Habs Salary Cap Info and FAQ's

[Habsfan]

This might be a stupid question, and maybe somebody already asked it, but I'm gonna ask anyways.

 

If a player is offered performance bonuses, how do the bonuses get applied on the Cap?

 

Iet's say the Habs sign Perry to a 1 year extension at 1 million$ and also offer him a 200,000$ bonus if the Habs make the finals again. If the Habs make the finals, does that 200K bonus count against the cap?

 

I assume it does, it's just that we almost never hear of performance bonuses anymore (compared to the pre-cap era)

[GHT120]

21 minutes ago, Habsfan said:

This might be a stupid question, and maybe somebody already asked it, but I'm gonna ask anyways.

 

If a player is offered performance bonuses, how do the bonuses get applied on the Cap?

 

Iet's say the Habs sign Perry to a 1 year extension at 1 million$ and also offer him a 200,000$ bonus if the Habs make the finals again. If the Habs make the finals, does that 200K bonus count against the cap?

 

I assume it does, it's just that we almost never hear of performance bonuses anymore (compared to the pre-cap era)

As I understand it:

Bonuses are only allowed on Entry Level Contracts, one-year 35+ contracts and one-year contracts for players returning form serious injury (see below for CBA specifics) ... once earned, all bonuses are applied to that season's cap ... if it puts the team over the cap then then the amount of the overage is applied against the following seasons cap (i.e., reducing it before the season starts) ... it is one reason that most teams leave a cushion in their cap spending to allow for performance bonuses ... Habs exceeded the cap this past season due to bonuses ... believe they are starting a few hundred thousand below the "league" cap as a result ...

BTW, signing bonuses are treated just like regular salary for cap purposes, but paid in a lump-sum at a prescribed date instead of throughout the season.

 

 

Performance Bonuses shall be allowable under this Agreement only for:
(i) Players with Entry Level SPCs under Article 9 of this Agreement;
(ii) Players aged 35 or older as of June 30 prior to the League Year in which the SPC is to be effective, who have signed a one-year SPC for that League Year; and
(iii) Players who are "400-plus game Players" for pension purposes, and who: (i) in the last year of their most recent SPC, spent 100 days or more on the Injured Reserve List; and (ii) have signed a one-year SPC for the current or upcoming League Year.

[Commandant]

If the bonus is earned, it goes on that year's cap. 

 

If you go over the cap due to bonuses, you get a cap penalty to be applied the following season.

[alfredoh2009]

With next year's TBL cap set:

 

 

With Colton signed at $1.125M, the Tampa Bay Lightning are over the salary cap by $6,865,955

Brent Seabrook's cap hit is $6,875,000

This is a difference of only $9,045.

In other words this roster is nearly perfect to maximize their LTIR reliefhttps://t.co/IiyrJQFcQx

— CapFriendly (@CapFriendly) August 9, 2021

 

 

What would be the Hab's remaining salary cap to take advantage of the LTIR?

[GHT120]

3 hours ago, alfredoh2009 said:

With next year's TBL cap set:

 

 

What would be the Hab's remaining salary cap to take advantage of the LTIR?

 

If I read everything correctly, CapFriendly shows the Habs with total AAVs of $83,776,370 (includes 24 players, Alzner's buyout and the $597,561 in bonus carryovers from last season) ... putting Weber on LTIR puts them at the NHL roster limit of 23 players and will give the Habs an adjusted "ceiling" of $89,357,140 ... so the Habs have $5,580,770 in AAV remaining that could be spent ... but being over $81.5M makes roster management  trickier.

 

BTW, ... CF currently shows Byron on LTIR but, as he is expected back around Christmas/New Years I doubt he starts the season there ... his full AAV will have to be included under the cap when he returns, so if he starts the year on LTIR a significant trade would need to be made to make room for his return (or trade him)

[habscout]

On 8/9/2021 at 7:56 PM, GHT120 said:

 

If I read everything correctly, CapFriendly shows the Habs with total AAVs of $83,776,370 (includes 24 players, Alzner's buyout and the $597,561 in bonus carryovers from last season) ... putting Weber on LTIR puts them at the NHL roster limit of 23 players and will give the Habs an adjusted "ceiling" of $89,357,140 ... so the Habs have $5,580,770 in AAV remaining that could be spent ... but being over $81.5M makes roster management  trickier.

