Ya, sorry I do t get the comparable.
Profit sharing and commission are often based off of performance, seniority and a number of other factors.

Players do have bonuses included in contracts whether that is performance or signing related.

Escrow essentially allows the owners to overpromise on contracts and rarely, I think only 2 or 3 times since its inception pay out the full negotiated amount.

It allows the GM's to sign FA's to outrageous contracts each year and artificially inflate the salary cap and the players across the board lose a portion of their contracted salary.

If you are hired at 80K a year would you be okay giving up 8-10K of that up in order to hire a coworker at 100K?
- belcherbd

Sorry, I used the word bonus to reflect extra income over and above what an employee would expect to receive from their base salary. Not to equate with player performance bonuses. The players collectively make a set percentage of league revenues. Their share is split up proportionally based on the contracts each one negotiates with their club. Some will make more money than others based on signing their contract later when the cap is higher, but that’s simply a timing issue. Overall the system does seem inherently fair.

I didn’t follow your point about GM’s signing FA’s to large contracts inflating the salary cap. The cap is tied to revenues so it only goes up if the amount of money all the teams earn collectively goes up.

And I don't believe it's the owners overpromising. Don’t the players hold the option on the escalator clause that triggers the 5% increase to the cap? That decision determines whether or not escrow applies for the coming season doesn’t it?

Your point about guys being pissed because some of their salary is held back so other guys can sign larger contracts hits at the heart of the matter. The players may be jealous of each other’s compensation, but that’s a one-sided problem. It’s not the owners versus the players, so why should it lead to labour unrest?

I could be wrong on those points but, if it's such a hot button issue, why hasn't it been covered in more detail by the media guys? There must be some way to spin the story with a Toronto angle.

the team's going to need a starting goalie next year.

does demko step up so that the team only needs to sign a backup? that would make life easier! if not, re-sign marky? cost?

does the team go after a bigger name ufa next year? how would that affect the asks for the rfa's (EP, QH) coming the next year?

this season is huge! not only on the ice but off. things could go extremely well and the team is a contender within 2-3 seasons or they could be a team with a few high-end pieces with a mess of a cap/roster.

beats being boring though but jb is on a tightrope.
- RealityChecker

Demko is either taking over and gone. Not going to lose him in E -draft.

This season will determine who they go after next off season. If all goes well, Van will still have a full compliment of players and hopefully some rookies knocking on door.

Not to say maybe a 2 for one deal like Sven and Pearson for Schenn for an upgrade to top 6.

Who knows really. From that list I'd probably only look at 1 forward and 1 D that might upgrade from what they have now and very soon in the future. JB has done his buying this year and last.

Demko is either taking over and gone. Not going to lose him in E -draft.

This season will determine who they go after next off season. If all goes well, Van will still have a full compliment of players and hopefully some rookies knocking on door.

Not to say maybe a 2 for one deal like Sven and Pearson for Schenn for an upgrade to top 6.

Who knows really. From that list I'd probably only look at 1 forward and 1 D that might upgrade from what they have now and very soon in the future. JB has done his buying this year and last.
- manvanfan

Wait and see mode now. I do agree about Demko. Sven won't net much with his history. I like Pearson, hope he has a good season.

Sorry, I used the word bonus to reflect extra income over and above what an employee would expect to receive from their base salary. Not to equate with player performance bonuses. The players collectively make a set percentage of league revenues. Their share is split up proportionally based on the contracts each one negotiates with their club. Some will make more money than others based on signing their contract later when the cap is higher, but that’s simply a timing issue. Overall the system does seem inherently fair.

I didn’t follow your point about GM’s signing FA’s to large contracts inflating the salary cap. The cap is tied to revenues so it only goes up if the amount of money all the teams earn collectively goes up.

And I don't believe it's the owners overpromising. Don’t the players hold the option on the escalator clause that triggers the 5% increase to the cap? That decision determines whether or not escrow applies for the coming season doesn’t it?

Your point about guys being pissed because some of their salary is held back so other guys can sign larger contracts hits at the heart of the matter. The players may be jealous of each other’s compensation, but that’s a one-sided problem. It’s not the owners versus the players, so why should it lead to labour unrest?

I could be wrong on those points but, if it's such a hot button issue, why hasn't it been covered in more detail by the media guys? There must be some way to spin the story with a Toronto angle.
- YeOldTimer

You can't really get rid of escrow as league revenues differ from year to year.

