Aug. 6: We’re taking more questions! The first installment of these FAQs was published Monday, which you can read here.
Have any burning questions about the NHL’s CBA, salary cap, or any sort of transaction? Ask away.
Our friends over at Hoops Rumors have a spectacular “Glossary” series that dives into all the nitty-gritty terms, rules and regulations surrounding CBA provisions that govern the NBA’s transactions and salary cap. We at PHR would like to do the same for hockey, offering explanations and clearing up confusion on some perhaps oft-misunderstood or complex/mysterious topics.
If you have queries about anything that falls under that umbrella, whether it be roster limits, contract clauses or LTIR, toss them in the comment section or contact us directly. PHR’s Josh Erickson will go through and answer as many as possible in a series of mailbag-style pieces, which will be accessible at any time on the right sidebar under “Pro Hockey Rumors Features.”
I would love to learn more about bonuses. I understand rookie and 35+ bonuses. But how about something like Conor Brown last year – injury recovery bonuses?
Also how do they affect the cap – if bonuses put you over the cap by end of playoffs, you are penalized the following season?
Thanks!
Connor Brown was eligible for a bonus laden contract because he missed something like 80% of the season prior to that deal. And the Oilers were idiots and signed him to a deal that almost anyone would have reached the bonus of 3.5M after 10 games played (I believe) he easily achieved it. Because they didn’t have 3.5M left over after the season the remainder had to be taken out of their cap this year. Because they didn’t have the 3.5M left they owe something like 3.375M from this year’s cap to cover last years contract because it was structured as a legal performance bonus, not just a signing bonus.
Hurricanes and Kuznetsov did agree on a mutual termination. What if Carolina had decided to buy him out instead: Would that have any implication on the Capitals? Or would they have continued to pay him the retained money (and using a retention slot on him)?
How about an explanation of rules for the offseason cap hit limits, that would be sufficient to explain how and why the Capitals can comfortably be well above next season’s cap.
Read somewhere that signing players early to ELCs helps tamp down the future AAV. How does that work?
Also, what’s the difference between ELCs for high school, NCAA, CHL and European players?
I have read conflicting comments concerning the buyout window after arbitration.
If a case is settled prior to the arbitration hearing, as is usually the case, and the settlement is greater than $4M AAV does the team still have the ability to buyout contracts at or above $4M AAV?
I have believed that the buyout window was only reopened if the arbitration award was greater than $4M did the 48 hour buyout window open, but have read comments where others believe the window opens when the last player’s case is settled, whether as a result of arbitrator’s ruling or via negotiation.
link to prohockeyrumors.com
The above post clearly answers the question. Thanks
How often can the NTC be modified or changed in a given year. What is the full process of waiving the NTC. Is it retained after the team acquires them (pre deadline trades that result in a player being traded again; at or before the deadline) Is it always the player or can the organizations stipulate which teams are on the NTC. Does the NHL have specific language for these contracts or is it completely up to the agent/player & organization?
Would like to have an easy CBA reference like the one that used exist on Cap Friendly. Do you know of a similar online reference for the CBA?
With Arizona transferring to Utah, do players get to update their no-trade clauses?
In a trade, is there an actual agreement that comes with “future considerations” or is it just a more professional term for no return?
How much longer is the league gonna tolerate circumventing the cap with dubious LTIR use?
Yeah! Why is the cap infinite during the playoffs? That is just plain wrong. Something has to change.
When you buy something from Costco, you get more for cheaper because you’re buying it in bulk. Why does it seem like player contracts are the opposite. I’m always seeing news that players opt for lower AAV contracts for shorter term but hold out for higher AAV for longer. Wouldn’t it make sense to be guaranteed 4m a year for 8 years rather than 2m a year for 2 years? What if you are terrible in those two years and can’t command 4m? Is it worth that much of a gamble that you’ll get 6m AAV on your next contract, which you would have to catch up money on your lower AAV short term contract?
why is it the NHL doesn’t want to go the route of a luxury tax like Baseball. teams like the rangers, leafs, kings, etc. may increase player salaries cause they have the dough but the tax could generate other revenue options no?
also is the retained salary item something that we could just see without a limit on the next CBA?
In a buyout situation, does the player get the full balance of the contract or does he only get the portion that the team is penalized?
For the next CBA, what are likely to be the points of contention between the players and management?
I am sure many of the regulars on here and I could fairly reasonably answer some of these questions, but I’ll bite my tongue as others have complained when I have done so in other “ask” segments, and let Josh answer to finish his blog. Sorry for the 1 I already opined on.
If this was of an opinion based questionnaire I’d consider more input, but this is more of a black/white with straight answers so I’ll take a step back.
Thanks?
For waiver order, is it always based on reverse standings order, or are teams moved to the “end of the line” after making a claim? Would the last place team have priority on all waiver claims until the order is changed at the given date during the season, or once making a claim do they no longer have top priority?
Does the AHL and ECHL operate under the NHL CBA or do they have their own CBA?