Performance Bonuses Around The League
In the NHL, there are only a few ways you are allowed to have performance bonuses included in your contract. One way is to be on an entry-level contract, of which almost every one contains some sort of incentive. Young players can earn either Schedule A or B bonuses for various performance markers, though the really big numbers are only usually given out to the very highest of draft picks. Even Mitch Marner for instance, drafted fourth overall in 2015 can only earn up to $850K each season and doesn’t have any Schedule B bonuses in his deal.
The other contracts that can include bonuses are more rare, and they’ll be the focus of this article. These can be given out to players who sign a one-year contract after they turn 35, or a one-year deal coming off a substantial injury (the qualifications for such an injury are that they have already played at least 400 games in their career, and spent at least 100 days on injured reserve in the final year of their previous contract). Many of these have been given out, and we’ll detail them here.
Radim Vrbata – Florida Panthers 
Vrbata was given a one-year deal with the Panthers this summer after a solid season with the Arizona Coyotes, and will earn $2.5MM in guaranteed salary. He also can earn a total of $1.25MM more through performance bonuses:
- $250K for 10th goal
- $250K for 15th goal
- $250K for 20th goal
- $250K for 45th point
- $250K for making playoffs
Mark Streit – Montreal Canadiens
Streit was given a $700K contract from the Montreal Canadiens just this week to add some extra depth to a defense corps that was losing Andrei Markov. His deal includes $300K of unknown performance bonuses, that could take the total contract to $1MM.
Johnny Oduya – Ottawa Senators
Oduya earned a one-year $1MM contract from the Ottawa Senators, and while it’s not clear where he fits in exactly on the blueline he could earn much more should he find a prominent role. The deal includes $1.25MM of performance bonuses:
- $250K for 41st game played
- $250K for 65th game played
- $250K if ranked in top-5 TOI for Ottawa defensemen
- $250K if ranked in top-3 TOI for Ottawa defensemen
- $250K for making playoffs
Chris Kunitz – Tampa Bay Lightning
Kunitz is looking for his fifth Stanley Cup this season with the Lightning, who gave him a one-year $2MM contract. The former Penguin can earn another $1MM in various unknown ice-time bonuses, likely tied to where he ends up among Lightning forwards.
Patrick Sharp – Chicago Blackhawks
Sharp is returning to his old stomping ground this year after the Blackhawks signed him to a one-year $800K contract, but there is no guarantee he plays much of the season. Sharp’s been hurt by several injuries the last few seasons, and because of it Chicago included a $200K bonus for playing just ten games this year.
Mike Cammalleri – Los Angeles Kings
Cammalleri was bought out by the New Jersey Devils this spring, only to immediately find a new home with the Kings on the west coast. His $1MM contract has an additional $200K in performance bonuses, though the exact details are still unknown.
Deryk Engelland – Vegas Golden Knights
When the Golden Knights signed Engelland after the expansion draft, they were bringing back someone who knew the city and could help their young players get acclimated to their new surroundings. They signed him to a one-year deal worth $1MM, but it also includes another $1MM in unknown performance bonuses.
Thanks to CapFriendly for many of the performance bonus details.
Florida Panthers First To Be Linked To Andrei Markov
Just after the Montreal Canadiens announced that they would not be bringing Andrei Markov back for the 2017-18 season, speculation on where he would land exploded. Igor Eronko of Sport-Express was first to link the Russian defender to the Florida Panthers, a team looking to get back into the playoffs following a very disappointing season. As CapFriendly points out, the Panthers easily have enough room to accommodate the veteran defenseman under their salary cap.
Florida does have a lack of left-handed defensemen, with only Keith Yandle and Michael Matheson penciled into their starting group but also doesn’t look like they have much room for Markov at first glance. Already Ian McCoshen, their prized second-round draft pick that made his NHL debut last season looks to be on the outside looking in, and Markov would only further that. There has been rumors of the team trying to move Jason Demers, with one report going so far as to say that he nixed a deal that would have sent him to Vancouver. If Demers was moved out, it would open up some minutes for Markov along with several million in cap space.
