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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BOSTON, MA – MAY 17: Mark Recchi #28 of the Boston Bruins checks Mattias Ohlund #5 of the Tampa Bay Lightning in the third period of Game Two of the Eastern Conference Finals during the 2011 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at TD Garden on May 17, 2011 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
BOSTON, MA – MAY 17: Mark Recchi #28 of the Boston Bruins checks Mattias Ohlund #5 of the Tampa Bay Lightning in the third period of Game Two of the Eastern Conference Finals during the 2011 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at TD Garden on May 17, 2011 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /

Tampa Bay Lightning Worst Contracts: Mattias Öhlund

  • Seven years for $24.5 million in 2009

You knew this had to be number one.

Mattias Öhlund was a solid defenseman for eleven seasons with Vancouver before he signed a seven-year deal with the Lightning in 2009 at 33 years old.

Ohlund played two years for Tampa and had ho-hum campaigns, though he did play a role during the 2011 playoff run. But even by the end of 2011, with five years left on his deal, it was evident his speed was a massive liability on the ice.

He underwent knee surgery that offseason and was never seen again on the ice.

The problem is that his contract had salary cap implications for the Tampa Bay Lightning it couldn’t escape until after 2016.

Forget retrospect; even in foresight, signing a 33 year-old defenseman to a seven-year contract seemed like a terrible idea.

There is a reason Brian Lawton only made it 18 months as the Lightning GM.

Related Story. How long is the Cup window open?. light

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