The contract year phenomena in professional sports is a sight to behold.
Players will typically give 110% on a year where their contract is up for extension in hopes that recency bias does them a few favors. In the case of Detroit Red Wings defenseman Ben Chiarot, it made all the difference in the world.
At the start of the 2025-26 season, Chiarot put on an absolute defensive clinic. He was everywhere, delivering big hits, closing down passing lanes and even dropping the gloves from time to time. As it turns out, this recent surge in production didn't go unnoticed; the Red Wings signed Chiarot to a three-year extension starting next season.
There's just one problem.
Chiarot will be 37 by the time the deal is done. If his late season doldrums are any sign of what's to come, this contract might not age very well.
Chiarot started off hot, flamed out later
As mentioned earlier, Chiarot's first half of the season was the best he'd played in Detroit. He was a force to be reckoned with, adding legitimate depth to a Red Wings roster in desperate need of an upgrade. But, as the season progressed, he began to revert to old mistakes. When Justin Faulk joined the team, he had a brief bump in production, but that quickly fell off as Faulk slowly adjusted to his new home.
This is the main issue with Chiarot: he starts off so strong every season only to flame out as the schedule drags on. Is this a conditioning issue? A lack of motivation? No matter what it is, it's only going to become more of a glaring problem as he continues to age into his contract.
While he brings the heat physically, there are times where he gets too hot headed and makes a boneheaded move. This, more often than not, puts him out of position, forcing his partner to have to cover his gaps. When it's someone like Moritz Seider, it's less of an issue. But, with a rookie like Axel Sandin-Pellikka, this poor positioning practically rolls out the red carpet for opposing teams.
It got so bad that Todd McLellan had to separate Chiarot and Faulk to stifle the bleeding.
What the future holds for Ben Chiarot
Chiarot's extension was almost universally panned when it first came about. To make matters worse, his advanced analytics lead many to believe he's more detrimental on the ice than several other players. Still, he's got enough left in the tank where the Red Wings can move him down the lineup without much issue.
The question then becomes a little more complex. If Chiarot is inevitably phased out on the second pairing, what does a third pairing defenseman in his late 30s bring that a younger player of the same caliber couldn't? What happens during those last couple years of Chiarot's contract where his play is unjustifiable?
The longer you think about it, the more frustrating it becomes. Still, as far as seasons go, Chiarot has done much worse for himself. Despite a strong start, his performance post-extension left a lot to be desired.
Grade: C-
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