Since Dale Tallon was given back the reins of the franchise this spring, he’s made several moves to push the Panthers back towards his direction of the club. Bob Boughner was brought in as head coach, Reilly Smith and Jon Marchessault were moved out and the team has apparently moved on from any thought of bringing Jaromir Jagr back to town. Demers was signed to a five-year $22.5MM contract last summer, one that will actually pay him much less in the latter half and may be palatable to the majority of teams around the league.
Andrei Markov Will Not Return To Montreal Canadiens This Season
It seemed as though the writing was on the wall when the Montreal Canadiens signed Mark Streit to a one-year deal this week, and now it is official. The team announced today that Andrei Markov will not return to the Canadiens for the 2017-18 season. Fans had been holding out hope as recently as Tuesday, when we polled our readers to see where they thought Markov would land. Montreal won easily, with over 18% of the vote. 
Interestingly, Eric Engels of Sportnet reports that Markov had not yet made contact with other teams about his future, though that is obviously going to change with this announcement. The 38-year old played 990 games with the Canadiens over a 16-year career, registering 572 points and will go down as one of the greatest defensemen ever to pull on the sweater. He is second all-time among Montreal defenders in points, an incredible mark for such a storied franchise.
Markov had been rumored to be after a two-year $12MM contract from the Habs, but will likely have to settle for something less on the open market. Despite his obvious ability teams are wary of his age and foot speed, though neither hampered him at all last season. With 36 points in 62 games he remained one of the best puck-moving offensive defensemen in the league, a natural quarterback on the powerplay and an effective defender in his own end. While it’s obvious that will eventually come to an end, he can still provide some high-level play for whichever team lands him.
Because it’s so late in free agency it is tough to see where there are openings for Markov, as most of the contenders have already tried to fill their holes with other options. Dallas could have used him to help their left side but instead added Marc Methot to eat up minutes, while teams like Toronto, Tampa Bay and Pittsburgh gave multi-year contracts to less effective veterans. If Nashville didn’t already have eight defensemen under contract, a reunion with friend and former defense partner P.K. Subban could be interesting.
Regardless of where he eventually ends up, this season should push him over the 1,000 game and 600 point mark, incredible feats from a sixth-round pick who some doubted would even make an impact at the NHL level. Markov has carved out quite a career for himself, one which deserves another chance at the Stanley Cup.
Top 2018 Draft Picks That Have Already Been Traded
About 11 months from now, 31 NHL general managers will come together in a room with thousands of people watching and select the next group of young players destined to make it to the professional ranks. The 2018 NHL Entry Draft will be a huge event, mostly because of the elite talent that will be available at the top.
Without a clear consensus on the top pick so far, the next year will be extremely interesting to watch for prospect hounds. Andrei Svechnikov, Rasmus Dahlin, Joe Veleno, Quinn Hughes and others all have incredible talent, and could push for the top spot with a big year (and perhaps a growth spurt or two). Like this year, we could also see a relative outsider like Nico Hischier fly up the ranks to take over the top spot by draft day. One thing is for sure though, that there is plenty of talent to find in the first round and beyond at next year’s draft.
It has already been clear that teams don’t want to give up their 2018 draft picks, as we saw with the collection of selections acquired by the Vegas Golden Knights. They have multiple second-round picks in 2019 and 2020, but couldn’t secure an extra top pick in 2018. That said, there have already been many transactions that have moved picks around. Here are the teams that have acquired extra picks in the first three rounds of the 2018 draft (key player traded in parentheses).
