It's terrible in the sense that it handcuffed the rest of the team and we had to rely on fringe NHL talent on the third and fourth line. While it may not be a terrible contract on the open market, it's absolutely a terrible contract with this team. You have a Norris Trophy caliber defenseman as your #1 defender and he's paid like one (even though he didnt play like one this year), you have a fantastic (IMO) compliment to him as your #2 guy, who is now being paid like one. You have a young #3 defender who played really well last year making something like 3.75m. That's fine too. But then your 4th defender is making more than the other 3, and is skating into the defensive zone like a forward and gives you negative in terms of physical play, doesn't get in front of shots very often, and the next time a hit by him knocks the glass loose will be the first time. If he was making $3m a year, he'd be a valuable piece for what he is. At 7 million, he pretty much better cover his role and Kris Versteeg's. In what world is Hammer a better defenseman than Campbell? 51 had the highest +/- on the team. I dont think he is. Hammer had a bad year this year. I'm saying that you have those 3 defensemen, its crazy to have part of your 2nd defensive pairing making more than the other 3 guys. I misphrased that.