be silly sundin
All I know is my leafs just way overpaid for Brodie, I would have loved if Te leafs had gotten Anderson his contract could be a huge steal
You do need d men big time. Wonder what is next for you d man wise.