 

BTW, ... CF currently shows Byron on LTIR but, as he is expected back around Christmas/New Years I doubt he starts the season there ... his full AAV will have to be included under the cap when he returns, so if he starts the year on LTIR a significant trade would need to be made to make room for his return (or trade him)

 

I would love to know, exactly what types of bonuses are given to new players on their ELC, and on 35+ veterans on their one year contracts.  So far I have heard only rumours of bonuses for rookies like voting for the Calder trophy and for winning it; also bonuses of games played for veterans. If anyone knows of any recent examples of either class of bonus, please let me know.

[dlbalr]

Rookies on entry-level deals are entitled to two types of bonuses - A and B.  A bonuses are for specific categories:

 

Forwards

(i) Ice time (aggregate and/or per Game). Player must be among top six (6) forwards on the Club (minimum 42 Regular Season Games played by Player and comparison group). (Note: an Entry Level SPC may contain bonuses for both aggregate and per Game ice time; however, the maximum aggregate amount the Player may receive on account of the ice time category is $212,500.)
(ii) Goals: 20 Goal Minimum
(iii) Assists: 35 Assist Minimum
(iv) Points: 60 Point Minimum
(v) Points Per Game: .73 Points Per Game Minimum (minimum 42 Regular Season Games played)
(vi) Plus-Minus Rating: Among top three (3) forwards on the Club (minimum 42 Regular Season Games played by Player and comparison group).
(vii) End-of-Season NHL All-Rookie Team
(viii) NHL All-Star Game (selected to play or plays)
(ix) NHL All-Star Game MVP

 

Defencemen

(i) Ice time (aggregate and/or per Game). Player must be among top four (4) defensemen on the Club (minimum 42 Regular Season Games played by Player and comparison group). (Note: an Entry Level SPC may contain bonuses for both aggregate and per Game ice time; however, the maximum aggregate amount the Player may receive on account of the ice time category is $212,500.)
(ii) Goals: 10 Goal Minimum
(iii) Assists: 25 Assist Minimum
(iv) Points: 40 Point Minimum
(v) Points Per Game: .49 Points Per Game Minimum (minimum 42 Regular Season Games played)
(vi) Plus-Minus Rating: Among top three (3) defensemen on the Club (minimum 42 Regular Season Games played by Player and comparison group).
(vii) Blocked Shots: Among top two (2) defensemen on the Club (minimum 42 Regular Season Games played by Player and comparison group).
(viii) End-of-Season NHL All-Rookie Team
(ix) NHL All-Star Game (selected to play or plays)
(x) NHL All-Star Game MVP

 

Goalies

(i) Minutes Played: 1,800 minutes minimum
(ii) GAA: GAA median GAA of all goaltenders who played 25 ormore Regular Season Games. (If there is an even number of these goaltenders, the median will be the average of the two middle values.) (25 Game minimum, 30 minute minimum*)
(iii) Save %: Save % median save % of all goaltenders who played 25 or more Regular Season Games. (If there is an even number of these goaltenders, the median will be the average of the two middle values.) (25 Game minimum, 30 minute minimum*)
(iv) Wins: 20 (Player must be goaltender of record, 30 minute minimum*)
(v) Shutouts: Shutouts median number of shutouts of all goaltenders who played 25 or more Regular Season Games. (If there is an even number of these goaltenders, the median will be the average of the two middle values.) (30 minute minimum*)
(vi) End-of-Season NHL All-Rookie Team
(vii) NHL All-Star Game (selected to play or plays)
(viii) NHL All-Star Game MVP

 

Generally, first-round picks get some of these Class A bonuses but some outside the first round get them as well.  For example, Romanov has three of them in his contract, Suzuki has a couple as well.

 

Class B bonuses are often for league-wide scoring categories (ie, top-10 in goals).  They're worth up to a maximum of $2 million per season and are not disclosed.  Voting for league trophies amounts are automatic in all entry-level contracts and are not included in individual bonus packages.

 

For veterans, they can't receive Class A or B bonuses but can get some for games played, goals/points, or playoff success.  Jaroslav Halak's current deal has the first two while Mike Smith's deal last season had several levels of GP bonuses plus playoff success ones.  Montreal doesn't have anyone currently on one of those contracts.

[habscout]

Excellent.  Thanks Brian!

[JoeLassister]

On 11/14/2019 at 8:02 PM, dlbalr said:

Below is the correct recapture potential for the Habs from the Shea Weber trade:

 

 

Any amount listed in the final column (Recapture Potential) would be the annual amount charged on Montreal's cap through 2025-26 if Weber was to retire early.  For example, if Weber retires following 2021-22, the Habs would be charged $214,285.71 per year through 2025-26.