Arizona Coyotes:
Acquired 2018 2nd-round pick from Minnesota Wild (Hanzal)
Detroit Red Wings:
Acquired 2018 2nd-round pick (OTT) from New York Rangers (Smith)
Florida Panthers:
Acquired 2018 2nd-round pick from Arizona Coyotes (Crouse)
Minnesota Wild:
Acquired 2018 3rd-round pick from Buffalo Sabres (Scandella)
Acquired 2018 3rd-round pick from Vegas Golden Knights (Tuch)
Montreal Canadiens:
Acquired 2018 2nd-round pick from Chicago Blackhawks (Weise)
New York Islanders:
Acquired 2018 1st-round pick from Calgary Flames (Hamonic)
Acquired 2018 2nd-round pick from Calgary Flames (Hamonic)
Philadelphia Flyers:
Acquired conditional 2018 1st-round from St. Louis Blues (Schenn)
Tampa Bay Lightning:
Acquired conditional 2018 2nd-round pick (WSH) from Montreal Canadiens (Drouin)
Toronto Maple Leafs:
Acquired 2018 2nd-round pick from San Jose Sharks (Polak)
Acquired 2018 3rd-round pick from San Jose Sharks (Reimer)
Washington Capitals:
Acquired 2018 2nd-round pick (FLA) from New Jersey Devils (Johansson)
Acquired 2018 3rd-round pick (TOR) from New Jersey Devils (Johansson)
Minor Transactions: 7/25/17
For a Tuesday in late July, it’s been an especially busy day for hockey transactions, including the NHL signings of Mika Zibanejad with the New York Rangers, Robin Lehner with the Buffalo Sabres, Mark Streit with the Montreal Canadiens, and several deals by the Colorado Avalanche and New Jersey Devils. Yet, there has been a flurry of notable activity in the AHL and overseas today too, including the following:
- The once-promising NHL career of Matt Fraser has taken another odd turn away from its original path. Fraser, still just 27 years old, has signed with Dornbirner EC of the EBEL, a lower tier European league based mostly out of Austria. The team has announced the deal, though terms have not been released. Fraser moves to the EBEL after a season in Sweden, where injuries limited him to only four games with Rogle BK. Before that, many will remember Fraser as a star in the AHL for the Texas Stars and, after the Tyler Seguin trade, the Providence Bruins. Fraser even played in 60 NHL games with the Boston Bruins and Edmonton Oilers in 2014-15 and looked to be on his way to becoming an NHL regular. However, after signing a one-year deal with the Winnipeg Jets in 2015 and failing to make the team, Fraser had the worst AHL season of his career and decided to head overseas. So far, it has not worked out, but Fraser will now try his hand at EBEL action, where he could easily be the best player for Dornbirner, who currently count another former Bruin, Jamie Arniel, as their top scorer.
- Another player who failed to meet expectatiosn in North America and will now head to a lesser European league is Dane Fox. The former Erie Otters superstar, who scored 107 points in 67 games in his final OHL season, has not found anywhere near the same success at the pro level. A high-profile signing by the Vancouver Canucks in 2014, the undrafted forward has made his last junior season look very much like a fluke with his play since then. Fox has skated almost exclusively in the ECHL over the past three seasons, playing in only two AHL games and not even in consideration for an NHL look with the Canucks and Carolina Hurricanes. Now, Fox will head to Germany to play with the Nurnberg Ice Tigers of the DEL. Nurnberg is the likely favorite in the DEL next season and roster many players with NHL experience, including 2016-17 top scorer Steve Reinprecht and recent signee Tom Gilbert. Fox’s pro hockey career is very much up in the air right now, but if he can shine through on an experience Ice Tigers roster, perhaps he’ll get another shot in North America .
- The AHL’s San Diego Gulls, the Anaheim Ducks’ affiliate, has re-signed forward Jordan Samuels-Thomas to a two-year minor league deal, the league announced. The 27-year-old recorded a pro career-high 24 points and +13 rating for the Gulls last year and is a fan favorite and active member of the San Diego community. The former NCAA standout was a seventh-round pick of the Atlanta Thrashers in 2009, but was never signed to an entry-level deal after spending five years in college.
