So...a 4th rounder signs a 4 year deal as his ELC- then what happens?
- Atomic Wedgie

Then he gets another one and it makes no sense.

Unless I gues you bump the max salary from the ELC to like 4-5M for the next 3 years remaining.

But I can't see the players accepting that.

Maybe they'll increase the entry level contract scenario to 7 years and then players become full UFA?
- kaptaan

Even Carol and the gang don't like you

What I mean is, to clarify, GMs could sign anyone they want to 7 years but I figure it would only ever be a first rounder that gets that kind of deal.
- kaptaan

Again on an ELC... After the initial ELC there would be some kind of RFA status with salary and bonus limits up to the 7th season in the league.

Again on an ELC... After the initial ELC there would be some kind of RFA status with salary and bonus limits up to the 7th season in the league.
- kaptaan

I don't mean to be a wiener on this, but it sounds like your proposed structure would punish 1st rounders.

I'd rather go in the 2nd round, sign a 3-year deal and then hit RFA status.

Then he gets another one and it makes no sense.

Unless I gues you bump the max salary from the ELC to like 4-5M for the next 3 years remaining.

But I can't see the players accepting that.
- Scabeh

For the next 3 seasons there's already a salary cap and bonus structure in place.

My suggestion would be to say that in the 1st 7 seasons a player could earn x amount of salary and x amount of bonuses, with a max on any one season unless it's a contract subsequent to the players first entry level deal (minimum 3 years).

If the player got less than the max dollars for the first contract then those unused dollars would be available up to year 7.

That way a player who proved himself after the first deal could make up the dollars in the subsequent years.

Do you think Dubas would go through another year with a hold out or trade him? I read that the team has a soft date of when to have him signed by and if he isn't that they'll trade him. I'm not buying it though. Nothing can be that cut and dry and there's an assumption there that a team would be offering up something fair to Toronto to acquire the player. That's a big assumption when the guy isn't even signed. The Bruins might be going through something similar with McAvoy and Carlo this year.
- RickJames77

Will certainly be interesting how much your two RFA's sign for. Are you hearing any team friendly type deals? Can't see this being a slam dunk given their present talent level.

I don't mean to be a wiener on this, but it sounds like your proposed structure would punish 1st rounders.

I'd rather go in the 2nd round, sign a 3-year deal and then hit RFA status.
- Atomic Wedgie

I account for this by making a maximum dollar pool available to any player for the 1st 7 years in the league. The player could earn it all by signing a low dollar initial contract and get the rest in the subsequent deal once he's proven. A top pick might sign for the max right up front.

For the next 3 seasons there's already a salary cap and bonus structure in place.

My suggestion would be to say that in the 1st 7 seasons a player could earn x amount of salary and x amount of bonuses, with a max on any one season unless it's a contract subsequent to the players first entry level deal (minimum 3 years).

If the player got less than the max dollars for the first contract then those unused dollars would be available up to year 7.

That way a player who proved himself after the first deal could make up the dollars in the subsequent years.
- kaptaan

So seven years of artificially low salaries?

The weird thing about this is that high salaries for guys coming off of ELCs isn't really that much of a problem for owners - it's what, maybe 10 or so a year?

I can't see the owners willing to go nuclear over this, as it will probably have the negative effect of pulling up salaries for other guys. That's the problem with establishing a max salary - it becomes an easy target for agents to ask for.

Bill Ny is gonna personally cover the cost on the # change for people who already have his sweater.

Good guy Bill Ny.
- GreatGigInTheSky

all 15 of them

all 15 of them
- Drapz

You bought 15 Nylander jerseys?

I account for this by making a maximum dollar pool available to any player for the 1st 7 years in the league. The player could earn it all by signing a low dollar initial contract and get the rest in the subsequent deal once he's proven. A top pick might sign for the max right up front.
- kaptaan

too complicated.

there is already a hard cap to limit overall spending and elc limits to prevent guys from signing massive deals before they even lace up nhl skates.

there is no need for additional controlling rules to micro-manage how gm's allocate their cap dollars.

let gm's make good/bad decisions based on their own judgement.

So seven years of artificially low salaries?

The weird thing about this is that high salaries for guys coming off of ELCs isn't really that much of a problem for owners - it's what, maybe 10 or so a year?

I can't see the owners willing to go nuclear over this, as it will probably have the negative effect of pulling up salaries for other guys. That's the problem with establishing a max salary - it becomes an easy target for agents to ask for.
- Atomic Wedgie

It gives some cost certainty for teams on their star players in the initial years and gives stars full UFA earlier than now...

too complicated.

there is already a hard cap to limit overall spending and a elc limits to prevent guys from signing massive deals before they even lace up nhl skates.

there is no need for additional controlling rules to micro-manage how gm's allocate their cap dollars.

let gm's make good/bad decisions based on their own judgement.
- Tumbleweed

The only convincing argument I've heard for changing the status quo is that teams who take the time (and spend the money) to develop their own players should get some sort of advantage. Something along the lines of if you develop a player, their contract (after a certain age - like maybe into their UFA years) should only be applied as a percentage (75%?) against the cap.