An idea that not sure how it could work would be giving a raise even slight to all players when the cap goes up.

I don't see why each player who contributed to playing can't see a raise if the cap goes up.

Even say cap goes up 2 million. Each player on a non ELC gets 20 grand increase each or a .01 percent of the cap increase. Cap would then go up after that's paid to the players already.

Then players depending on the year won't get crazy increase in salary over the player who signed last year when the cap only went up 1 million. Compared to a player who signs in a year the cap goes up 4 million.

Wait and see mode now. I do agree about Demko. Sven won't net much with his history. I like Pearson, hope he has a good season.
- VanHockeyGuy

If Sven plays 70 plus games and puts up 40-50 points. Value would be restored very quickly.

Demko is either taking over and gone. Not going to lose him in E -draft.

This season will determine who they go after next off season. If all goes well, Van will still have a full compliment of players and hopefully some rookies knocking on door.

Not to say maybe a 2 for one deal like Sven and Pearson for Schenn for an upgrade to top 6.

Who knows really. From that list I'd probably only look at 1 forward and 1 D that might upgrade from what they have now and very soon in the future. JB has done his buying this year and last.
- manvanfan

i don't disagree with you.

this is partially why i'm not a jb fan. i think he went shopping too early. in my view, the big name shopping should have come when EP, QH and BB are on their 2nd contracts (2020-21+).

i think the team is definitely better on paper starting the season but i'm skeptical of the 2-5 year range. jb can still re-shape the cap to carve out space going forward but in my opinion he hasn't shown the ability to do so.

If Sven plays 70 plus games and puts up 40-50 points. Value would be restored very quickly.
- manvanfan

Of course We'll see how many games he plays, and what line he ends up on.

You can't really get rid of escrow as league revenues differ from year to year.

An idea that not sure how it could work would be giving a raise even slight to all players when the cap goes up.

I don't see why each player who contributed to playing can't see a raise if the cap goes up.

Even say cap goes up 2 million. Each player on a non ELC gets 20 grand increase each or a .01 percent of the cap increase. Cap would then go up after that's paid to the players already.

Then players depending on the year won't get crazy increase in salary over the player who signed last year when the cap only went up 1 million. Compared to a player who signs in a year the cap goes up 4 million.
- manvanfan

Not a fan of that at all. I like the extra cap space the team gets when the cap goes up. I don't want to give it to players that have agreed to what they would play for , for the next few years.

i don't disagree with you.

this is partially why i'm not a jb fan. i think he went shopping too early. in my view, the big name shopping should have come when EP, QH and BB are on their 2nd contracts (2020-21+).

i think the team is definitely better on paper starting the season but i'm skeptical of the 2-5 year range. jb can still re-shape the cap to carve out space going forward but in my opinion he hasn't shown the ability to do so.
- RealityChecker

If there isn't anything of value at that time? When they are on their second contracts. 31 GM jobs. Uber competitive. Waiting for your right time or perfect moment will probably leave you empty handed.

Wait and see mode now. I do agree about Demko. Sven won't net much with his history. I like Pearson, hope he has a good season.
- VanHockeyGuy

I hope Pearson ends his current contract with us . Good cap hit and a solid player, keep him until Pod is ready.

Pod got very limited ice time today ( home opener) . He will struggle to find minutes. This KHL coach is going to make Cull look like a keeper

If there isn't anything of value at that time? When they are on their second contracts. 31 GM jobs. Uber competitive. Waiting for your right time or perfect moment will probably leave you empty handed.
- manvanfan

empty handed during free agency is generally better than what goes on with spending.

31 uber competitive GMs is what leads to insane contracts.

i'm in the brian burke camp: GMs lose their minds on july 1.

I hope Pearson ends his current contract with us . Good cap hit and a solid player, keep him until Pod is ready.

Pod got very limited ice time today ( home opener) . He will struggle to find minutes. This KHL coach is going to make Cull look like a keeper
- VANTEL

41 seconds according to Abbey and Tree is now 3rd pairing D.

I do wonder about teams shunning players that are rumoured to be going overseas sooner or later.

empty handed during free agency is generally better than what goes on with spending.