- The Chicago Wolves, now the new affiliate of the Vegas Golden Knights, have signed one of their own, inking Scooter Vaughan to a one-year deal, according to a team release. The hard-nosed defenseman worked his way up through hockey’s ranks, spending four years at the University of Michigan, three years in the ECHL, and going on four years in the AHL, with the last two spent in Chicago. The next stop could be the NHL, now that the Wolves are associated with the Knights, who obviously have the least organizational depth of any team in the league. A career-best performance in 2017-18 could earn Vaughan his first NHL contract next year.
- A pair of AHL defenseman will change teams for the upcoming season as Paul Geiger, recently of the Rochester Americans, has signed with the Hershey Bears, the Washington Capitals’ affiliate, while the Carolina Hurricanes’ minor league partners, the Charlotte Checkers, have signed former St. John’s Ice Caps defender Josiah Didier. Both Geiger and Didier are still just 24 years old and were solid college players, at Clarkson and Denver respectively, but need big seasons with their new teams after pedestrian starts to their pro careers, that is if they want to reach the NHL someday.
- The 2016-17 captain at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) has found his new home, and he’s in a good spot. Riley Bourbonnais, a 23-year-old center who was nearly a point per game player for RPI last year, has inked his first AHL deal with the Wilkes-Barre Scranton Penguins, the feeder team of the two-time Stanley Cup champs. The team announced their newest addition and have high hopes that he can bring the same well-rounded game he showed in college to the pros.
Poll: Where Will Andrei Markov End Up?
With the signing of Mark Streit in Montreal today, it seems as though Andrei Markov‘s long tenure may be coming to an end. Even with reports of a big gap in expectations between the two sides, it still seemed as though the Canadiens would be the eventual landing spot for the 38-year old. They needed some depth on the left side, and an offensive piece to go with their less dynamic group.
With Streit in the mix those needs could be filled, though the recent Stanley Cup champion is no guarantee to provide much of anything, and is being paid according to that risk. But still, Markov seems a long shot for Montreal at this point who now have eight defensemen on one-way deals. So where could he end up?
There is no shortage of teams who could use defensive help, but if Markov’s reported ask of $12MM over two years is accurate it would be tough to fit him into a lot of rosters. Markov is representing himself in negotiations, and seems to be very confident in his ability going forward. That confidence is warranted, after putting up 36 points in just 62 games and generally being effective in a certain deployment. Though he’s not the all-situations defender he once was, he can still prey on weak opposition and create chances for his team through his slick passing and creativity.
Vote below on where you think Markov will end up, and make sure to leave a comment on how effective he’ll be next season. Is he worth $6MM? How much would you be willing to offer him? What’s the best fit for what’s left of his ability?
Where Will Andrei Markov Eventually Sign?
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Montreal Canadiens 18% (137)
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Toronto Maple Leafs 9% (70)
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New Jersey Devils 8% (65)
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Buffalo Sabres 6% (45)
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Chicago Blackhawks 5% (40)
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Pittsburgh Penguins 5% (39)
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Boston Bruins 5% (37)
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Philadelphia Flyers 5% (37)
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Vegas Golden Knights 4% (31)
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Edmonton Oilers 4% (30)
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Washington Capitals 3% (24)
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Colorado Avalanche 3% (23)
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New York Rangers 2% (19)
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Detroit Red Wings 2% (17)
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Los Angeles Kings 2% (15)
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Winnipeg Jets 2% (15)
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Dallas Stars 2% (13)
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New York Islanders 2% (13)
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Arizona Coyotes 2% (12)
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Ottawa Senators 1% (11)
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Florida Panthers 1% (10)
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Minnesota Wild 1% (10)
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San Jose Sharks 1% (9)
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Nashville Predators 1% (8)
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Vancouver Canucks 1% (8)
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Columbus Blue Jackets 1% (7)
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Tampa Bay Lightning 1% (7)
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Anaheim Ducks 1% (5)
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St. Louis Blues 1% (4)
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Carolina Hurricanes 0% (3)
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Calgary Flames 0% (1)
Total votes: 765
[Mobile users click here to vote!]
