Quoting: leafs101
i would describe that simply as Hughes' biggest blunder if he was offered any positive value for that abysmal contract and declined. On pace for 32 points at 5.5M with term, especially when that's not even really an outlier, is unacceptable and is absolutely a liability.
The athletic's model, not sure if you've seen some of those player statistic cards that people have shared on here from the athletic, has his market value at $0. Overpaid by 5.5M by that model. While he's prob more a 2-3M player, still crazy
On pace for 20 even strength goals, never mind the point total. He's never been much for assists.
People are spoiled these days expecting everyone to be a point per game player or putting up 50 points on an ELC. It's raised expectations to a point where anyone that doesn't have high raw point totals is a cap dump if they have anything near a 5x5 contract.
The truth is that teams have to pay for more than just point production, because pure point production isn't enough to win. You have to pay beyond point totals to get size, speed, leadership, and other desired qualities which fill in the space around that production.
You might not want to acknowledge the reality where Ben Chiarot is worth a 1st + in trade and gets signed to a $4.5 x4 contract, but that IS the reality.
You aren't getting a Josh Anderson for less than $5M because that is the going rate for a 20 goal scorer with additional elements to his game like size and speed. If there were 30 other players like him then the price might be more palatable, but there are maybe a few, and they certainly aren't available for cheap, if at all.