Many rookies are cashing in

[M. Beaux-Eaux]

These days, you never know what you're going to get with rookie contracts. Clubs limit guaranteed money, but with bonuses many rookies are cashing in.

By AL STRACHAN -- Toronto Sun

COLUMBUS -- When National Hockey League general managers talk about players who are on the model, it has nothing to do with dating.

It doesn't even have to do with the players being model citizens, although many of them are.

- slam.canoe.ca/Slam040120/col_strachan-sun.html

[BadCompany]

Ah yes, the Tuomo Ruutu debate. For some reason, I was the only person who thought Mike Smith should stick to his guns, and NOT give the "best player in the world" a $2.5 million bonus for essentially matching Andreas Dackell in ice time...

habsrus.proboards4.com/index.cgi?board=general&action=display&n=1&thread=8410

One of the reasons why I am somewhat sceptical that Andrei Kastitsyin will be signed this summer. Mind you, there may be all kinds of international agreement reasons as to why it would be better to get him into the fold quickly, but the potential new CBA would be more of a reason to take a "wait and see" approach. Why sign him to the "model" when in all likelihood the "model" will change? I would think that the owners will be very eager to eliminate this loophole in the rookie salary cap, and since rookies have little to no say in any negotiations, and nobody to really stick up for them, I would think this would be one of the few chips the NHLPA will be willing to bargain away.

So why sign Kastitsyin this summer, to a contract that might get him five, six, seven million dollars in bonuses, when;

a) there is no guarantee there will even be a next season, and thus no hurry to get him here, and

b) waiting a month, or two, or six, might end up saving you 5, 10, even 15 million dollars over the life of a 3 year contract...

[seventeen]

I don't see anyone holding a gun to any GM's head forcing them to use the 'model' to sign a rookie. Offer him what you think and let them accept or not. I suspect, given the state of flux in the CBA, you can get a top rookie for $1MM with no bonuses at all.

[PTH]

seventeen said:

I don't see anyone holding a gun to any GM's head forcing them to use the 'model' to sign a rookie. Offer him what you think and let them accept or not. I suspect, given the state of flux in the CBA, you can get a top rookie for $1MM with no bonuses at all.

You say that, yet how much pressure would a GM get from fans if it looked like a top young gun was going to be let go back into the draft ?

Kat is European so that's not a problem, nor is it with Ruuttu, but for most rookies it is.

Also, most teams have a high opinion of their own kids, which they encourage the fans to believe to keep them interested, so it's hard to turn around and say "yeah, we just love the guy and think he's a real impact player, but we aren't willing to pay him"

[PTH]

BadCompany said:

Ah yes, the Tuomo Ruutu debate. For some reason, I was the only person who thought Mike Smith should stick to his guns, and NOT give the "best player in the world" a $2.5 million bonus for essentially matching Andreas Dackell in ice time...

Now now, only 2 guys really argued against you, and I for one thought you were making your point just fine on your own.

[seventeen]

PTH said:

You say that, yet how much pressure would a GM get from fans if it looked like a top young gun was going to be let go back into the draft ?

It's the anti-agent in me coming out. As is evidenced by the issues arising out of such contracts (Comrie being a fine example), the model is losing its lustre. Smith seemed to come out ok with Ruutu (and yes, they had more leverage with him because he's a 'foreigner') and that sets a different kind of precedent. Most players have been settling for smaller contracts, so why not use that trend?

[BadCompany]

PTH said:

Now now, only 2 guys really argued against you, and I for one thought you were making your point just fine on your own.

Hey! I can't have a persecution complex if you keep throwing reality in my face! Stop it!

(Everybody thought my uncle was paranoid too... until the CIA killed him)