Montreal Canadiens Sign Mark Streit
Looking for a left-handed puck moving defensemen, the Montreal Canadiens have signed Mark Streit to a one-year contract worth $700K. The deal also contains $300K of performance bonuses, making it a potential $1MM total. Streit returns to the team who drafted him and gave him his first NHL opportunity, this time just months removed from winning the Stanley Cup for the first time.
The Canadiens needed help on the left side following the apparent parting of ways with Andrei Markov—the two sides could still come to an agreement, though this signing complicates things further—and Streit has been an effective option on the powerplay for many years. If the team were acquiring the Streit they last saw, who scored 62 points in 2007-08 it would be one thing, but this time he comes in at age-39 and a shell of what he once was. Still able to drive possession and contribute with the man advantage, Streit needs sheltering from tough minutes and isn’t the workhorse he once was.
That may fit in perfectly with the Canadiens’ defense group, as Karl Alzner and Shea Weber are widely expected to take on the tough minutes against the team’s best forwards while players like Jordie Benn and David Schlemko can be effective in a defensive role as well. It’s not clear exactly where Streit will fit in on a regular basis, but it does give the Canadiens some much needed depth for a group that has shipped out several young players in recent deals. This group does pose quite the risk though, as if Weber or Alzner took a step backwards they could be in for a real tough time trying to shut down an elite forward line like many Atlantic division teams have.
Dead Space: Bought-Out, Buried, And Retained Salaries For Every Team
It’s something that often goes unnoticed, but with the cap showing minimal growth the last few years, teams are starting to feel the crunch more than ever. Buyouts have become more common, especially with players with under three remaining years on their contracts. And it’s not just the big name busts that have seen the ax lately – we’ve seen lesser names at lesser money take the fall for their respective teams, then needing to scramble for work elsewhere in the league. Additionally, salary retention in trades has become a more utilized tactic as of late. Teams with “unmovable” contracts have offered to retain part of a poor contract in order to entice a team into giving them some relief.
All this said, some teams have been better with foresight than others. Some teams have shown a track record of being entirely unable of handing out poor contracts over the past five or so seasons. Considering many teams showed some progress in being more frugal this off-season, it seems a wise time to review the dead space every team has accumulated, either due to poor management decisions or poor luck.
Colorado Avalanche – $4.83 MM in 2017-18, issues resolved after current year – Francois Beauchemin buyout; Cody McLeod retained
Arizona Coyotes – $4.61 MM in 2017-18, issues resolved after 2020-21 – Mike Smith retained; Mike Ribeiro, Antoine Vermette buyouts
Columbus Blue Jackets – $4.025 MM in 2017-18, issues resolved after 2020-21 – Fedor Tyutin, Jared Boll, Scott Hartnell buyouts
Carolina Hurricanes – $3.71 MM in 2017-18, issues resolved after 2020-21 – Eddie Lack retained; Alexander Semin, James Wisniewski buyouts
Toronto Maple Leafs – $3.28 MM in 2017-18, issues resolved after 2021-22 – Tim Gleason, Jared Cowen buyouts; Phil Kessel retained
Nashville Predators – $2.83 MM in 2017-18, issues resolved after 2018-19 – Viktor Stalberg, Eric Nystrom, Barret Jackman buyouts
Boston Bruins – $2.73 MM in 2017-18, issues resolved 2019-20 – Dennis Seidenberg, Jimmy Hayes buyouts
New York Rangers – $2.61 MM in 2017-18, issues resolved after 2022-23 – Dan Girardi buyout
Minnesota Wild – $2.5 MM in 2017-17, issues resolved after current year – Thomas Vanek buyout
Los Angeles Kings – $2.4 MM in 2017-18, issues resolved after 2023-24 – Matt Greene buyout; Mike Richards termination/recapture