 

And Nashville's, for those interested:

 

 

2021 Update: In the new CBA, cap recapture penalties are limited to the total of the player's AAV.  So in this case, Nashville would only be charged up to $7,857,143 on the cap each year.  However, the cumulative charge would carry over until the full amount is recaptured.  For example, if he retired with one year left on his deal, Nashville would have penalties of $7,857,143 for 2024-25, 2025-26, and 2026-27 and $999,999 for 2027-28.

With what Drouin dropped today, if true, what happens for Nashville ?

[Commandant]

8 minutes ago, JoeLassister said:

With what Drouin dropped today, if true, what happens for Nashville ?

 

Eric Engels has confirmed that there is no change in Weber's status.  He is "retired" in that he will never play again, but like Hossa, Pronger, Seabrook, Marc Savard and others that this has happened to, he will just sit on LTIR.

 

Remember that if Weber retires, he forfeits the money remaining on his contract, but if he is too injured to play, he still gets paid, so he has millions of reasons to show up to Montreal once per year in training camp, have the doctor declare him unfit to play the season, and then sit on LTIR. 

 

 

 

 

[GHT120]

1 hour ago, Commandant said:

 

Eric Engels has confirmed that there is no change in Weber's status.  He is "retired" in that he will never play again, but like Hossa, Pronger, Seabrook, Marc Savard and others that this has happened to, he will just sit on LTIR.

 

Remember that if Weber retires, he forfeits the money remaining on his contract, but if he is too injured to play, he still gets paid, so he has millions of reasons to show up to Montreal once per year in training camp, have the doctor declare him unfit to play the season, and then sit on LTIR. 

 

 

 

 

 

I cannot imagine that Weber considers retirement this season ($6M real money) and likely not next season ($3M) ... but summer 2023 is a possibility ... 2023-24 is the first of the three $1M real salary seasons to wind up the contract ... at that point he will have career earnings of $123,450,338 ... walking away from the last $3 million might be an option ... especially if he holds any animosity towards the Predators ... ultimately unlikely, but possible.

[tomh009]

1 minute ago, GHT120 said:

 

I cannot imagine that Weber considers retirement this season ($6M real money) and likely not next season ($3M) ... but summer 2023 is a possibility ... 2023-24 is the first of the three $1M real salary seasons to wind up the contract ... at that point he will have career earnings of $123,450,338 ... walking away from the last $3 million might be an option ... especially if he holds any animosity towards the Predators ... ultimately unlikely, but possible.

He could always get a front-office job with the Habs that pays well ...

[Commandant]

44 minutes ago, GHT120 said:

 

I cannot imagine that Weber considers retirement this season ($6M real money) and likely not next season ($3M) ... but summer 2023 is a possibility ... 2023-24 is the first of the three $1M real salary seasons to wind up the contract ... at that point he will have career earnings of $123,450,338 ... walking away from the last $3 million might be an option ... especially if he holds any animosity towards the Predators ... ultimately unlikely, but possible.

 

$1 million is still a lot of money for one day in Montreal all year.  I don't see him walking away.  The only player in this situation who walked away from money by retiring was Luongo.  

[alfredoh2009]

@dlbalr , I was looking at CapFriendly to update my list of 23 vs 50 contract situations. I am confused about this:

1) CF reports 48 contracts

2) Guhle and Mysak have excemptions, or are slide-rule eligible: do they count on the 48 contracts?

3) Also, Weber and Price are on NHLPA program and LTIR respectively, do they still count on the 48 contracts? or there is an exception?

 

I counted 46 players except these four players, which two are being counted to add up to 48?

[GHT120]

2 minutes ago, alfredoh2009 said:

@dlbalr , I was looking at CapFriendly to update my list of 23 vs 50 contract situations. I am confused about this:

1) CF reports 48 contracts

2) Guhle and Mysak have excemptions, or are slide-rule eligible: do they count on the 48 contracts?

3) Also, Weber and Price are on NHLPA program and LTIR respectively, do they still count on the 48 contracts? or there is an exception?

 

I counted 46 players except these four players, which two are being counted to add up to 48?

 

Mysak and Guhle are marked with the  logo (Player is exempt from the 50 Standard Player Contract limit).

