Washington Capitals: Top 5 worst contracts in team history

#1 Jaromir Jagr

If this was about the top 5 about the worst trades in franchise history, this would be right up there was well. After the Washington Capitals acquired Jaromir Jagr from the Pittsburgh Penguins in a blockbuster trade, Jagr agreed to become the highest paid player in the league. He inked a seven year, $77 million deal in 2001.

Jagr was a five time Art Ross Trophy winner and came off a 121 point season with the Penguins when he joined the Caps. He was supposed to usher in a new era and take the team to new heights.

After scoring 52 goals the previous season, Jagr only had 31 goals and 48 assists for 79 points in his first season in D.C. The next year he slightly rebounded but only by five goals. Jagr had 36 goals and 41 assists for 74 points. The next year he had 16 goals and 29 assists for 45 points in 46 games before the team dealt him away in their fire sale.

The Caps failed to make the playoffs in Jagr’s first season in D.C. In his second, they ended up getting bounced in the first round by the Tampa Bay Lightning. Jagr was traded to the New York Rangers for Anson Carter and the Caps had to pay a portion of that salary.