The Biggest NHL Busts of the 2023-24 Season So Far
Into the second month of the 2023-24 NHL season, there have already been some early surprises. Among them are several players who aren't meeting expectations early on.
Some, like Columbus Blue Jackets winger Johnny Gaudreau, are established veterans hoping for bounce-back performances following a disappointing 2022-23 campaign. Some are younger players such as Anaheim Ducks center Trevor Zegras who were expected to take the next step toward stardom this season.
Our list also contains a struggling former first-overall draft pick, a goaltender projected to become the heir apparent to a popular star, and one of last summer's top unrestricted free agents having difficulty adjusting to his new club.
A lot of hockey remains to be played before the regular season comes to an end on Apr. 18, 2024. Every player on this list could overcome their early-season struggles and regain their form. For now, however, they must be considered among this season's biggest busts thus far.
Do you agree or disagree with our list? Is there someone who should or shouldn't be here? Let us know using our app comments section.
8. Juraj Slafkovský, Montreal Canadiens
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Chosen first overall by the Montreal Canadiens in the 2022 NHL draft, Juraj Slafkovský made the roster as an 18-year-old winger facing heightened expectations that come with being a highly touted prospect in one of the league's most demanding markets. He had 10 points in 39 games before suffering what proved to be a season-ending lower-body injury in January.
Entering his sophomore season, the pressure is on the now 19-year-old Slafkovský to make the first step toward the stardom that Canadiens fans are expecting from him. With just five points in his first 18 games, however, some observers question how the Canadiens are handling the youngster's development.
Not every first overall pick develops along the same timeline. It could take Slafkovský another couple of seasons before he reaches his full potential. The Canadiens, meanwhile, are keeping him in their lineup in the belief the youngster will be best served learning the ropes at the NHL level rather than being sent to their AHL affiliate in Laval, Quebec.
Slafkovský has shown some improvement in fits and starts thus far this season. However, the longer it takes him to find his game at the NHL level, the more he risks the label of "first overall bust" being attached to his name.
7. Tyler Bertuzzi, Toronto Maple Leafs
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Under new general manager Brad Treliving, the Toronto Maple Leafs opted to add more toughness to their lineup via free agency last summer. They signed forwards Tyler Bertuzzi and Max Domi on one-year contracts and enforcer Ryan Reaves on a three-year deal.
Bertuzzi was the main prize. Earning $5.5 million this season, the 28-year-old winger is betting on himself in the hope that a solid performance with the Leafs will boost his stock in next summer's free-agent market. A feisty if oft-injured winger, he's reached or exceeded 20 goals and 47 points three times in his seven previous seasons.
So far, the trio hasn't delivered as hoped for the Leafs. Bertuzzi has bounced around the lineup as head coach Sheldon Keefe tries to find the right linemates to unlock his physical offensive style. On Oct. 20, Keefe attributed the winger's slow start to an injury hampering his performance.
Whatever's behind Bertuzzi's poor start, his four goals and eight points in his first 16 games were probably not what the Leafs were expecting from their fifth-highest-paid forward this season. They'll need a better effort from him over the remainder of the schedule or his $5.5 million could end up becoming money poorly spent.
6. Trevor Zegras, Anaheim Ducks
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Before this season, Trevor Zegras was considered the bright young star around which the Anaheim Ducks would rebuild. Their first-round pick in the 2019 NHL draft (ninth overall), the 22-year-old center finished second among Ducks scorers in 2021-22 with 61 points, becoming a finalist for the Calder Memorial Trophy.
Coming off a sophomore campaign with a team-leading 65 points, Zegras' contract negotiations kept him out of training camp and the preseason. On Oct. 2, the skillful 22-year-old center finally agreed to a three-year deal worth an average annual value of $5.8 million.
Missing training camp and preseason play took a toll as Zegras was forced to play catch-up with his better-conditioned teammates. After spending the past two seasons with Dallas Eakins as head coach, Zegras also had to adjust to a different system under new bench boss Greg Cronin.
Zegras managed just two points in 12 games before being placed on injured reserve with a lower-body injury retroactive to Nov. 10. His struggles didn't affect the Ducks as they're currently in the thick of the Western Conference playoff race. Nevertheless, it's a big setback for this promising youngster.
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5. Dmitry Orlov, Carolina Hurricanes
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The Carolina Hurricanes made one of the biggest moves of the 2023 NHL offseason by signing Dmitry Orlov during the opening day of the free-agent market on July 1. Considered the best defenseman on the market, the Hurricanes inked him to a two-year contract worth an average annual value of $7.8 million.
Orlov was coming off one of his best seasons in 2022-23. He had a career-best 36 points in 66 games between the Washington Capitals and Boston Bruins. Of those points, 17 came in 23 games following his trade to the Bruins along with eight points in seven playoff games.
