The team at CapFriendly returned from a quick vacation to drop a bombshell on the hockey world today, reporting that Will Butcher’s entry-level contract with the New Jersey Devils includes maximum performance bonuses. Though many players are given max Schedule A bonuses, that can total up to $850K if they reach various milestones, just six players drafted outside the top two overall picks have ever been given the max in Schedule B—that is until now.
Butcher becomes the seventh such player and could earn up to $2.85MM in bonuses each year, making his deal worth a potential $3.78MM per season. While these Schedule B bonuses are difficult to achieve, it’s likely another factor in his decision to sign with the Devils. Though teams can offer little variance in terms of salary for entry-level players, bonuses can be used as a negotiating tactic like any other free agent.
- Jonathan Drouin and Alex Galchenyuk will both begin training camp in Montreal as centers, according to J.F. Chaumont of the Journal de Montreal. Chaumont spoke with head coach Claude Julien, who would like to see what each of them can bring to the position before making any decisions. Galchenyuk has a checkered history with the position on the Canadiens, while Drouin was used almost exclusively as a winger in Tampa Bay. Both clearly have enough talent to drive a line from the middle, but will have to be more consistent in their own end if they want to be leaned on heavily in the Montreal rotation.
- Rene Bourque has signed in Sweden for the upcoming season, according to TSN. The 35-year old Bourque played last year with the Colorado Avalanche, scoring 18 points in 65 games. In 725 career games he’s registered 316 points, including a pair of 27-goal campaigns with the Calgary Flames in his youth. Bourque is another example of an undrafted college player making an impact in the league, but will now take his game to Europe to look for more success.