Bolts by the Bay
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Five worst Tampa Bay Lightning contracts of the Salary Cap Era

By Benjamin Henderson

Jan 19, 2017; San Jose, CA, USA; Tampa Bay Lightning center Valtteri Filppula (51) looks to pass against the San Jose Sharks in the third period at SAP Center at San Jose. The Sharks won 2-1. Mandatory Credit: John Hefti-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 19, 2017; San Jose, CA, USA; Tampa Bay Lightning center Valtteri Filppula (51) looks to pass against the San Jose Sharks in the third period at SAP Center at San Jose. The Sharks won 2-1. Mandatory Credit: John Hefti-USA TODAY Sports /
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TAMPA, FL – MAY 6: Tyler Johnson #9 of the Tampa Bay Lightning celebrates his goal against the Montreal Canadiens in Game Three of the Eastern Conference Semifinals during the 2015 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Amalie Arena on May 6, 2015 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Mike Carlson/Getty Images)
TAMPA, FL – MAY 6: Tyler Johnson #9 of the Tampa Bay Lightning celebrates his goal against the Montreal Canadiens in Game Three of the Eastern Conference Semifinals during the 2015 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Amalie Arena on May 6, 2015 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Mike Carlson/Getty Images) /

Tampa Bay Lightning Worst Contracts Tyler Johnson

  • Seven years for $35 million in 2017

It feels wrong putting Johnson on this list, considering what he meant during the revitalization of the Tampa Bay Lightning.

Johnson’s 2015 playoff run scored 13 goals and 10 assists and there is a good chance Tampa wins the Cup that year if he hadn’t had his wrist broken during the Finals.

Despite his 2015-16 campaign that saw his regular season point total drop to 38 points, he still put up 17 points during the playoffs.

He was rewarded with a seven-year contract at $5,000,000 per year.

The problem is he never put up more than 50 points in a season after signing the deal and, for the most part, was relegated to being a bottom-six forward.

Even 2018-19, when he scored 29 goals, was more a by-product of playing alongside Kucherov and Point.

By 2021, Tampa tried to release Johnson and placed him on waivers. There were no takers at the time, and Johnson was able to stick around thanks to Kucherov’s injury and win a second Stanley Cup.

He was finally shipped off to Chicago with three years left on his deal.

Johnson wasn’t a bad player for Tampa after he signed his extension, he just wasn’t worth the money they committed,

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