31 uber competitive GMs is what leads to insane contracts.

i'm in the brian burke camp: GMs lose their minds on july 1.
- RealityChecker

Quote from a GM on June 30th from this year when asked what he was up too. "Trying to get rid of the bad contracts I gave out last year, to give out more bad ones this year"

They know it but as the same guy said, it's a way to make your team better if it works out.

41 seconds according to Abbey and Tree is now 3rd pairing D.

I do wonder about teams shunning players that are rumoured to be going overseas sooner or later.
- manvanfan

I watched the shifts that Tree played . Absolutely nothing wrong with his game. There very well could be a bias I have never heard it before other than what you just pointed out.

Not a fan of that at all. I like the extra cap space the team gets when the cap goes up. I don't want to give it to players that have agreed to what they would play for , for the next few years.
- VANTEL

You get poop like what is happening now with the RFAs because they know the cap is going up and they want their money from it. It's not extra cap space. It's just us fans complaining about guys getting paid more then they should.

You get poop like what is happening now with the RFAs because they know the cap is going up and they want their money from it. It's not extra cap space. It's just us fans complaining about guys getting paid more then they should.
- manvanfan

I honestly have no problem going 4 years with Brock. If he earns a raise after 4 then good for him and pay him. It could also go the other way and Canucks could save a bundle.

i don't disagree with you.

this is partially why i'm not a jb fan. i think he went shopping too early. in my view, the big name shopping should have come when EP, QH and BB are on their 2nd contracts (2020-21+).

i think the team is definitely better on paper starting the season but i'm skeptical of the 2-5 year range. jb can still re-shape the cap to carve out space going forward but in my opinion he hasn't shown the ability to do so.
- RealityChecker

Agreed, would of prefered he waited at least one more year before trading 1st round picks. The team is definitely better than the last few years but a lot depends on 3 of the 4 new players doing as well, if not better than expected and the whole core taking another big step forward.

empty handed during free agency is generally better than what goes on with spending.

31 uber competitive GMs is what leads to insane contracts.

i'm in the brian burke camp: GMs lose their minds on july 1.
- RealityChecker

Yeah, like giving Mike Komisarek a 5 year contract with a NMC to boot when it was obvious Komisarek was poop.

I like Burkie too, but sometimes he doesn’t practice what he preaches.

Yeah, like giving Mike Komisarek a 5 year contract with a NMC to boot when it was obvious Komisarek was poop.

I like Burkie too, but sometimes he doesn’t practice what he preaches.
- bloatedmosquito

I think in that interview he did state that he handed out ridiculous contracts during free agency when was a GM.

Yeah, like giving Mike Komisarek a 5 year contract with a NMC to boot when it was obvious Komisarek was poop.

I like Burkie too, but sometimes he doesn’t practice what he preaches.
- bloatedmosquito

i mistakenly implied that i was a burke fan. well actually, i did like him when he was here but i don't want him back in any capacity.

you can tell he's been lobbying for the president gig with his effusive praise of jb but i would stay away and seems like FA/JB agree.

I think in that interview he did state that he handed out ridiculous contracts during free agency when was a GM.
- Marwood

Then good on him. I don’t remember that interview. But I’ll always remember that MK signing. It basically started a 10+ year war on here between Habs and leaf fans.

i mistakenly implied that i was a burke fan. well actually, i did like him when he was here but i don't want him back in any capacity.

you can tell he's been lobbying for the president gig with his effusive praise of jb but i would stay away and seems like FA/JB agree.
- RealityChecker

In retrospect, I wonder what alumni would have been better as prez; Linden or Burke?

Then good on him. I don’t remember that interview. But I’ll always remember that MK signing. It basically started a 10+ year war on here between Habs and leaf fans.
- bloatedmosquito

totally unrelated but... fletcher signing jeff finger to the 4 year contract could be the most hilarious signing ever.

it was widely reported that fletcher mistook finger (barely played 3rd pairing) for kurt sauer who was a decent d-man for the avalanche.

this is why we all agree... thank god for the leafs!

Now seen trade rumours of Laine to NJ, Car and MTL. I hope he moves soon.

In retrospect, I wonder what alumni would have been better as prez; Linden or Burke?
- bloatedmosquito

faced with the either/or, it's got to be burke.

there's no way in hell that FA would be able to foist his agenda on "mr. i wear my ties as a scarf."

the internal fighting which would surely come out in the press would have been comedy gold!