[Commandant]

9 minutes ago, alfredoh2009 said:

@dlbalr , I was looking at CapFriendly to update my list of 23 vs 50 contract situations. I am confused about this:

1) CF reports 48 contracts

2) Guhle and Mysak have excemptions, or are slide-rule eligible: do they count on the 48 contracts?

3) Also, Weber and Price are on NHLPA program and LTIR respectively, do they still count on the 48 contracts? or there is an exception?

 

I counted 46 players except these four players, which two are being counted to add up to 48?

 

Price and Weber count.

 

Mysak and Guhle only count if they are in the NHL right now.  They start counting next year when they are 20

[alfredoh2009]

7 minutes ago, Commandant said:

 

Price and Weber count.

 

Mysak and Guhle only count if they are in the NHL right now.  They start counting next year when they are 20

thanks, that's what I thought too

[dlbalr]

57 minutes ago, alfredoh2009 said:

@dlbalr , I was looking at CapFriendly to update my list of 23 vs 50 contract situations. I am confused about this:

1) CF reports 48 contracts

2) Guhle and Mysak have excemptions, or are slide-rule eligible: do they count on the 48 contracts?

3) Also, Weber and Price are on NHLPA program and LTIR respectively, do they still count on the 48 contracts? or there is an exception?

 

I counted 46 players except these four players, which two are being counted to add up to 48?

 

48 is correct with Guhle/Mysak sliding as noted.  I just want to mention that the answer is also in Post 2 of this thread (which is linked on the main site) - I keep track of the 50 contract situation in there.

[JoeLassister]

RDS are reporting that our capspace will be reduced by a bit more than 1M$  due to bonus reached by  Harris, Caufield, Romanov and Suzuki.

[GHT120]

27 minutes ago, JoeLassister said:

RDS are reporting that our capspace will be reduced by a bit more than 1M$  due to bonus reached by  Harris, Caufield, Romanov and Suzuki.

$1,132,500 to be precise ... Nick Suzuki - $537,500 ... Cole Caufield - $300,000 ... Alexander Romanov $212,500 dollars ... Jordan Harris - $82,500

 

Slightly more than the presumed $1M cap increase ... this is another consequence of LTIR ... any bonuses earned on ELC's or 35+ contracts cannot be charged to the current season's cap and are therefore deducted from the cap ceiling entering the next season.

[dlbalr]

I covered it a bit last week in a piece for PHR: https://www.prohockeyrumors.com/2022/05/canadiens-to-face-sizable-bonus-overage-penalty.html

 

The quick breakdown:

Suzuki - 3 A bonuses

Caufield - 1 A bonus + games played

Romanov - 1 A bonus

Harris - games played

[alfredoh2009]

@dlbalr , if the Habs trade a big contract, Like Petry's or Galagher's and retain 50%. Can Weber's LTIR salary relief help keep the Habs under the cap if they go over?

Are retained salaries accounted for like regular salaries?

 

[GHT120]

3 hours ago, alfredoh2009 said:

@dlbalr , if the Habs trade a big contract, Like Petry's or Galagher's and retain 50%. Can Weber's LTIR salary relief help keep the Habs under the cap if they go over?

Are retained salaries accounted for like regular salaries?

 

Whatever you retain stays on the cap, for the full term remaining on the contract ... Weber's contract would provide the same possibility of LTIR relief that it would for any other contract ... but also all carry the same LTIR negatives (lack of roster flexibility, no cap space accrual, bonus carryovers to 23/24, etc.) ... think the idea would be to move Weber and only spend at most the cap space moved out on roster players ... ideally I think HuGo would want to be well under the cap ceiling so they have freedom to make some moves in-season (to improve team or get assets for taking on a bad expiring contract/being the "third team" in a deal) or carry-over cap space in 2023 off-season

[alfredoh2009]

summer starts on June 21st 5:13 am EDST

 

we will have more details from Hugh-Gort later this summer

 

no one knows what they are planning to do during the 2022-2023 season

 

[GHT120]

3 minutes ago, alfredoh2009 said:

summer starts on June 21st 5:13 am EDST

 

we will have more details from Hugh-Gort later this summer

 

no one knows what they are planning to do during the 2022-2023 season

 

 

True ... we are all speculating ... the 2022 NHL draft is July 7/8th and the 22/23 "season" starts on July 13,2022 (thankfully not a Friday) ... hints may emerge leading into the draft if any deals are made, and more fulsome indications to follow thereafter