A solid defenseman who plays a reliable shutdown game and can contribute offensively, the 32-year-old Orlov seemed a perfect fit on a deep Hurricanes defense corps. Instead, he's been having difficulty adjusting to his new club. He's seen mostly third-pairing minutes (17:36), tallying six points in 17 games with a team-worst plus/minus of minus-11.
Orlov is also playing behind Jaccob Slavin and Brady Skjei on the left side of the Hurricanes blue line, giving him little opportunity to play a larger role. Still, $7.8 million annually is a lot of money to be paying a defenseman to play in the third pairing.
4. Filip Gustavsson, Minnesota Wild
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Last season was like a coming-out party for the Minnesota Wild's Filip Gustavsson as an NHL starting goaltender. Acquired in July 2022 from the Ottawa Senators, he won 22 of 37 starts last season with a 2.10 goals-against average, a .931 save percentage and three shutouts. He was also outstanding during the Wild's brief appearance in the 2023 postseason.
That performance earned Gustavsson a three-year contract with an average annual value of $3.75 million. Having outplayed the aging Marc-Andre Fleury last season, the 25-year-old Swede seemed poised to take over from the popular Fleury as the Wild's full-time starter.
It hasn't quite worked out as expected for Gustavsson through the early going. With just two wins in nine starts, his 4.15 goals-against average and .882 save percentage were among the league's worst.
To be fair, the Wild goaltenders haven't been helped by the club's struggling offense and league-worst penalty kill. Still, it's also fair to say that this wasn't the kind of start expected of Gustavsson when this season began.
3. Jonathan Huberdeau, Calgary Flames
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Acquired by the Calgary Flames from the Florida Panthers in July 2022, Jonathan Huberdeau signed an eight-year contract extension a month later worth an average annual value of $10.5 million. A gifted playmaker coming off a career-best 115-point performance in 2021-22, he was seen as a suitable replacement for departed scoring star Johnny Gaudreau.
Things didn't go as expected during Huberdeau's first season with the Flames. His production tumbled to just 55 points in 79 games, leaving him fifth among their leading scorers. That decline was partly to blame for the Flames' disappointing performance, as they missed the playoffs.
Huberdeau was optimistic during training camp that he could bounce back this season, telling reporters that he'd regained his confidence over the summer. So far, however, there's little indication that has translated into significant improvement. As of Nov. 18, he sat third among the Flames' scorers with 10 points in 17 games.
It's looking increasingly apparent that the Flames overpaid for a winger whose career-best performance was a one-off. Compounding Huberdeau's scoring woes is the fact he's now in the first season of that expensive new contract and the Flames have just six wins in their first 17 games.
2. Johnny Gaudreau, Columbus Blue Jackets
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After nine seasons with the Calgary Flames, including a career-best 115-point performance in 2021-22, left wing Johnny Gaudreau signed a seven-year deal with the Columbus Blue Jackets. It was quite a coup by the Jackets, as Gaudreau was considered one of the biggest stars in that summer's free-agent market.
Earning an average annual value of $9.8 million, Gaudreau was expected to lead the rebuilding Blue Jackets into playoff contention. While he finished last season with a team-leading 74 points in 80 games, it was well below his previous production, as the Jackets missed the 2023 playoffs. Injuries to several teammates also contributed to that decline.
Gaudreau, 30, and linemate Patrik Laine were hoping to take bigger leadership roles this season. So far, however, they have little to show for it. Sidelined by injuries, Laine had three points in nine games. Gaudreau, meanwhile, had seven points in 18 contests as of Nov. 18.
Things got so bad for Gaudreau that he was benched for most of the third period in a 2-1 loss to the Washington Capitals on Nov. 4 and again (along with Laine) during the final minutes of a 3-2 loss to the Arizona Coyotes on Nov. 16. It's an understatement to say that this is not what the Blue Jackets expected from a first-line winger earning nearly $10 million annually.
1. Jack Campbell, Edmonton Oilers
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Projected to be a Stanley Cup contender entering this season, the Edmonton Oilers find themselves floundering near the bottom of the Western Conference standings. It led to a coaching change, as Kris Knoblauch replaced Jay Woodcroft behind the bench, as well as the demotion of goaltender Jack Campbell to the minors.
Campbell's horrible start to this season is a continuation of his difficulties from last season. Signed by the Oilers as a free agent in July 2022 to a five-year, $25 million contract, he was expected to provide them with stability between the pipes as their starting goaltender. Instead, he lost the starter's job by midseason to rookie Stuart Skinner.
With the spotlight fixed on Campbell entering this season, he told reporters during training camp that he was hoping to build off his solid play during the 2023 playoffs. Barely a month into this season, however, he was on his way to their AHL affiliate in Bakersfield with just one win in five games with a bloated 4.50 goals-against average and a .873 save percentage.
Signed through 2026-27 with a 10-team no-trade list, the Oilers can only hope that Campbell rediscovers his form with their farm club. However, he's also struggling in Bakersfield, putting his NHL playing career in jeopardy.
Stats (as of Nov. 18, 2023) via NHL.com with salary info via Cap Friendly.
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