I don't hate the idea.

We trade Marner now... His ceiling is just too high. Look at what 16 & 91 did together in just their 1st season together, can they improve on that? Those two could be dominant together for years.

The only way a trade happens is if the Leafs received a SIGNIFICANT over-payment, and that's likely not happening.
- As_I_See_It

Yes but........if Marners contract drains us, we will be too thin in spots to support that individual success. And I’m talking Marner/Taveres success.

The only convincing argument I've heard for changing the status quo is that teams who take the time (and spend the money) to develop their own players should get some sort of advantage. Something along the lines of if you develop a player, their contract (after a certain age - like maybe into their UFA years) should only be applied as a percentage (75%?) against the cap.

I don't hate the idea.
- Atomic Wedgie

hmmmm...i would have to think about any unintended consquences or ways to game this. but ....

i think the 8 vs. 7-year limit gives enough protection.

pretty rare to see top players move as ufa's from the team they were drafted by.

suck it isles.

My season tickets are in the balcony between the blue line and the tops of the face of circle on the side where Freddy let that goal in. I still after watching the replay have no (frank)ing idea how that puck squeaked through him

I had assumed that being at the game and being that high up that I just couldn't see the opening that went through, but nope
- RickJames77

Yeah, watching replays I still don't understand it.

hmmmm...i would have to think about any unintended consquences or ways to game this. but ....

i think the 8 vs. 7-year limit gives enough protection.

pretty rare to see top players move as ufa's from the team they were drafted by.

suck it isles.
- Tumbleweed

I'm sure teams have taken notes of this and now ask players what were on their bedsheets as kids before drafting them.

You know what this blog about Rasmus Sandin needs?

A 3 hours long exchange about Marner's potential contract!
- Scabeh

I forgot this was a Lucas blog so it'd actually be worth reading.

leafs trade marner for barzel .... sign gards for 1 year

If Marner wants a 5 year deal then he can sign for a front loaded deal for $8.5M AAV just like Aho did, who just happens to be an excellent comparable in terms of age, skill production, size and style of play.

No way Marner is worth $3M more per season over Aho. NO. WAY.
- As_I_See_It

Agree but, Leafs won’t sign him for 5 years. Puts MM AM WN all up for contract the same year and UFA. Leafs will want 4 or 6+ years. So maybe 9x4 or 10.5x6??? Arguably overpayment if u consider Aho.

The only convincing argument I've heard for changing the status quo is that teams who take the time (and spend the money) to develop their own players should get some sort of advantage. Something along the lines of if you develop a player, their contract (after a certain age - like maybe into their UFA years) should only be applied as a percentage (75%?) against the cap.

I don't hate the idea.
- Atomic Wedgie

That would honestly be an excellent idea.

I forgot this was a Lucas blog so it'd actually be worth reading.
- GreatGigInTheSky

Oh, boom....

If Marner wants a 5 year deal then he can sign for a front loaded deal for $8.5M AAV just like Aho did, who just happens to be an excellent comparable in terms of age, skill production, size and style of play.

No way Marner is worth $3M more per season over Aho. NO. WAY.
- As_I_See_It

I agree.

To me, the NHL Contracts/Cap situation is now broken.

Salaries are increasing faster then the Salary Cap.

To me, I dont see how a player who is coming off his entry Level Contract (21/22 yrs old), can get $10+ million. it just doesnt work--These guys are too young.
I think, the max amount of money they can make is $6.5 million Per (on a max of a 3 or 5 year deal). This would get them to 26 years old--which then bridges him to UFA status.

Another point is, Teams who draft well, end up being punished for doing exactly that. Maybe the NHL needs to visit the idea of Teams who draft their own players, get a 25% Break on their cap.

I am only proposing this, again, because the Salary Cap is not moving as quickly as the Salaries are.

To me, the NHL Contracts/Cap situation is now broken.

Salaries are increasing faster then the Salary Cap.

To me, I dont see how a player who is coming off his entry Level Contract (21/22 yrs old), can get $10+ million. it just doesnt work--These guys are too young.
I think, the max amount of money they can make is $6.5 million Per (on a max of a 3 or 5 year deal). This would get them to 26 years old--which then bridges him to UFA status.

Another point is, Teams who draft well, end up being punished for doing exactly that. Maybe the NHL needs to visit the idea of Teams who draft their own players, get a 25% Break on their cap.

I am only proposing this, again, because the Salary Cap is not moving as quickly as the Salaries are.
- Sandro

100%, and we're heading to another stoppage because of it.