Edmonton Oilers – $2.33 MM in 2017-18, issues resolved after 2020-21 – Lauri Korpikoski, Benoit Pouliot buyouts
Anaheim Ducks – $2.21 MM in 2017-18, issues resolved after 2023-24 – Mark Fistric, Simon Despres buyouts; Patrick Maroon retained
Vancouver Canucks – $2.13 MM in 2017-18, issues resolved after 2021-22 – Roberto Luongo, Jannik Hansen retained; Chris Higgins buyout
New Jersey Devils – $2.09 MM in 2017-18, issues resolved after 2023-24 – Mike Cammalleri, Devante Smith-Pelly buyouts; Ilya Kovalchuk recapture
Tampa Bay Lightning – $1.83 MM in 2017-18, issues resolved after 2019-20 – Matt Carle buyout
Calgary Flames – $1.82 MM in 2017-18, issues resolved after 2018-19 – Mason Raymond, Lance Bouma, Ryan Murphy buyouts
Detroit Red Wings – $1.67 MM in 2017-18, issues resolved after 2020-21 – Stephen Weiss buyout
Dallas Stars – $1.5 MM in 2017-18, issues resolved after 2018-19- Antti Niemi buyout
Philadelphia Flyers – $1.5 MM in 2017-18, issues resolved after current year – R.J. Umberger buyout
Winnipeg Jets – $1.46 MM in 2017-18, issues resolved after 2018-19 – Mark Stuart buyout
Florida Panthers – $1.33 MM in 2017-18, issues resolved after 2018-19 – Jussi Jokinen buyout
Las Vegas Golden Knights – $1.1 MM in 2017-18, issues resolved after current year – Alexei Emelin retained
Ottawa Senators – $350,000 in 2017-18, issues resolved after current year – Andrew Hammond buried
Buffalo Sabres – Minimal in 2017-18, increased issues ($791,00) resolved after 2022-23 – Cody Hodgson buyout
Chicago Blackhawks, St. Louis Blues, Washington Capitals, Pittsburgh Penguins, New York Islanders, San Jose Sharks, Montreal Canadiens – No dead cap space
After compiling the list, it became clear that utilizing these options isn’t a complete hindrance to competing in the NHL. In fact, most clubs have between $1 MM and $3 MM in dead space. That said, of the teams that have not needed to utilize the buyout or retention options, there has been a great deal of success. And among the five worst offenders, the Leafs, Hurricanes, Blue Jackets, Avalanche, and Coyotes, none has moved past the first-round in multiple years. It’s hard to draw massive conclusions without taking the context of each individual situation into account, but there is something to be said for making every dollar of cap space count. Perhaps this is merely a byproduct of past success rather than an indicator of future success, but considering how amenable many managers have become to the option, it bears consideration.
(All totals courtesy of the fantastic CapFriendly.com)
Montreal Canadiens Sign Yannick Veilleux To AHL Deal
Tomas Tatar‘s arbitration hearing took place this morning, at the conclusion of which the arbitrator was given 48 hours to reach a decision on his salary for next season. Tatar cannot be awarded a two-year contract through arbitration since he will reach unrestricted free agency next year, but as Craig Custance of The Athletic points out could still work out a long-term deal with the Red Wings before the decision come in. We saw a similar situation play out in 2014 with P.K. Subban, who had his hearing with the Montreal Canadiens before signing an eight-year contract a day later.
- The Montreal Canadiens have re-signed Yannick Veilleux on a two-way minor league deal. The contract will pay different amounts depending on whether Veilleux plays in the AHL or ECHL this season. Veilleux spent last year in the Montreal system bouncing between the two leagues, finding some success with St. John’s. Selected in the fourth round by the St. Louis Blues once upon a time, he’s still waiting for his first chance at the NHL level.
Joni Ikonen Will Return To Finland For 2017-18
- Joni Ikonen, the Montreal Canadiens’ second-round pick will also return to KalPa according to Uffe Bodin of Hockeysverige. Ikonen played the last two seasons in Frolunda of the SHL, and showed off in the U18 World Juniors this season with 8 points in 7 games for Finland. Selected 58th-overall, Montreal is hoping he can stay at center long term. He’ll develop at home for at least one more season before they try to bring him over to North America.